Barycza Valley Landscape Park

The Barycz Valley Landscape Park is an area covering 87,040 hectares, located in the Lower Silesian and Greater Poland voivodeships, between Żmigród and Przygodzice, along the Barycz River. Established in 1996, it protects diverse ecosystems, including fishponds, wetlands, and forests. The park boasts an immense variety of vegetation, including unique species such as bogbean, betony, and the broad-leaved helleborine. This area is also protected under the European Natura 2000 network, recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and designated as special protection areas for birds and habitats. Within the Barycz Valley, there are numerous nature reserves, including the Milicz Ponds, which protect one of the largest fishpond complexes in Europe, spanning 5,298 hectares. This wetland area plays a crucial role in environmental conservation and is a significant site for ornithologists. The park is home to as many as 276 bird species, including 166 breeding species, making it one of the most important waterbird sanctuaries in Poland and Europe. Among the birds found here are grebes, cormorants, various species of ducks, swans, herons, storks, as well as rare species like the greater flamingo and the pink pelican. The region is also rich in culture and history, with prehistoric findings in the Wzgórze Joanny reserve and fishing traditions associated with its lakes and ponds. The Barycz Valley Landscape Park is an ideal destination for wildlife observation, tourism, and strolls through its picturesque, natural landscapes.