Communist Bike Tour of Nowa Huta

On July 22, 1954, the Vladimir Lenin Steelworks opened its doors and employed over 20 000 workers. They all needed a place to live. Nowa Huta, 'the new mill', was formed as a district for the worker's to live adjacent to their job at the mill. Today Nowa Huta is a prime example of communist architecture and urban design, frozen in time.

Like Lenin we too will discover Nowa Huta on two wheels. 

From our shop we ride east along new bike paths away from Krakow’s historic district. Along the way we will pass through an old air base that has now been turned into an aviation museum. From the outside we will get a glimpse at planes dating back to the first World War. We leave the park along the original air strip before we reconnect with the main bike path towards Nowa Huta. Our first historic stop in Nowa Huta will be the famous church of our Lady, also known as the Ark, due to its vessel-like shape. Religious conflicts were always a problem in our socialist paradise and the church has been a symbol of the people’s opposition. After visiting the modern interior of the church we continue back on our bikes to the cultural heart of Nowa Huta. We will labyrinth our bikes through the many alleys of Nowa Huta’s residential areas where we see some typical socialist architecture in the form of cinemas, theatres, and schools. What communist tour would not be complete without a Soviet tank. At this point we stray off of the beaten path to ride along Nowa Huta’s recreational lake before we get to the essence of Nowa Huta’s existance; Lenin’s steel mill plant. We break for lunch in a communist style milk bar, one of the few that were here during the communist era. Frozen in time you will feel as though the secret police is sitting at the next table.

With our bellies full we set off through the recently renamed Ronald Reagan square, before we head out through the many parks that divide Nowa Huta from Krakow’s city center. We finish our tour with a nice ride along the banks of the Visula river all the way to our shop.

This tour is intended for those who have at least an intermediate fitness level as 25KM is the planned route. Our guides reserve the right to stray off the planned route in order to suite our guests fitness, interests, and schedule.

Included in the tour price is a new 24 speed trekking bike rental, helmet, and personal guide.