Greenways Poland Association

Greenways Polska is a national association dedicated to promoting and developing greenways—multifunctional heritage routes that connect natural landscapes, cultural sites, local communities, and sustainable tourism destinations across Poland. Established in 2014 by pioneers of the Greenways movement in Poland, the organization builds on a methodology introduced in Central and Eastern Europe in the early 2000s to support environmentally friendly tourism, active mobility, and regional development.

The association defines greenways as routes created along rivers, historic trade routes, natural corridors, and former railway lines that serve non-motorized travel such as cycling, walking, running, horse riding, and water-based recreation. Beyond providing recreational infrastructure, Greenways Polska promotes ecotourism, healthy lifestyles, cultural and natural heritage conservation, and sustainable transport. A key aspect of its approach is the active involvement of local communities, businesses, and public authorities in developing routes that generate economic opportunities while protecting local identity and landscapes.

Greenways Polska also acts as a knowledge and advocacy hub, promoting standards, methodologies, and partnerships for greenway development throughout the country. The organization supports local initiatives such as eco-museums, thematic villages, cultural events, educational programmes, and local-product networks that enrich visitor experiences along greenways. As a member of the European Greenways Association, it contributes to international cooperation and the advancement of sustainable mobility and greenway policies across Europe.

Żelazny Szlak Rowerowy (Iron Cycling Trail) is one of Poland’s most successful greenway projects and a flagship example of how former railway infrastructure can be transformed into a high-quality cycling route. Located in the southern part of the country, in the region of Silesia, the trail follows the corridor of former railway lines that once served the area’s mining and industrial economy. Today, these disused railways have been converted into a safe, traffic-free route for cyclists, walkers, and recreational users.

The trail is approximately 60 km long and forms a cross-border cycling network linking several municipalities in Poland and the Czech Republic, including Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Godów, Zebrzydowice, Karviná, and Petrovice u Karviné. Much of the route runs on former railway embankments, bridges, and railway rights-of-way, providing gentle gradients and a comfortable riding experience suitable for families, recreational cyclists, and cycle tourists. Along the route, visitors encounter industrial heritage sites, natural areas, local villages, parks, and cultural attractions that reflect the region’s unique history and identity.

Contact data:

Address: os. Teatralne 5/13, 31-945 Kraków, Poland

Contact person: Bogdan Kasperek, Chair of the Board