The Echo ponds at Zwierzyniec — a bathing spot and a trailhead

The Echo ponds — that is the name used locally — are a group of ponds on the river Świerszcz at Zwierzyniec, more than a kilometre from the Education and Museum Centre of Roztocze National Park. One of the ponds serves as a bathing spot, and the „Up Bukowa Góra” trail loop passes alongside.

fot. Marek Marcola

Bathing and relaxing

The Echo ponds were dug in the 1930s as fish ponds on the river Świerszcz, which flows through Zwierzyniec. There are eight of them; one came to be used for bathing and in summer it is a lifeguarded beach — one of the more popular places to relax in Roztocze. The group lies more than a kilometre from the park headquarters, not right beside it.

What is around

The park's Education and Museum Centre — the headquarters of Roztocze National Park
The nature trail — the starting point for Bukowa Góra
The Church on the Water — a few minutes on foot
Walking paths — along the shore and through the surrounding woods

Practical notes

The ponds are open to all, though a charge for the beach may apply in summer. A good plan is to combine a visit with the Church on the Water and a walk up Bukowa Góra. There is parking and food on site.

How to get there and practical info

Location: Zwierzyniec, more than 1 km from the Roztocze National Park headquarters
Character: Eight former fish ponds, one used for bathing
Season: A lifeguarded beach in summer
Admission: A beach charge is possible in season
Nearby: The Church on the Water, Bukowa Góra, the park headquarters
Time needed: 1–3 hours, depending on your plans

Gallery

Photos taken on site. Photo: Marek Marcola.

Zalew Echo — widok na taflę wody · fot. Marek Marcola

Zalew Echo od strony plaży · fot. Marek Marcola

Świt nad Zalewem Echo · fot. Marek Marcola

Plaża nad Zalewem Echo · fot. Marek Marcola

When to go

Spring

Fresh water, quiet and good for a walk along the shore.

Summer

The height of the season, swimming possible, the most people.

Autumn

Golden trees around the water, full of atmosphere.

Winter

Silence, sometimes a frozen pond, with no beach services.

Other sights in Roztocze

Straight-line distances from „The Echo ponds at Zwierzyniec" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.

The Church on the Water at ZwierzyniecThe masonry Baroque church of St John of Nepomuk of the 18th century, on an island in the

~245 m as the crow flies

Bukowa Góra in Roztocze National ParkThe highest hill in Roztocze National Park (310 m a.s.l.) with a viewing terrace, reached

~1,3 km as the crow flies

Florianka — the Polish primitive horse centreThe Polish primitive horse breeding centre in Roztocze National Park, a former forester&#x

~5,0 km as the crow flies

Szczebrzeszyn — the town of the beetleA town on the edge of Roztocze known for the Polish tongue-twister „W Szczebrzeszynie chrz

~9,1 km as the crow flies

Józefów — the Babia Dolina quarryAn old quarry of white Roztocze limestone near Józefów, a popular film location — the area

~16 km as the crow flies

Krasnobród — the Marian sanctuaryA spa town in Roztocze with the Baroque sanctuary of the Visitation of Our Lady, holy spri

~18 km as the crow flies

Susiec — the Tanew cascadesWaterfalls on the river Tanew in the „Nad Tanwią” reserve near Susiec — among the finest r

~32 km as the crow flies