Łodygowice

Łodygowice is a village in the Silesian Voivodeship, nestled in the picturesque Żywiec Basin and surrounded by the massifs of the Little Beskids and the Silesian Beskids. It has approximately 7,601 inhabitants and covers an area of 17.82 km². Integral parts of the village include, among others, Bobki, Kalonka, and Maślanki. Historically, the locality is associated with the Duchy of Oświęcim, and its founding is attributed to the Cistercians. The first mention of it was found in a letter from Abbot Bernard in 1310. Łodygowice was the seat of a parish as early as the 14th century and developed within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until the partitions of Poland. A historic landmark of the village is the Church of St. Simon and St. Jude Thaddeus, built in the 17th century and considered one of the largest wooden churches in the Beskids, with characteristic architectural features of the Silesian-Lesser Poland group. Łodygowice also features a 17th-century brick manor house, numerous chapels, and traditional wooden cottages. The area is crisscrossed by hiking trails, encouraging exploration of the beauty of the Beskids. Rich in history and traditions, the village is also an important recreational destination, offering opportunities to relax amidst nature.