    
POMERANIAPomerania (Pomorze) is a historical and geographical region in northern
Poland along the Baltic coast. It is divided into Western Pomerania (around
Szczecin) and Eastern Pomerania (around Gdansk) . Geographically, it encompasses
two different landscape zones: the coast and, more inland, the lake districts.
The Pomeranian Lake District (Pojezierze Pomorskie)
extends across the southern part of Eastern and Western Pomerania,
and includes the Myslib贸rz, Drawa and Kashubian Lake Districts
(Pojezierze Mysliborskie, Pojezierze Drawskie, Pojezierze Kaszubskie)
as well as the Bory Tucholskie (the Tuchola Forest). It's a paradise for
loners and nature lovers who stay away from popular resorts with their
crowded beaches and noisy discos. But you don't have to be a recluse to
take delight in the clean lakes and rivers with their good fishing
grounds, or in the vast forests in which you can pick basketfuls of boletus
mushrooms.
NATURE: CLIFFS, DUNES, AND LAKES
Mammals are represented by seals and porpoises. The seals live both in the water and on the shore, where they rest and breed. The porpoises are related and similar to dolphins, but with shorter and more rounded snouts. What makes the Polish coast so alluring is its diversified coastline. All the beaches are sandy, strewn with sea-washed shells, stones, and pieces of amber. The shore has alternating high and flat stretches: cliffs and dunes. The most impressive examples of cliffs (up to 100 metres in height) can be found on Wolin Island, where they are protected by the Wolin National Park, and also near Kolobrzeg, Ustronie Morskie, Jaroslawiec, Jastrz臋bia G贸ra and the Triple City, while the biggest and most attractive shifting dunes are in the Slowinski National Park near 艁eba. Facts
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 Orzel bielik (white-tailed eagle) Photo: Fot. M. Czasnojc www.poland.gov.pl |
The Wolin National Park was established in 1960.
Originally, its area was just 48.5 sq km, but in 1996 it was extended
to 109 sq km. The Park's beauty lies in the diversity of its natural
and geological composition. The cliffs here are among the highest
and longest moraine elevations on the Polish coast. The most picturesque,
steep cliffs, reminiscent of Friedrich's paintings, stretch
east of Mi臋dzyzdroje. The unique soils support orchids,
represented in the Park by as many as nine species. The cliff-tops
are dominated by wind-gnarled pines and beeches. The Park is proud
of its European bison, bred in a fenced reserve, and white-tailed
eagles, with ten couples of these big seabirds nesting
on the island. |
Facts
The white-tailed eagle is a bird of prey
with the wing-span of about 2.5 m and weight 5.5 kg. One couple may produce
1-2 nestlings a year. The eagle is native to Iceland, Central and Eastern
Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia and the western part of Greenland. In
Poland, it lives in the north - you're most likely to see it at Lake Wicko,
on the Przytorski Peninsula, and in the coastal part of the Wolin NP.
The white-tailed eagle is Poland's national emblem.
Leaving Wolin Island and going east, you enter a dramatically different
land, sometimes referred to as the Polish Sahara. If you want to take
a closer look at its beauty, you should visit the Slowinski National
Park, located in the central part of the Polish coast. Established
in 1967, it covers 18,200 hectares. Because of its unique landscapes,
in 1977 this Park was put on the UNESCO list of World Biosphere Reserves.
It encompasses 32 km of coastline and owes its beauty to the last
glaciation, which carved out the hills, and the sea currents that for
thousands of years have been depositing sand and creating the dunes,
bars, and coastal lakes.
Dunes cover almost the entire width of the 20 km-long 艁eba Spit. The central
5 km stretch of the spit, about 1 km wide, has shifting dunes. The wind,
said to blow here for 360 days a year, ripples the dune surface, creating
elongated waves. As a result, the dunes take on fantastic shapes: parabolic
dykes, burial mounds, hills, troughs ,and basins which look like Saharan
landscapes.
Facts
The dunes in the Slowinski National Park
make up the biggest area of moving sand in Central Europe and one of the
biggest on the whole continent.
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The sand washed up by the sea is dried by the sun and wind, which at the same time blows it inland. The most active dunes are moving in a south-eastern direction at a speed of up to 10 metres a year (4.7 m on average). Nothing can stop this movement. The forests buried by sand die and when the sand-wave moves on the dead tree trunks resurface. The landscape continues to transform. 艁eba, the main tourist centre in this region, dating back to the 13th century, ceased to exist in the 16th century. It was destroyed by sea storms and buried in sand, so that it had to be rebuilt from scratch in a new place. Its fate has been shared by a few other villages. |
 Slowinski National Park Photo: www.poland.gov.pl |
Facts
During the Second World War the
dunes were a training ground for the Germen Africa Corps before its deployment
in Africa. The Germans also tested their V1 and V2 rockets here. You can
still see the ruins of their shooting range facilities and launch-pads.
Another characteristic element of the landscape of the Slowinski National Park are the vast, shallow coastal lakes, including the enormous 艁ebsko (about 7000 ha) and Gardno (almost 2400 ha). These were once sea bays, gradually cut off from the Baltic by sand bars. The Park is home to some 800 species of flowers, including - the most beautiful of all - orchids. The trees are mainly pines, birches and alders, but you can also come across dwarf mountain pines, introduced by man in the early 20th century to afforest the shifting dunes. Exceptionally well represented are the birds - there are nearly 260 species. As you would expect, most of them are water and mud birds like grebes, cormorants, gulls, terns, swans, cranes, and black storks; you may also spot an occasional white-tailed eagle, lesser spotted eagle, goshawk, or eagle owl. The lakes are fished for pike, pike perch, roach, salmon, and flounder.
Facts
The eagle owl (Latin name: Bubo bubo) is the biggest owl in Europe.
Its length may be up to 75 cm, and the wing-span can even go up to1.65
m. It lives up to 30 years. It is native to Europe, Central Asia and North
Africa, living both in mountains and lowlands. It has characteristic feather
tufts on its head which look like ears, big orange eyes, and a white chin.
In Poland it is under protection.
The Park is best visited on foot or by bike. The ramblers' walks, bike routes and nature trails are well-kept, allowing you access to every part of this exceptional terrain. The total length of the signposted trails is 140 km. The most popular outing is to 艁筩ka G贸ra, one of the highest shifting dunes in Europe (42 m). In the Park you can also have a picnic, rent a boat, or ride a horse. 艁eba is a good place to take a sea or lake cruise combined with a visit to a renowned open-air museum of traditional architecture - the Muzeum Wsi Slowinskiej in Kluki. Accommodation in the area is good, with a streadily increasing number of places to stay.
Inland: the Kashubian Switzerland, forests and mysterious rings
Two lakelands, the Kashubian and Drawa Lake Districts, and the huge
expanses of the Tuchola Forest are some of the biggest natural and tourist
treasures in Poland, easily accessible and stunningly beautiful.
Local legend has it that Kashubia was the last part of the world created
by God. He still had plenty of building materials left, so He sprinkled
the area liberally with them. The Kashubian Lake District is covered with
huge forests, colourful fields, and undulating hills, uncommon in this
part of the country. Between the hills, there are wild ravines strewn
with immense boulders, bucolic villages, and rushing rivers. There are
also hundreds of fabulously situated, crystal-clear lakes, their scenic
shores bristling with little peninsulas.
The part of the lake district with the most diversified geology and landscapes
is called the Kashubian Switzerland. The name is said
to have been coined in the late 19th century. Soon its German equivalent,
Die Kassubische Schweiz, also became widely used. In the 1930s
Polish and German guidebooks popularised it in Europe.
The heart and chief attraction of the Kashubian Switzerland is the
40km-long series of the Radunskie Lakes - 14 lakes connected
by the Radunia River. This is one of the most popular canoeing
routes. The area is protected by the Kashubian Natural Landscape
Park. Even the most widely-travelled globetrotters find its mountain-like
landscapes stunning. The picturesque Kashubian Road, built in the
1960s and reputed to be the most popular ramblers' walk in the lake
district, runs along the Radunskie Lakes. This clean, semi-wild area is
a haven for animals. Its great attraction are the huge flocks of cranes.
It's Poland's biggest crane habitat. Before the autumn flight
from northern Kashubia to warmer climates, up to five thousand birds can
gather at one place. There are also plenty of storks around. They're
so common here that you can hardly find a Kashubian village
without any storks.
Facts
Cranes are the biggest birds nesting in Poland: their height goes up to
1.5 m and wing-span up to 2.5 m. Incredibly timid, they keep to remote,
unpolluted areas, and Kashubia is an ideal environment for them.
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The southern part of the region is covereed by the magnificent Tuchola Forest. The vast, fragrant pinewoods (1,170 sq km) generate a unique, salubrious microclimate. Criss-crossed with dirt-tracks and paths, the forest harbours tiny lakes covered with fairy-tale water-lilies. Strolling around the forest, you'll come across big mushrooms and delicious berries. On a bike, you can breathe in the balsamic air and pedal for 30 km through the forest without seeing any human settlements (it's an extremely sparsely populated area). While kayaking or boating on the lakes, you can marvel at the picturesque sandy escarpments and small, shallow coves with crayfish on the lake bed showing how pure the water is. |
 Tuchola Forest Photo: www.poland.gov.pl |
Another attraction in the Tuchola Forest are the two huge lakes, Wdzydze
and Charzykowskie. Lake Charzykowskie is a 9.5 km long
trough sheltered by woods. Ideal for water sports, it often has more sails
and kayaks on it than water birds. The charming Lake Wdzydze, which the
locals call the Kashubian Sea, is a paradise for anglers, and
for sailors and canoeists, who can take the popular Wda River Route. In
1996 a small patch of the forest (4789.3 hectares) was designated the
Bory Tucholskie National Park, one of the smallest
national parks in Poland. Environmentalists recommend that the protected
area should be at least twice as big, and the Park is likely to be extended
in the future. It was created to save the unique flora (including some
sixty species of lichens on the Red List), crystal-clear lobelia
lakes (named after a pretty plant with white flowers that grows on their
shores) and dystrophic ponds overgrown by rare plants, as well as wildlife,
notably the capercaillie, recognised as the Park's emblem.
The Park authorities promote active tourism, offering visitors a good
infrastructure. The region boasts an 85km network of rambling, biking
and riding trails, while the lakes, except for those under strict protection,
can be enjoyed in all kinds of boats and kayaks.
Kashubia is a great place for lovers of natural beauty, romantic souls,
explorers, and seekers of tranquillity. This does not mean that you won't
find entertainment here. Over the last few years, the region has seen
the development of countless studs and horse-riding schools, marinas,
bathing places and catering establishments. The delicious cuisine and
lots of stylish restaurants are a big asset. The Kashubians know
how to promote their culture, which tourists find so fascinating. Many
villages hold folk festivals with music, dances, bread-baking, fish-frying,
and other folkloric events. The whole region, even its remotest
corners, is full of holiday pensions, many of them open all year round
(in winter you can ski in the area). Many of these places are purpose-built, and
offer a high standard of comfort. Quite a number have their own horses
and tennis courts. Some are nothing short of luxurious; others will pamper
you with their cosiness and family atmosphere. Recently agrotourist farms
have been mushrooming, so that now even in the tiniest hamlets the locals
offer tourist accommodation.
Facts
The oldest and most mysterious structures
in Kashubia are the stone rings that have survived in many places. Pomerania
is the only region of Poland to have stone circles like this. The
best known are those in W臋siory, Odry, Le渘o, 艁upawa, and Siemirowice.
Usually they are 13-33 m in diameter, with stone-covered burial mounds
nearby. Some archaeologists think that the cirlces date from the first
centuries AD, though others believe that they may have been built much
earlier - between 4000 and 1800 BC. Who exactly constructed them - perhaps
tribes of Scandinavian origin? - is still a matter of controversy. Inevitably,
there are also people who see them as landing facilities for aliens.
Water diviners claim that the stones accumulate energy and are a source
of strong radiation.
This part of Poland has another land of lakes, rivers and forests - the Drawa Lake District (Pojezierze Drawskie) stretching south of Pojezierze Zachodnie (the Western Lake District), far from the buzz of civilisation - an area that's charming, peaceful, and still waiting to be discovered by tourists. Though uncrowded, it offers excellent accommodation and catering facilities, accompanied by a good network of signposted ramblers' walks. The lush Drawa Forest (Puszcza Drawska) harbours clean lakes and meandering rivers, among them the Drawa and the Pilawa. In 1990, the south-western corner of the region, on the border between Pomerania and Greater Poland, was designated the Drawa National Park to protect the most valuable areas along the Drawa River and its tributary, the Plociczna. A magnificent pine forest and Poland's most extensive beech forest account for over 80% of the 11,000 hectares. The best way to visit the Park is along the Drawa, one of the most popular kayaking routes in Poland.
CITIES AND SITES
The Triple City: Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot
Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot, which cover a strip of coastline along the Gulf of Gdansk, make up a conurbation known as the Triple City. Gdansk was founded on an ancient trading route called the Royal Way (Via Regia). In 1922, when Poland had access to only a short stretch of the coast, a decision was taken to build a new port, Gdynia, that would compete with Gdansk, which at the time was a Free City outside Poland. After the Second World War Gdansk and Sopot returned to Poland and the three municipalities quickly evolved into one huge metropolis. With their excellent transport connections, Gdansk, Sopot, and Gdynia are unique in Europe, being at once three seperate municipal structures and one mega-city with three large, strikingly different environments.
Gdansk
With its thousand years of history, Gdansk is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Poland. Some even claim it's the most beautiful. Nobel prizewinner G黱ter Grass says that the key to its greatness is multiculturalism. Admittedly, merging and mixing cultures always yield remarkable results. Gdansk's wealth and power was jointly built by the Poles, Germans, Dutchmen, and Frenchmen.
Although the area was colonised already five thousand years ago, the
origins of the city date back to the years 967-972, when Duke
Mieszko I conquered Pomerania. Archaeological excavations have revealed
that a fortified settlement was established at that time here, which evolved
into one of the richest and most prosperous cities on the Baltic, with
a stunning architecture and works of art created by renowned European
masters like Abraham van den Blocke, Willem van den Blocke, Jan (Johannes)
Kramer, Anton van Obbergen, Jan Vredeman de Vries. They designed, constructed
and adorned Gdansk's houses, churches and fortifications, producing an
impressive array of styles.
Gdansk is an unforgettable place. Once you've seen it, you will always remeber
it as a fairy-tale city with narrow-fronted, gabled houses and fancy church
towers that surprise you with the chimes of their bells. You
can't describe it without talking about its people, a unique mixture of
descendants of those who came here after 1945 from all over Poland,
Kashubia and the East, their mild variety of local patriotism allowing
them to accept strangers without falling into chauvinism or provincionalism.
Facts
In 1980 Gdansk became the cradle of the Solidarity
movement, led by Lech Wal臋sa. Solidarity made a major contribution
to the fall of Communism in Poland and Europe.
Gdansk is to be discovered in stages. First, you have to stroll around the charming Gl贸wne Miasto (Main City) containing all the major historic buildings. The 16th-century Brama Wy偶ynna (Upper Gate) and Zlota Brama (Golden Gate) open onto the Droga Kr贸lewska (Royal Progress Road). The fine, slender houses lining the street once belonged to the wealthiest merchants and notables who entertained the kings of Poland. This was also a place of public executions, balls, auctions and parades - the heart of Gdansk.
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And it's still the heart of the city. Ulica Dluga and Dlugi Targ are the focus of Gdansk's public life, and you can spend many hours here savouring their charm. Admire the opulent buildings with their lavish interiors: the Gothic-Renaissance town hall, the 14th-century Artus Court, the Zlota Kamienica (Golden House) with the richest faade in the city. This is also the location of the famous Neptune Fountain - the most widely recognised symbol of Gdansk. Traditionally, sailors visited it to thank the sea god for allowing them to return safely home. The first bronze figure of Neptune was put up here in 1615; a few years later a fountain was added. |
 Neptune fountain Photo: www.poland.gov.pl |
Facts
In August Gdansk plays host to the famous
Jarmark Dominikanski (Dominican Fair), with big marquees, small
stalls and makeshift tables on the pavement, where amidst all kinds of
bric-a-brac you can occasionally find a genuine treasure. There's
everything here: objets d'art, silver-, gold-, and amberware jewellery, paintings,
sculptures, ceramics, original fabrics and costumes, old books and records,
fancy souvenirs, priceless antiques and modern household appliances. The
fair is accompanied by concerts and street performances which contribute
to the unique atmosphere of this event, well worth seeing and experiencing.
What makes old cities so charming are their evocative streets, lanes and walks. In Gdansk it's no different. Wandering along the narrow streets, sooner or later you'll reach the most famous historic building in the city - St Mary's Church, the largest brickwork Gothic church in the world. Seven streets lead to its seven gates. The cavernous interior of this 13th-century construction makes you feel simply ant-like.
Facts
St Mary's Church is 105 m high and 66 m wide; the vaulting is 33 m above
the floor, while the tower measures 82 m. The total area of the roofs
is about 1 hectare, and the triple-nave interior is illuminated by 37
huge windows. St. Mary's can easily accommodate 25 thousand people. Curiously,
when the church was built, Gdansk's population was only half that
figure.
Another magical place in Gdansk is the Motlawa River. You can feel its attraction from every point in the Main City. Already by the Neptune Fountain you can hear the noisy gulls and smell the distinctive odour of decaying wood, sea-salt, ship-oil and seaweed. The Motlawa smells of adventure and sea voyages which link the past with the present. Walking along the waterfronts Dlugie Pobrze偶e and Rybackie Pobrze偶e you'll pass by a colourful medley of strollers, postcard vendors, and amber sellers outside picturesque cafs and souvenir shops. Bright lights, music, stylish houses, and granaries all contribute to the climate of this place, where fairs were held already in the Middle Ages, sailors rested and merchants unloaded their ships.
Gdansk, Moltawa River. Photo: www.poland.gov.pl
Gdansk has another treasure: the suburb of Oliwa, the
prettiest neighbourhood in the city and a mecca for organ music lovers. A
14th-century cathedral stands amid a green, undulating landscape. It's renowned
throughout Poland for its magnificent Rococo organ with mechanised carved
figures and a wonderful sound. In summer the Cathedral is the venue
of the Oliwa Festival of Organ Music. The recitals here
remind you of the mediaeval mystery plays and are given enthusiastic
applause by enchanted listeners, many of whom are moved to tears.
Other places of interest are the old seaport (with an obligatory pleasure-boat
ride), and the famous stronghold of Wislouj渃ie at the mouth of the Vistula,
and Westerplatte, where the Second World War began. And of course
there are the scenic beaches, a great place for amber-collecting.
Gdynia
It's hard to believe, but still in the early 20th century Gdynia
was just a small fishing village, like many other villages along
the Baltic coast. Today, the youngest part of the Triple City looks like
a classic seaport. Indeed, it has become one of the most important and
modern commercial, naval, fishing and yacht harbours on the Baltic. Gdynia
is a place to see big ocean ships and warships at close range . Many marine
educational institutions and professional yacht clubs are based here.
You can sail from here to Sweden, America, or any other part of the globe.
Spacious and bright, even on cloudy days Gdynia will impress you
with its white walls, streets and quays. The city stands out for its architecture
and layout. Built in the 1920s and 1930s, its centre is one of the most
remarkable examples of Modernism. It has no truly old buildings except
for some reminders of the early days of the city and port from the 1920s.
When visiting Gdynia, you should adopt a different time scale than in
Gdank. Don't be puzzled by "historic building" plaques on Modernist structures,
very much like those on 15th-century houses in Gdansk and Cracow - here
"history" simply began a bit later.
There are two museum ships moored at the huge Gdynia pier . First the
Dar Pomorza , a handsome three-mast frigate. Built in
1909 in the Hamburg shipyard, it was first a German merchant ship and
then the property of a French baron who eventually sold it to the
Polish state. Between 1930 and 1981, when it was a training ship for Polish
cadets, the Dar Pomorza took part in five tall-ship regattas, winning
twice. Today you can visit the elegant living quarters with all kinds
of souvenirs from its numerous voyages. Behind the Dar Pomorza is the
destroyer Blyskawica, an eye-catching warship built in
England in the 1930s. Wandering over its narrow decks and steep stairs,
through the cabins, holds, torpedo rooms, lookouts and gun turrets is
an exciting experience. Polish Navy sailors continue to keep watch aboard
the Blyskawica.
Once you've visited the ships, go to the Oceanographic Museum,
certainly one of the most interesting museums in Poland and on the coast.
In a huge aquarium you can admire the world of formidable morays and piranhas,
dazzling tropical fish, big sea turtles and over a hundred other marine
creatures. The dim aquarium rooms are illuminated only with a faint greenish
light that imitates the depths of the sea . The museum section boasts
an enormous model of the Baltic seabed, some stuffed marine mammals and
a display of prehistoric animals including a fossilised giant turtle and
an awe-inspiring 100-million-year shark jaw that would frighten even Spielberg's
monster.
When in Gdynia, you must see two lovely residential neighbourhoods, Orlowo
and Redlowo. They're both a delight for all lovers of
nature and scenic landscapes. The wave-pounded cliff is so ravishingly
beautiful that it seems almost unreal. You can savour it at will from
a wooden walking pier. Nearby is the K臋pa Redlowska Nature Reserve, a
beauty spot popular with both locals and tourists alike.
Sopot
No one knows what makes Sopot so popular. Rather than bother to try
to explain this phenomenon, let yourself be mesmerised by this remarkable
resort. This is precisely what the pre-war Polish jet set did, coming
here to have a good time, indulge their fantasies and shock the public
with scandals that became pass once a new season began.
Sandwiched between Gdansk and Gdynia, Sopot remains a mecca for fun-seekers,
providing the Triple City with evocative Art Nouveau architecture, wild,
hilly scenery and rich traditions of a resort once known as "the Riviera
of the North". Today it bustles with cafs,
bars, restaurants, and casinos. There's also a popular racecourse, and
you can always have a pleasant walk in the nearby hills.
Facts
In 1926 Sopot was the birthplace of Klaus Kinski (then his name was Klaus
Nakszynski). The controversial German actor played in over 200 films and
claimed to have had over 5,000 women. In his family house at ul. Bohater贸w
Monte Cassino 10 there is a photo gallery devoted to him and a pub serving
Kinski beer.
Sopot's pride and joy is the pier. Dating back to 1824, the 516m-long wooden construction with an over 100m-long spur is one of the longest walking piers in Europe, doubling as a quay for sailing and pleasure boats. Without a stroll here, you can't say you've been to Sopot. The wide promenade jutting into the sea is lined with comfortable benches while at its end there is a small bar and a vantage point. Occasionally, the pier is used for music concerts, mainly during the annual international festival when rock and alternative groups play here.
 Pier in Sopot Photo: www.poland.gov.pl |
On both sides of the pier there stretches a magnificent beach neighbouring on a park. Other, more inland parts of the resort - with charming lanes, pre-war houses and scenic hills, also make an excellent place for a romantic walk. Sopot may be conveniently visited on your way from Gdansk to Gdynia, but if you have enough time, try to stay here for a bit longer. |
Kolobrzeg: green and wholesome
Kolobrzeg is the biggest and best-known spa on the Polish coast. With its dozen or so brine springs, it is especially popular with people who suffer from respiratory, circulatory, and rheumatic diseases, metabolic disorders, and diabetes. Its innumerable health centres receive patients all year long, the sea air having particularly curative properties during autumn and winter storms. For this reason, unlike most other sea resorts, Kolobrzeg is full of activity at any time of the year, offering its guests all kinds of entertainment.
Facts
The local springs were being used by
saltmakers as early as in the 7th century. Mediaeval documents record
Cholberge in monte salis - a town on a salt hill. The salt-works
continued until the 19th century, when the curative properties of
the brine springs became important. Kolobrzeg became a popular
resort relatively late, as from the 17th century to 1872 it was a
fortress in which all the decisions were made by military planners. Later
it quickly grew into a fashionable spa with pensions, restaurants and health
centres offering brine, vapour and peat baths. And it is still
like that today.
Today's Kolobrzeg is a beautiful city, but during the Second World War
it was almost razed to the ground. Its restoration started in the 1950s
and hasn't finished yet, as still more time is needed to bring back
the Old City's former splendour.
The most appealing part of the city is the seafront. Here you will find
a commercial and passenger port that also harbours grey warships. One
of them, the Fala, has been turned into a floating museum. From the
port, you can also take a sea cruise, arguably the most
attractive on the Polish coast. The colourful pleasure boats are modelled
on Viking longships, Christopher Columbus' caravels, and pirate ships.
Another attraction is a catamaran to the Danish island of Bornholm.
Next to the port there is a wide expanse of sandy beaches with a lighthouse,
pier, and promenade. Nearby new houses imitating those in the Old City
help to transform this area into a new centre with lively bars, small
restaurants and shops. It's a lush neighbourhood with vast parks along
the beach and more to the east, ancient oaks and a beechwood enveloping
a big amphitheatre - a venue for various summer events and concerts. The
parks are a good place to take a rest.
See also the southern part of the city, away from the sea and parks. Here
you will find an impressive Gothic cathedral, a fine town hall housing
a gallery of modern art, and the New Old City, the most interesting housing
complex in town. Kolobrzeg plays host to many cultural events: the Kolobrzeg
Summer Music Festival, Interfolk (the International
Folk Festival), the Military Song Festival, the Chamber Music Concerts
(autumn). There are also good discos and dances. The casual spa atmosphere
with throngs of single holidaymakers is conducive to making friends...
The Hel Peninsula: fishing villages and trendy resorts
The Hel Peninsula, 34 km long and, at some points, less than 200 m wide,
was formed by centuries of sand deposition by the sea.. A mid 17th-century
Swedish map shows a chain of six islands rather than a continuous sand-bar.
The peninsula rises just 1.5-2 metres above sea level, with some dunes
reaching up to 10 metres. All along the shore there are scenic beaches
interspersed every few kilometres with pretty resorts.
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The peninsula became fashionable in the inter-war period, when artists, politicians and wealthy professionals came here for their holidays. In 1922 a 44km railway line was built to the very tip of the Hel Peninsula. This was quickly followed by the construction of smart hotels and pensions, mainly in the area that eventually became the resort of Jurata. Spending your summer holidays in Jastarnia or Jurata is still pretty much en vogue, which inevitably means higher prices. |
 Hel is an ideal place for windsurfing Photo: www.poland.gov.pl |
Since 1978 the peninsula has been protected by a natural landscape
park whose main attractions are the dune vegetation, salt marsh
halophytes and impressive pinewoods.
You can get a suntan on the Hel beaches almost as quickly as on the Mediterranean.
Washed by the sea on both sides, the Hel Peninsula has two microclimates.
On the Baltic side, where cool northern winds blow, the sand warms more
slowly and the water is colder. The beaches along the Gulf of Puck are
sheltered by a belt of dunes and forests and are warmer, while the
shallow water is great for bathing.
Wladyslawowo, both a resort and a major fishing port,
lies at the base of the peninsula . This is the place where you can
buy the freshest fish and get delicious smoked cod or pickled herring.
Not far from here is the northernmost tip of Poland - Cape
Rozewie, with a famous lighthouse and breathtaking sunsets. Going
further east, you come to another interesting place: the narrow fishing
village of Chalupy with its tiny houses, a small port,
fine beach and massive, pine-covered dunes. There are no big holiday homes
in this area, but you can stay at one of the numerous guest houses and
well-maintained campsites. This is also a good place for windsurfing.
Jastarnia is a big seaside resort with shops, bars and
many cultural events. Slightly further east lies Jurata,
the youngest resort on the peninsula, established in 1928. Arguably, it
is also the best-known resort in Poland - already before the War it was
regarded as the trendiest place to spend summer holidays. Here you could
rub elbows with politicians and other celebrities. Over the last few years,
Jurata has again become an exclusive resort with top-class pensions and
hotels, very expensive and rather posh.
Hel, the easternmost resort on the peninsula, has
been visited by throngs of holidaymakers since the 19th century. It boasts
a lovely centre with fishermen's houses, a pine grove and a wide sandy
beach. The very tip of the peninsula is renowned for its unique microclimate,
an outcome of the strong winds that account for the tingling fresh
air and some of the biggest waves along the Polish coast. On
the opposite side, the quiet and windless Gulf of Puck has a lively fishing
port and yacht marina; in this part ot town you can also visit an exciting
fishing museum and a sealarium.
 Malbork Castle Photo: www.poland.gov.pl |
Malbork: a Teutonic fortressMalbork on the River Nogat (an arm of the Vistula) in
the eastern part of the region is a town of 40 thousand with wide
streets, low buildings and substantial stretches of mediaeval
defence walls. |
The middle ward is the biggest and has three huge, finely-shaped wings, a vast courtyard, sumptuously decorated elevations and chambers, all surrounded by defensive walls, towers and a moat. Adjacent to the west wing is the Grand Master's Palace, a gem of Gothic architecture. The upper ward has four wings, splendid two-level cloisters and terrifying dungeons. Here you can also visit a Teutonic kitchen - complete with oak tables, a huge stove and a lift to transport the ready meals upstairs - dining room, dormitories, knights' halls and even a latrine. The lower ward, the outermost line of fortifications with store rooms, long walls and a wide moat, makes a perfect place for a romantic walk. Attracting few visitors and covered with thick grass and lush bushes, it is also great for an unforgettable picnic in the shade of a Gothic wall.
In 1997 Malbork Castle was entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Visited every year by half a million tourists, it offers many additional attractions like guided walks by night. Though the halls and chambers are locked at that time, wandering around the dark cloisters, courtyards and walkways is an exciting adventure. On summer nights son-et-lumière spectacles are held, with neighing horses, rattling weapons and evocatively illuminated walls.
Source: www.poland.gov.pl
