This is the greatest of this kind area protected in Poland embracing 87 040 ha. The park was established on June 3,1996. The region of the Barycz River Valley is an exceptional area for the nature both on a Polish and European level. Over 280 bird species with 169 breeding ones were confirmed here. Only in the reserve "Milicz Ponds" (Stawy Milickie) 137 species regularly hatches with near half of them are the mud and waterbirds. On the territory of the Barycz River Valley Landscape Park there are several prohibitions in force: location of particularly harmful to environmentally investments or those that can worsen the state of the environment, introduction of changes to the water relations that can have a negative impact on the natural environment, liquidation of small ponds, old - iver beds or transformation of boggy terrains,building of houses beside existing establishments. It is also prohibited to camp beside marked places and to organize motor and car rallies.

"Milicz Ponds" Nature Reserve.

It was created in 1963 on surface of 5324 ha (the ponds themselves have 3807 ha). It is the largest nature reserve in Poland, bigger than some of national parks. The reserve combines of five separate parts of ponds from different complexes, three of them are in the Milicz Commune: Ruda Sułowska (799 ha), Potasznia (370 ha) and the largest the Stawno (1629 ha). The reserve was created for protections of many valuable and rare bird species as well as water and mud environments-the places of their nesting, feeding and rest. Hunting is prohibited on the whole area of the reserve. At the same time, a fish farming with some limitations Is being carried out. On some of the ponds a total prohibition of ponds deepening and cutting out of rushes is in (orce, though. These are the biggest ponds, of surface of approx. 300 ha each, so called breeding ponds (pond Grabownica, Słoneczny Górny, Henryk, Nowy Świat Górny and Mewi Duży). On the territory of the reserve a prohibition of entering the ponds and dikes with the exception of public roads and touristic routes is also in force. To enter other parts of the reserve a" permission from the State Enterprise "Stawy Milickie" in Ruda Sułowska and the Voivodeship Nature Conservator from Wrocław is required. The Milicz Ponds belong to the Living Lakes - an international network of lakes and different water reservoirs characterized by exceptional natural values in global terms. This network currently consists of 24 lakes among which so well-known and important ecosystems as Bajkal, Dead Sea, Pantanal, Balaton, Titicaca and Lake Victoria can be found.

Joanna's Hill

forest nature reserve, 7 km south from Milicz (direction of Wrocław). This reserve was created in 1962 on surface of 24,23 ha for preservation of beech spilling position near eastern border of this tree range. It occupies the highest part of the eminence with height of 230 metres above the sea level. The Hill is a part of the moraine hills belt of Wzgórza Krośnickie (Krośnickie Hilis) that divide the two Barycz basins. The reserve is located approx.1.5 km south -east from the village of Postolin near road from Gruszeczka to Świebodów. On the top of the Hill a small hunting castle, built by Rudolf von Salisch in 1850. with a view tower is located. When the air is clear enough it is possible to see not only the panorama of Barycz Valley but in the distance of 130 km the summit of Śnieżka in Giant Mts.(Karkonosze) as well. If you want to access to the tower you must contact the Milicz Forest Inspectorate (Nadleśnictwo Milicz): phone:071 3809301.

Nature trails.

There are 4 marked nature trails in the Milicz Commune. Their course in the terrain is usually marked by white squares with diagonal green belt. In distinction from remai- ning routes these paths are characterized by specially described points of interest on their course that allow for educational activities and provide relevant information to individual tourists. The majority fo natural paths have special boards and informative charts. The short description of these paths is also provided in the Nature Guide Park Krajobrazowy Dolina Baryczy (Barycz River Valley Landscape Park) authored by Ewald and Włodzimierz Ranoszek,issued by Gottwald in Milicz (in Polish, with English summary). The trail in Ruda Sułowska runs over the dikes that separate the Żabieniec and Trześniówka ponds. While on the path you can become familiar with the fishermen's work and typical elements of every pond and with the waterbirds and water plants. The trail in Postolin goes through old beech forests to the reserve "Wzgórze Joanny" (Joanna's Hill). The path passes by magnificent oak trees, old park and cemetery established according to the concept of dendrologist and lover of the forest Heinrich von Salisch - the former owner of the palace in Postolin. . The trail in Milicz - Karłów permits to see the old - growth pine forest, oak woods - majority of which are part of the projected nature reserve, and in the end a breakthrough of a forest stream can be visited. The trail in Ruda Milicka goes through oak woods over the ponds and then via a scenic dike cuts across the largest of the pond complexes the "Sławno" complex. Besides the Barycz River, already pass the borders of the reserve, the very best conditions for bird watching, the full richness of flora are near the pond "Gadzinowy Duży". Bicycle routs. Barycz River Valley is a dream area for funs of bicycle. The extensive network of hard-surfaced forest and local roads with exceptionally low car traffic, beautiful scenery and varied landscape invites taking bicycle trips in this area. The offer of touristic paths and routes for bicycle tourists became more and more richer and interesting. Bicycle routs are marked with the sign of the bike and a strip in the colour of the rout. The detailed description of the routs with special maps are accessible in the guide - book: Wzgórza Trzebnickie i Dolina Baryczy. Przewodnik rowerowy, issued by Association of Touristic Communes of the Trzebnickie Hilis and Barycz River Valley in Trzebnica and Wydawnictwo PLAN from Wrocław (only in Polish). The main trail is The Bicycle Route of the Barycz River Valley running axially along the Barycz River on the route (in the Milicz Commune): Grabówka - Ruda Sułowska - Sułów - Milicz - Ruda Milicka - Staw Czarny Las - Potasznia - Bartniki. The route, of the lenght of 50 km, is joined with remaining existing and projected systems of bicycle routes. The route of the greatest importance is International Route R9 Adriatic - Baltic,though. It crosses the Barycz River Valley from the south to the north, and joins the area with the Polish big cities: Wrocław and Poznań. It joins with the other routes Ruda Sułowska village.The important route is the Trzebnica Bicycle Loop marked with red colour with lenght of about 171 km, 50 km of which runs through the Barycz River Valley. The Route runs through the most interesting places of Żmigród Valley. It allows to visit and get acquainted with historical monuments of the city of Żmigród. Further, it goes on the edge of several larger water reservoirs: the Grabówka, Jamnik and Sieczkowski ponds as well as through pond complex of Ruda Sułowska.Here it meets the Bicycle Route of the Barycz River Valley.It is also worth to cycle by the black marked route, called "To the Barycz Valley" ("W dolinę Baryczy"), that joins the area with the beautiful towns of the Great Poland.