|
According to data collected by the Polish Chamber of Tourism, a record number of tourists spent their summer holidays at the Baltic Sea last year. Hopefully, this year will witness similar numbers.
¦winouj¶cie is one of the most beautiful towns on the Polish coast. It is the only Polish town situated on islands, of which three-Uznam, Wolin and Karsibór, are inhabited. The summer season lasts practically five months here, from May to September, although the best weather is normally in June and September-these are the sunniest months with the least rainfall. The water in ¦winouj¶cie achieves temperatures unparalleled on other parts of the Polish Baltic coast. Tourists that are tired of hot weather can visit numerous charming nooks and tourist attractions in the town. One of the attractions is the Health-Resort Park founded 150 years ago with Mediterranean plants and exceptionally large cypress trees (7 meters high and 60 centimeters in girth).
¦winouj¶cie is also home to the port breakers built in 1818-23 and M³yny (Mills) Beacon that crowns the western breaker-a marker in the shape of a windmill, characteristic of the port in ¦winouj¶cie.
Wolin Island, with a town bearing the same name, is a historical Slavic settlement. According to old Scandinavian legends, this is the place were Jomsborg and Wineta were located-two settlements which sank into the watery depths as punishment from the gods for the immorality of their inhabitants. Some of the historic buildings which have survived from antiquity include an 8th-century settlement on Srebrna Hill as well as barrows and a Slavic cemetery from the 11th century situated on the slopes of Wisielcze Mountains. Numerous artifacts found by archeologists can be seen in the regional museum. The landscape of the island is varied. The highest hill is Grzywacz (115 meters) and another, Gosañ (93m), is located right on the sea coast. The steep cliffs, one of the island's tourist attractions, are not much lower than the two hills. A full 18 percent of the island is occupied by Wolin National Park. European bison have been living on the island in a fenced-off area since 1976. The most popular seaside health-resort on Wolin Island is Miêdzyzdroje, a town with a beautiful boardwalk, Health-Resort Park and the Wolin National Park nature museum.
Dziwnów and Dziwnówek are perfect vacation spots, especially for large families. The towns are situated between the Baltic Sea and the Dziwna River. The towns are very attractive for tourists because of their excellent beaches. The entire 30-kilometer-long shore is perfect for swimming. The average water temperature in July is between 17 and 20°C. Rivers and lakes are available for fishing as well as peace and quiet. Fans of golf or horseback riding should visit £ukêcin. Both bodies of water accommodate other sports such as swimming, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing.
Before traveling further along the coast, pay a visit to Kamieñ Pomorski, a small town located on the shore of Kamieñski Lake, about eight kilometers from the Baltic. The town has direct access to the sea through the Dziwna River. The northernmost village of the commune, Radawka, is only one kilometer from the sea. The water bodies situated nearby-Kamieñski Lake, Dziwna River and Cicha Bay, create perfect conditions for aquatic sports and water recreation. The greatest and most precious historic building in Kamieñ Pomorski is the cathedral. An unusual Baroque organ sponsored by Prince Ernest Bogus³aw de Croy in 1669 can be seen in the cathedral. The instrument is exceptional in both value and size-it is 13 meters wide and nine meters high. Initially, the organ had 2,660 pipes. It was damaged during World War II and renovated in 1962. Now the instrument has 3,300 pipes and, like in the past, is able to produce 47 voices. The annual International Organ Music Festival is also organized in the cathedral.
A peculiar place on this part of the coast is Trzêsacz-a village which used to be situated far from the coast. The coast is mostly composed of high cliffs with sandy beaches and clear seawater. Erosion has continually caused the coast to recede. The best evidence of this process is provided by the history of a church whose ruins can still be seen on the steep shore. In the 15th century, when it was built, the church was situated 1,800m from the shore. In 1750 the distance was reduced to 58m and in 1820 only 13m. In 1900 the northwest corner of the church, and a year later the whole northern wall, fell into the sea. The final collapse took place in 1994. Only three spans of the southern wall have survived. Due to reinforcement of the coast, the process of erosion has been halted but each year might be the last of this precious building. The 15th meridian of east longitude, on which Central European Time is measured, runs through Trzêsacz. This fact is commemorated by a plaque at the edge of the cliff.
In the direction of Ko³obrzeg there are several well-known resorts. A narrow-gauge railway called the Retro Express runs between Rewal, Niechorze and Trzebiatów. A small resort called Mrze¿yno is situated at the mouth of Rega River. There is a fishing and sailing harbor in the town which has been known as a seaside resort since 1840. Poland's Oath to the Sea Monument can be seen at the coast of the Baltic Sea, where March 17, 1945, the First Warsaw Cavalry Brigade of the First Field Army of the Polish Army made a symbolic oath of allegiance to the sea. Another popular resort is D¼wirzyno whose main tourist attraction is a sandy beach. A sailing harbor is situated at nearby Resko Lake-a former bay, now connected to the Baltic Sea by a canal.
The history of the Ko³obrzeg health-resort is inseparably connected with Henryk von Held-a Prussian officer and customs adviser from Poznañ who was sentenced to an 18-month stay in a citadel in Ko³obrzeg in 1802. The "involuntary visitor" discovered the beneficial effects of bathing in the sea and described his observations in a book entitled On Sea Baths in Ko³obrzeg and the Best and Cheapest Way of Taking Them. In 1813 the emperor agreed to the establishment of the first sea bathing center in Ko³obrzeg. The first center of brine bathing was opened several years later. The biggest tourist attraction at the harbor is a lighthouse that was rebuilt after World War II in place of an old, 18th-century fort.
The lighthouse offers a wonderful view of the harbor's terminals and docks. The harbor in Ko³obrzeg is small, but includes docks for passenger, commercial, naval, fishery and yacht traffic. The area for yachts is located within an 18th-century redoubt. An old gate, ramparts and fortification walls were built when Ko³obrzeg was a stronghold. The city's main attraction is six kilometers of beach. Two kilometers of its length is guarded and equipped with speakers. The beautiful, shaded Seaside Avenue which runs along the beach and the pier reaching 220 meters out into the sea are perfect for long walks.
Ustronie Morskie is situated only 13 kilometers from Ko³obrzeg. The resort stretches along a cliff and partly forested sea coast. The characteristic features of Ustronie's unique and healthy microclimate include a high content of iodine in the air. The beach is up to 35 meters wide and the depth of the sea 100 meters from the shore does not exceed 3 meters. A seaside pine forest stretches along the eastern part of the beach on the coast. Part of this woodland has been turned into a park.
Next to Ustronie is Siano¿êty-a seaside resort which is eagerly visited by tourists. The main attraction of Siano¿êty are wide, sandy beaches, dunes and perfect conditions for swimming and sunbathing as well as walking. Another attraction is obviously the climate-the air contains a considerable amount of iodine which is known for its healing properties.
In the earliest historical records, the area around the mouth of the Wieprza river was called Terra Dirlova. This name was probably taken from a wooden stronghold which was situated in the area at that time. In 1382, Erik of Pomerania was born in a castle in Dar³owo. In spring 1388, the queen of Denmark and Norway appointed Erik heir to the throne. He was officially granted the title of king of Denmark, Sweden and Norway on June 17, 1397. About 600 years later, celebrations commemorating this event have become one of the town's annual events. In 1998 the Town Council decided to place the name Royal Town of Dar³owo in the official statutes of the town. During World War II the town suffered hardly any damage-all its buildings have survived unchanged until today.
One of the numerous historic buildings in the town is the Castle of Pomeranian Princes-one of the most outstanding examples of fortified constructions. Through Kamienna Gate is the only 12-sided church in Poland- St. Gertrude's Church. It was built on the commission of "the Baltic's Last Viking", as Erik was known, since after losing the three thrones he became a pirate and plundered Scandinavian towns and ships. Construction of the church was meant as his thanks for the salvation of his ship during a sea storm when he was approaching Dar³owo with his pirated booty. Several round concrete constructions can be seen on the dunes, on the western side of the Wieprza's mouth. These are the remnants of German V1 and V2 rocket launchers.
Ustka is a picturesque seaside resort and a town which has attracted tourists for the past 160 years. The history of the town dates back to the 14th century, when the first records concerning this small fishing settlement were made. The historical buildings preserved in Ustka include a neo-gothic church from the 18th century, a granary situated near the seaport and charming tenement houses. The seaside promenade is a popular walking path where visitors delight in the proximity of the sea and the numerous cafes, restaurants and bars situated near the promenade. The greatest nature reserve on the Polish Baltic Sea coast is S³owiñski National Park, also known as the seaside desert or the Polish Sahara, which includes about 19,000 hectares of land.
Rowy is a small but very attractive seaside resort. A former fishing village located on the left bank of the £upawa River, it has a wide, but partly stony beach. Tourist attractions include a church built of stone. Sandy beaches, numerous rivers and lakes offer perfect conditions for water sports while a hilly landscape and forests provide only a glimpse of some of the tourist attractions on the western coast of Pomerania province.
The most popular seaside health-resort and fishery harbor in this region is £eba, located at the mouth of the £eba River. The town boasts a 16th-century church which remained even after Old £eba was destroyed by storms.
Dêbki, situated at the mouth of the Pia¶nica river, is one of the most popular seaside resorts of the Puck region. Dêbki was a small fishery settlement subordinate to the monastery in ¯arnowiec for centuries. The name of the town comes from the name of one of the fishermen. At the road connecting Dêbki and Krokowa, about one kilometer northeast from Odargowo, there is a grand (3.5 meters high and 20 meters in circumference) erratic called the Devil's Stone.
A less popular, yet equally attractive seaside town is Bia³ogóra. In 1627 a sea battle between Sweden and Poland took place near this town. River head-streams near the Górczyn forester's lodge, Bia³ogóra and Babnica plant-peat reserves and charming, although not well-known, mobile dunes are added attractions in this area.
In the direction of Rozewie Cape, in the northernmost part of Poland, is Jastrzêbia Góra. The town is famous for the 33-meter-high cliff which descends into the sea. The first records of the town's existence date back to the mid-19th century. After the area was divided into lots in 1921, numerous houses and guest houses were built. One of the first guest houses belonged to the Szymañski family and was called Kaszubka-the wooden villa has survived unchanged until today. In the center of Jastrzêbia Góra, directly on the sea, an elevator was constructed in 1938 to take tourists down to the beach. It was still functioning in the 1960s. Later on, as a result of negligence, it was gradually damaged and finally collapsed. Concrete ruins of the construction are still visible in bushes at the foot of the escarpment, near the stairs leading down to the beach.
To the east, in the direction of Rozewie, is a 350-meter-long gully called Lisi Jar, where an obelisk commemorates the return of King Sigismund III Vasa after his unsuccessful campaign in Sweden. In Karwia, a village located four kilometers from Jastrzêbia Góra, a museum holds various objects found on shore.
Near Jastrzêbia Góra at Rozewie Cape a light was built in the 17th century on the steep cliff coast to indicate the direction in which ships should sail. In 1821 a lighthouse was built here. In 1978 the tower of the lighthouse was built up when trees began to cover it. Its interior features a museum of lighthousing and old lighting devices. The lighthouse was given the name of Stefan ¯eromski who, according to the legend, wrote Wiatr od morza (Wind from the Sea) here. In fact, although the writer did see the lighthouse in Rozewie, he never actually lived or slept in it.
A great geographic peculiarity, Hel Sandbar, is situated near Rozewie Cape. Only 300 years ago the Hel Peninsula did not exist at all and the sea flowed freely between several small islands. It is possible that Hel will again become an island soon. Hel Sandbar is a wonderful place for summer holidays. Coniferous forests create a healthy microclimate and the sandy beaches on both sides of the peninsula are clean.
An old Kashubian legend says that the waters of the Baltic Sea sometimes part to uncover the wealthy, happy and sunny Old Hel. However, anyone who submits to the illusive beauty of the town and enters its streets will stay there forever when the sea closes again. Hel became a significant harbor and seaside resort after World War I. An elegant pier for walking, a new church and bungalows were built at that time. There are not many historic buildings which have survived the years aside from a few 19th-century fishermen's houses in the center of the town. They attract passersbys with an original construction of wooden frames filled with brick, tapered chimneys, beams protected against rotting with pitch and bleached walls. Special fireplaces which were used for smoking fish can be seen in the houses' annexes. Equipment from old fishing cottages and everyday use items are on display at the Fishing Museum which is located in the renovated St. Paul and Peter's Church. In the 15th century the church was built in the center of the town. Today it is situated at the very coast of Puck Bay.
Another tourist attraction on the Polish coast is the Gdañsk-Gdynia-Sopot Tricity area situated at Gdañsk Bay. Each of the three cities has a unique character.
Gdañsk, which in 1997 celebrated its 1,000th anniversary, is a vast complex of historic buildings which was seriously damaged in 1945, at the end of World War II. The most precious buildings come from the Renaissance and Gothic eras. The Church of the Virgin Mary, one of the most outstanding Gothic churches in the world, is impressive.
Numerous valuable works of art can be found inside the church. One is a copy of Hans Hemmling's painting entitled The Last Judgment. The original painting from 1472 is kept at the Gdañsk National Museum. Many of the buildings in Gdañsk were designed by Dutch architects. The city gates are impressive-particularly Wy¿ynna and Z³ota. The main decoration of the Long Market, the center of Gdansk's Old Town, is the Gothic city hall. The Neptune Fountain, a favorite meeting place for tourists, is situated opposite the famous Artus Manor. Another must-see is the church and Cistercian monastery situated in Oliwa, one of Gdañsk's districts. This longest church in Poland is famous for its Baroque organ. Another attraction in Oliwa is a zoological garden.
The city next to Gdañsk is Sopot-a seaside resort with a newly renovated wooden pier. A unique attraction in the city is the Heroes of Monte Cassino promenade. It has recently been equipped with new sidewalks and small architecture. The Tricity Landscape Park has a number of enjoyable walking paths for visitors and for several decades, the International Song Festival has been held during the last days of August in the famous Le¶na Opera which has been open since 1909.
The third city, Gdynia, is in many respects a complete contradiction of Gdañsk. Although the fishing village bearing this name has a long history, the city, harbor and shipyard were built only after World War I. Today, Gdynia is one of the most important locations on the tourist and economic map of Poland. Ko¶ciuszki Square hosts an aquarium and museum. Two famous ships are moored in the Gdynia harbor-the historical sailing vessel Dar Pomorza and museum-ship B³yskawica, a Polish destroyer which took part in numerous campaigns during World War II.
The Vistula Sandbar is a prime location for swimming because of its sandy bottom. The slow pace of water exchange makes for considerably high water temperatures and low salinity. The eastern part of the bar is surrounded by Lake Vistula and closed by the Elbl±g Plateau. Numerous yachts sail in this area and regularly cruising passenger ships offer trips to Frombork, Elbl±g, Tolkmick and Kaliningrad. The remaining part of the sandbar is separated from the inland by a complex of winding and picturesque rivers and canals, in some places at the level of nearby roads.
The most popular seaside resort in the region is Krynica Morska. Discovered by the residents of Elbl±g in the 19th century, the town developed dramatically. Krynica's main attraction is its lighthouse-the only one on the Amber Coast. The town's livelihood is also connected with the hot springs which were discovered in 1970.
Piaski is the easternmost village on the Polish part of Vistula Sandbar. A typical fishing village, in certain spots both one side of the Vistula Lake and the sea are visible between the trees.
 |
 |
|
|
| send
to a friend |
print
article |
|
|
|
|
Latest News
