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Tourism in Wielkopolska

Any walk around Wielkopolska should begin with a visit to Ostrów Tumski with its gothic cathedral marking the birthplace of the Polish nation, then on to the beautiful Renaissance Town Hall nestled in the heart of the Old Marketplace and surrounded by period tenements, gothic and baroque churches, art nouveaux tenement houses erected in various parts of the city, and the many more rich monuments and unique places scattered all over the region’s map.

There are many well maintained monuments dating from the Romanesque period, and the majority can be found along the Piast Trail, one of the most interesting tourist trails that Poland has to offer. The route of the Piast Trail begins from Poznań’s cathedral, the final resting place of Poland’s first rulers, and from the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as from Psałteria. From Pobiedziska, where you can see Wielkopolska’s most famous buildings in one place – albeit in miniature, the trail leads to the island of Ostrów Lednicki, with a palatial-sacral architectural complex from the period of Mieszko I (around 966). From here it is only a short hop to Gniezno where the finest testament to its more than a thousand-year history is the basilica cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Romanesque vaults, gothic bulk, a string of baroque chapels and decorations of the highest class from all ages make it a treasure trove of Polish culture. The most valued things here are the XII century Gniezno Doors, illustrated with scenes depicting the death of Saint Wojciech and his relics housed in a silver sarcophagus.

In Poznań alone there are nearly 20 museums, including The Museum of Musical Instruments, the only one of its kind in Poland. It is though well worth visiting the many museums outside the regional capital, for example, The Museum of Agriculture and Food Industry in Szreniawa , or The Museum of Industrial History in Opatówek, as well as interesting open-air ethnographic museums like Beekeeping Museum in Swarzędz, The Wielkopolska Ethnographic Park in Lednica, The Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography in Osiek upon the River Noteć, The Folk Buildings of Western Wielkopolska in Wolsztyn, and the archaeological reserves of Ostrów Lednicki and Giecz. Another of the region’s big tourist attractions is Europe’s only working steam engine museum in Wolsztyn.

Wielkopolska’s gothic monuments are predominantly churches, the most prized of which are the cathedral in Gniezno, the Corpus Christi Church in Poznan and the collegiate church in Szamotuły. The best maintained gothic castle is Górka Palace in Szamotuły.

Renaissance buildings in Wielkopolska are predominantly secular in character, and the most splendid example is the Town Hall in Poznań. Many wonderful castles and palaces also date from this time, for example, the Leszczyński Palace in Gołuchów and the Górka Palace in Poznań (presently the Museum of Archaeology).

Baroque buildings, both sacred and secular – the residences of the gentry and the province’s magnates, came into being under the direction of outstanding Italian architects. Their work remains impressive to this day and can be enjoyed in amongst other places, Poznań’s ‘Fara’ Parish Church, the post-Cisterian church in Ląd, the monastery complex of the Philippines in Głogów near Gostyń, as well as the pearl of Polish baroque, Rydzyna, with its castle and a baroque town layout, unique in Poland and one of the few examples in Europe.

Wielkopolska is much more than just beautiful architecture and a wealth of cultural events. It also offers you the opportunity to get closer to nature. The region’s capital alone provides nature lovers with two zoos, botanical and dendrological gardens, a palm house and numerous parks, and even a nature reserve. There are four lakes to be found within Poznań’s boundaries – the natural lakes Kierskie and Strzeszyńskie, and the artificial Rusałka and Malta lakes. All of them are well-suited to recreation activities like sailing, canoeing and rowing.

The lowland scenery of Wielkopolska is varied by rivers and post-glacial lakes surrounded by forests offering oases of peace and quiet, of which the largest are to be found in the region’s following lake districts, Międzychodzko-Sierakowski, Leszczyński, Gnieźnieński, and in the area around Konin (Ślesin), moraine hills from which splendid views unfurl, as well as vast areas of woodland. There are two national parks to be found in the Wielkopolskie Province: The Wielkopolski National Park and part of Drawieński National Park. Interesting areas of woodland are protected in 13 nature parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The biggest of these is the Notecka Forest, the second largest forest complex in Poland growing on the doab between the River Warta and the River Noteć. In addition there is the Drawska Forest which stretches along the banks of the River Drawa, but which is within the province’s borders only in small parts. Also amongst the largest forests is Zielonka Forest near Poznań where you will find the oldest larch and pine forest in Wielkopolska. The province also has its own natural monuments, amongst which the most interesting are the famous “Rogalin Oaks” regarded as the largest cluster of old ok trees in Europe.

The richness of the flora and fauna and abundance of natural works of art you would think constitute enough of a motivation to acquaint oneself closer with the region or to plan your vacation here. Wielkopolska does, however, offer other attraction to encourage you to spend your free time here.

Eco-tourism farms have proved to be a major hit with tourists in Wielkopolska over the last few years. For the inhabitants from large towns seeking rest and relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of city life the countryside of Wielkopolska offers not just peace and quiet, good food and clean air, but a myriad of other attractions – from evenings by the campfire to angling and horse riding. The region offers lovers of horse riding many opportunities for spending their vacations in the saddle – starting from basic riding lessons, extending to more advanced horse riding skills and driving horse-driven vehicles. Alongside such well known centres situated in period palaces like in Iwno, Sieraków, Racot, Pępowo or Posadów, many private riding centres have sprung up over the last few years.

For those choosing to wander around Wielkopolska there are numerous marked footpaths and cycle trails to choose from. All of them lead you through the most charming beauty spots the area has to offer. The first tourist trail in Poland – The Kórnik Trail – was established here and is clearly marked with signs used across the European Union. It runs from Poznan through some of the most idyllic beauty spots surrounding Wielkopolska’s regional capital – Kórnik with its neo-gothic castle and wonderful arboretum, Rogalin with its palace surrounded by formal and English style gardens, Puszczykowo with its museum - The Literary Workshop of Arkady Fiedler, the distinguished travel writer, Jeziory with its Wielkopolska National Park Museum, and Szreniawa with its National Museum of Agriculture and Food Industry. For the weary wanderer there are a host of guesthouses, recreational centres, small hotels housed in period manor houses and palaces, youth hostels, eco-tourism farms, as well as campsites.

The project „Regions of Poland” was realized in cooperation with the Offices of the Presidents of the 16 regions of Poland.

Design, coordination, realization – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

Contents – Offices of the Presidents of the Regions

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