Milicz Market Square

Milicz first appears in the records in a papal bull of 1136 as “Miliche”. The stronghold guarded a crossing of the Barycz on the border between Silesia and Greater Poland, on the route from Bohemia via Wrocław to Kalisz, Gniezno and the Baltic. Exactly when the town received its charter is unknown – Milicz is referred to as a “civitas” in 1323.

In 1494 the Milicz estates were granted to Zygmunt Kurzbach; the Kurzbachs – who bore fish on their coat of arms – greatly expanded the network of ponds (tradition credits the Cistercians with the first ponds). From 1590 until 1945 Milicz was ruled by the Maltzans, who left behind the palace of 1797–1798, the castle ruins and the Church of Grace. The large market square was typical of the capitals of free state lordships. The town hall of 1851, with its clock tower, burned down on 22 January 1945 and was never rebuilt; in the early 21st century the market regained its character as a town square.

Milicz is a good base for exploring the Barycz Valley – the largest landscape park in Poland (established in 1996, over 87,000 ha). The Milicz Ponds reserve (approx. 5,300 ha) is a Ramsar site; nearly 300 bird species have been recorded in the valley, and in autumn thousands of geese and cranes roost on the ponds. More than 20 km of cycle path runs along the embankment of the former narrow-gauge railway (Gruszeczka – Milicz – Grabownica), and the Barycz is a gentle kayaking route (e.g. Milicz – Sułów, approx. 10 km). Every autumn the town holds its Carp Days – Milicz carp has been on Poland's List of Traditional Products since 2006.

Wrocław is about an hour away by car or train.