Category: Around & about

Category: Around & about

Kuyavia-Pomerania (Kujawsko-Pomorskie)

Kuyavia-Pomerania

Kuyavia-Pomerania – updated 19 January 2023.

The Kuyavia-Pomerania (Kujawsko-Pomorskie) region in Poland is located in the north-central part of the country, and is known for its beautiful landscapes, rich history, and cultural heritage. The region is bordered by the Vistula River and the Masurian Lake District to the east, the Pomeranian Voivodeship to the north, and the Greater Poland Voivodeship to the south.

Main cities & towns

The main towns and cities in the Kuyavia-Pomerania (Kujawsko-Pomorskie) region of Poland include:

  1. Bydgoszcz: The capital of the region and one of the main economic and cultural centers of the region. It is known for its historic buildings and monuments, such as the Gothic-style St. Martin’s Church, the Baroque-style Town Hall, and the Opera Nova, as well as for its industrial development and modern infrastructure.
  2. Toruń: This is one of the oldest cities in Poland and is known for its well-preserved medieval Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toruń is also famous for being the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus.
  3. Grudziądz: This is a charming town located on the banks of the Vistula River, it’s known for its rich history and cultural heritage, and for its well-preserved medieval Old Town.
  4. Włocławek: This is an important economic center of the region and is known for its industrial development, particularly in the field of textiles. The city also has a rich cultural heritage and is home to several historic buildings and monuments.
  5. Inowrocław: This is a charming town with a rich history and cultural heritage, it’s known for its beautiful parks, historic churches, and the Inowrocław Saltworks, which is one of the oldest and most important salt mines in Poland.
  6. Brodnica: This is a small town with a rich history and cultural heritage, it’s known for its well-preserved medieval Old Town, its historic church and the Gothic-style town hall.

These are some of the main towns and cities of the Kuyavia-Pomerania region, but the region is also home to several other smaller towns and villages, each with its own unique history, culture and attractions.

Natural landscapes

One of the main attractions of the Kuyavia-Pomerania region is the beautiful natural landscapes. The region is home to the Tuchola Forest, one of the largest and most diverse forests in Poland. The forest is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and wildlife watching, and is home to a variety of plant and animal species.

Lakes & rivers

The region is also home to several beautiful lakes and rivers, such as the Charzykowska Lake, the largest lake in the region, and the Brda River, which is popular for canoeing and fishing. The region is also home to the Wda Landscape Park, which is a beautiful area of rolling hills, meadows, and forests that is perfect for hiking and cycling.

Opera Nova

Rich history and cultural heritage

The Kuyavia-Pomerania region is also known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The city of Bydgoszcz, which is the capital of the region, is home to several historic buildings and monuments, including the Gothic-style St. Martin’s Church, the Baroque-style Town Hall, and the Opera Nova, which is one of the most modern opera houses in Europe.

Kuyavia-Pomerania

Castles & palaces

The region is also home to several historic castles and palaces, such as the Ciechocinek Palace, the Golub-Dobrzyń Castle, and the Rydzyna Castle, which are popular tourist attractions. The region is also known for its traditional crafts, such as pottery, woodcarving, and weaving, and visitors can find a wide variety of handmade goods at local markets and shops.

Industry and commerce

The Kuyavia-Pomerania region is also an important center of industry and commerce. The region is home to several large manufacturing companies, including the Bydgoszcz Industrial Park, which is home to several leading companies in the automotive and electronics industries.

Off the beaten path

Despite its industrial development, the Kuyavia-Pomerania region remains a relatively undiscovered destination in Poland. Visitors to the area will find a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and cultural heritage that makes it a great destination for those looking to explore off the beaten path.

Kuyavia-Pomerania

Biskupin

Biskupin is an archaeological site located in Poland, in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region. It is an ancient fortified settlement that was built by the Lusatian culture, an early Iron Age culture that existed in Central Europe between the 8th and 5th centuries BCE. The settlement was discovered in 1933 by archaeologist Józef Kostrzewski, and is now considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Poland.

Hidden gem

In conclusion, the Kuyavia-Pomerania region of Poland is a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and cultural heritage. The Tuchola Forest, the lakes, and the Wda Landscape Park are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, while the traditional crafts and historic buildings and monuments of the region are perfect for those looking to experience the local culture. The region’s industrial development also makes it an important center of commerce in Poland. It’s a destination that should not be missed for those who are interested in exploring Poland.

FAQ

Q: What is the Kuyavia-Pomerania (Kujawsko-Pomorskie) region in Poland known for?

A: The Kuyavia-Pomerania region in Poland is known for its beautiful landscapes, rich history, and cultural heritage. The Tuchola Forest, the lakes, and the Wda Landscape Park are popular destinations for outdoor enthusiasts, while the traditional crafts, historic buildings and monuments are popular among those interested in experiencing the local culture. The region is also an important center of industry and commerce in Poland.

Q: What are some popular things to do in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region?

A: Popular activities in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region include hiking in the Tuchola Forest, visiting the beautiful lakes and rivers, exploring historic buildings and monuments, visiting the Bydgoszcz Industrial Park to learn about the region’s industrial development and experiencing traditional crafts, local cuisine and culture.

Q: What are some popular traditional crafts in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region?

A: Traditional crafts in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region include pottery, woodcarving, and weaving. Visitors to the area can find a wide variety of handmade goods at local markets and shops.

Q: What are some popular dishes in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region?

A: The Kuyavia-Pomerania region has a rich culinary heritage, which includes traditional dishes such as kiełbasa, kaszanka, and kapuśniak, among others. Visitors can find many local restaurants and taverns that specialize in regional cuisine.

Q: How can I get to the Kuyavia-Pomerania region?

A: The Kuyavia-Pomerania region is located in north-central Poland. The main city of the region is Bydgoszcz, which can be reached by train or bus from other major cities in Poland. The region is also easily accessible by car and has good road connections.

Q: Are there any national parks in the Kuyavia-Pomerania region?

A: Yes, the Tuchola Forest is one of the main attraction of the Kuyavia-Pomerania region, it’s a national park and it’s one of the largest and most diverse forests in Poland. The forest is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and wildlife watching.

Torun Tours & Attractions

Around & About in Kielce

Around & About in Kielce

Around Kielce – Updated 16 January 2023.

Świętokrzyski National Park

The park is located just 18km away from Kielce and includes the highest ridge of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, which are the oldest in Poland. The Park is famous for its trees, of which 674 are regarded as monuments of nature and as such are under protection. The most treasured historical building of the Świętokrzyski National Park is the Benedictine monastery situated on Święty Krzyż Mountain, which dates back to the first half of the 12th century.

The Świętokrzyski National Park is a popular destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, and it is also a great place to learn about the history and culture of the region.

Further information.

Kurozwęki Palace

Kurozwęki Palace & Estate

Kurozwęki is a village located 7 kilometres from Staszów and 54 kilometres from Kielce. The palace is a bit outside the centre of the village, but the access to it is well signposted. Today, the palace houses a hotel, you’ll also find restaurants, a bison herd, a mini-zoo and an Arabian stud farm.

Further information.

Museum of the Kielce Region Countryside Ethnographic Park

Just 20km away from Kielce you will find the Museum of the Kielce Region Countryside Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia, which aims to maintain the most valuable monuments of rural and small-town housing in the Kielce Region and present them in an environment similar to the original. The museum exhibits an interesting collection of horse-drawn vehicles.

Further information.

Bałtów Tourist Complex

Kielce is a good base to explore the region’s tourist attractions such as Poland’s first Jurassic Park, the Bałtów Tourist Complex; which contains a 1 km long educational path with 100 life-size models of dinosaurs, the Jurassic Museum, the Prehistoric Oceanarium, a zoo and the Sabathówka Witches’ Village.

Further information.

Krzyztopor Castle

Krzyztopor Castle is located in the tiny village of Ujazd, 35km from the town of Sandomierz. The castle is in ruins today but still attracts many visitors who are free to explore the grounds, ascend the turrets and ponder its remarkable, yet bizarre history. The castle was commissioned in the 17th century by Krzysztof Ossoliński, an eccentric magnate with a fantastical imagination and it took 13 years to build (1631 to 1644). The construction was supervised and designed by Lorenzo Muretto, an Italian architect who was one of the few people around during this time who could create Ossolinski’s dream.

Further information.

Around & About in Bydgoszcz

Around & About in Bydgoszcz

Around & about in Bydgoszcz – Updated 16 January 2023.

In addition to our recommended Top 10 things to do in Bydgoszcz, there are a number of other interesting places to visit in the city and in the surrounding area.

The Legend of the Archer

If you have time on your hands and have already explored our top recommendations, other interesting things to see include; The Legend of the Archer, a statue of a female archer unveiled in 1910 and to this day, nobody knows who the model was. Another interesting sculpture can be found in Nicolaus Copernicus Square. In the streets of Bydgoszcz, you may find dead tree trunks which have been turned into sculptures.

Toruń

The city of Toruń is only 46km away from Bydgoszcz and is definitely worth a day trip, the whole city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland and has many monuments of architecture dating back to the Middle Ages. The city is famous for having preserved almost intact its medieval spatial layout and many Gothic buildings, all built from brick, including monumental churches, the Town Hall and many burgher houses.

Toruń was left mercifully untouched by World War II and a walk through the city today provides a complete picture of life back during medieval times. You’ll find Gothic parish churches in both the Old Town and the New Town in addition to medieval brick townhouses complete with Gothic façades, partition walls, stucco-decorated ceilings, vaulted cellars, and painted decoration.

Exploseum

The Exploseum is an open-air museum of industrial architecture combined with a museum of 20th century technology outskirts of the city, in Bydgoszcz Industrial Park. It is built around the World War II Nazi Germany munitions factory DAG Fabrik Bromberg and covers the life of the forced laborers (prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates of various nations), their acts of sabotage and  the history of the DAG and of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. A significant part of the 2 kilometre-long museum route are underground passages connecting the factory buildings. DAG Fabrik Bromberg was an explosives factory manufacturing smokeless powder, TNT and nitro-glycerine for the Wehrmacht.

Biskupin

Biskupin is an archaeological site located in the Kujawy region of Poland, near the village of Gąsawa. It is an open-air museum that reconstructs the life of an ancient fortified settlement of the Lusatian culture, which existed between the 8th and the 2nd century BCE. The settlement was discovered in 1933 and is believed to have been occupied by a tribe of the Lusatian culture, which was a Bronze Age culture that existed in the present-day Poland, Czech Republic and Germany.

Traditional techniques and materials

The reconstructed settlement features houses, fortifications, and other structures that were built using traditional techniques and materials, providing visitors with a glimpse of how life was for the people who lived there. The settlement also features a museum that contains artifacts discovered at the site, including pottery, jewelry, and tools.

Biskupin is one of the most popular archaeological sites in Poland and attracts many visitors each year, including history buffs, families, and school groups.

It is open all year round and offers guided tours, workshops, and other activities to visitors. The site has also a replica of a reconstructed boat that was used in the ancient times and is a popular attraction among visitors.

Around & About in Bialystok

Around & About in Bialystok

Around & about – updated 16 January 2023.

Bialowieza National Park

There’s not a lot to see and do in Bialystok, it will only take a couple of days to see all the attractions on our Top 10 list; however, if you’re in the city and therefore in Podlasie, we highly recommend that you take a day trip to Bialowieza National Park. It is located around 95km away but will only take you 1½ hours in a car.

Bialowieza National Park is well-known for two reasons. Firstly, it is home to Europe’s largest land mammal, the European bison and secondly, the park shelters a sizeable chunk of original lowland primeval forest; which has remained undisturbed for hundreds of years. The forest has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve.

The park is called the “last untouched wilderness of Europe” and has an inner zone consisting of old-growth forest which has been living without much human intervention for over 800 years.

Alternative parks

If the trip to Bialowieza National Park is too far away, then don’t worry, there are another two National Parks that are much closer to Białystok.

Narew and Biebrza National Parks are around 36km away and they both have a lot to offer. There are also three Landscape Parks, 88 nature reserves and 15 protected landscape areas within the region.

Biebrza National Park

Biebrza National Park

Biebrza National Park is a protected area in northeastern Poland, located in the Masurian Voivodeship. It is known for its diverse wildlife, including large populations of European bison, elk, and beaver, as well as many bird species such as the black stork, crane, and white-tailed eagle. The park is also home to several rare and protected plant species. The park covers an area of about 58,000 hectares and is divided into two parts: the Biebrza Marsh and the Rospuda Valley. It is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers.

Narew National Park

Narew National Park is a protected area located in northeastern Poland, in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The park is situated along the Narew River, which is known for its unique, meandering course and the diverse range of habitats it creates, such as riverine forests, meadows, and marshes. The park covers an area of around 34,000 hectares and is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including many species of birds, such as the white-tailed eagle and the black stork, as well as mammals like the European bison, elk and beaver. The park is also home to several rare and protected plant species. The park is popular destination for nature enthusiasts, bird watchers and kayakers. The park offers a good opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the region, and also has a few hiking trails that can be taken to explore the park.

Podlaskie Museum of Folk Culture

The Podlaskie Museum of Folk Culture is not far from Białystok and features a great collection of the local folk art and typical examples of peasant houses and farm buildings characteristic of the region. The museum is located at the northern borders of Białystok, in the settlement of Wasilków, on the road to Augustów.

This outdoor museum has forty buildings and other cultural artefacts gathered from around the region. There are also two windmills, a cave-house, a Belarusian cottage, a forge and a lumberjack’s hut.

Wooden manor house

Among the collection is a relocated Neoclassical wooden manor house from the 1810s with a whole hamlet with five homesteads surrounding a central square. These homes are furnished with traditional furniture and pottery.