The best cycling routes around gmina Sochaczew

https://brochow-parafia.pl/zdjecia-historyczne/ here you can see historical photos

Unfortunately, on a weekday, before noon, the church is closed.

It's worth seeing, a show of the power of nature!!

August 2, 2025. Hole in the bridge, one plank missing.

The crossing of the Bzura River in Sochaczew took place during the Battle of Sochaczew in September 1939. The course of the battle On September 11, 1939, Polish sappers blew up the bridge over the Bzura River in Sochaczew. The Battle of Sochaczew lasted 3.5 days, which was the longest time of fighting for a single city outside of Warsaw, Hel, or Westerplatte in the entire September Campaign of 1939.

Roadside chapel with a statue of Mary. Fenced, decorated and well-maintained.

It is a Gothic-Renaissance three-nave basilica, the result of the reconstruction of the original Gothic church, flanked by three large, cylindrical towers – two in the western corners, framing a wide narthex, and one above the presbytery apse, with a gallery in the tower above the presbytery. The barrel vault is decorated with a coffered network of repeating rectangular motifs and covered with rich polychrome. A two-story tunnel porch with embrasures runs around the church. The church was founded by Jan Brochowski of the Prawdzic coat of arms – a Warsaw soldier and owner of the village – and his family; it was built between 1551 and 1561 by the renowned mason Jan Baptista of Venice, active in Mazovia (he built or rebuilt churches in Brok, Płock, and Pułtusk, among others). The church's defensive character is emphasized by its three towers, which dominate the surrounding area like the castle's towers. It was also rebuilt later, including after 1655, thanks to the efforts of Albert Adrian Lasocki. It was during this time that the brick bastion walls surrounding the church grounds were built. Remnants of the moat still survive on the Bzura River side. Inside, above the side aisles, is a long porch, which allowed for a connection between the towers. Typical of the style of John Baptist of Venice is the barrel vault with a grid of decorative coffered ribs in the form of circles and rectangles.

The name of the village of Mikołajew probably comes from the Mikołajewski family, who have lived in these areas since ancient times. At the end of the 16th century, the village was called Mikołajewo. The first mention of the village dates back to 1603. At that time, the bishop of Poznań, Wawrzyniec Goślicki, visiting the parish of Sochaczew, came to Mikołajew to see the local branch chapel-church of the Holy Trinity. On 26 July 1815, a foundation was established for the construction of a church. According to its provisions, the inventory of the chapel in Skotniki was designated for the parish church, while councilor Netrebski undertook to build a church in Mikołajew and allocate appropriate funds to support the priest and his successors. By decree of 20 November 1815, Primate Raczyński established the parish of Saints John and Paul, martyrs, in Mikołajew, which included, among others, villages: Mikołajew, Kawęczyn, Skotniki and Strugi, excluded from the Sochaczew parish. The first administrator was the parish priest from Szymanów, Fr. Melchior Gromulski.