Outdoor Activities in Greater Poland
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Loading... - elliot emillia
- 02 Nov 2022
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Greater Poland's landscape of undulating plains and lusciously green open spaces are complemented by numerous rivers, post-glacial lakes, forests and gently-sloping hills. Half of the region is made up of farmland and a quarter is forest area. Put simply, Greater Poland is ideal for outdoor activities! Kayaking, horseriding, hiking, cycling - you name it, they have it! We understand that most of you reading this are scoping out Poznań or may already be there, so we have included distances from the regional capital wherever possible. However, we encourage you to consider staying in other historic towns in Greater Poland, simply because they are as beautiful as they are convenient for visiting the landmarks we mention in this article! Young families visiting Greater Poland will certainly find a number of these places appealing to their circumstances, however, we encourage you to read our article: Greater Poland with Kids! for more specific recommendations!
LAKE MALTA
While technically within PoznaÅ„'s city limits, Lake Malta is arguably the best-known in the area and offers the most in terms of outdoor activities in Greater Poland. Formed in 1952 as a result of damming the Cybina, this 2.2km long lake is the largest man-made lake in the city, with an average depth of 3.1 metres. Surrounded by parks and woodland, it is today one of the principal recreation areas in the region - in both summer and winter - with an ice-rink, all-season ski slope (the first in former communist Europe), a world-class regatta course, zoo, water park, and dozens of other attractions, including several historical sights. Just east of the centre, but miles from the madness of the market square, if you’re in town to decompress, head to Malta.
CYCLING AROUND GREATER POLAND
We always promote cycling in all of our cities and areas across Poland, simply because the relatively-flat geography of this part of Europe is quite favourable for those who must peddle. Greater Poland is no exception! There are around 71 cycling routes that can be found across the region, 30 of which are classified as 'mountain biking' trails (Keep in mind, however, that the highest elevation in Greater Poland is Kobyla Góra at a mere 284 metres). Those of you who are particularly pedal savvy should consider one of the 8 long-distance routes in the Wielkopolski System Szlaków Rowerowych (ENG: Greater Poland System of Bicycle Routes) which offer a truly visceral experience of the region. The longest of these is the Trans-Wielkopolska Cycling Route (PL: Transwielkopolska Trasa Rowerowa, TTR) a 480 km trail that links the northernmost and southernmost areas of the region. The route has been divided into two sections: northern (200 km) and southern (280 km). Both start in the PoznaÅ„ Bicycle Hub at Malta Lake, from which you can either head north or south:
The northern section follows the signs to SzamotuÅ‚y, and then on through Obrzycko, Czarnków and Trzcianka to PiÅ‚a. It ends in the town of Okonek – the northernmost town in Wielkopolska. Aside the picturesque provincial countryside, the castle in SzamotuÅ‚y and the old brewery in Czarnków are highly recommended. There are also kayaking options around PiÅ‚a.
The southern section heads towards Koszuty, with a very interesting wooden manor and then to Åšroda Wielkopolska, where you have the opportunity to ride on the Åšroda Narrow Gauge Railway. The route passes the pristine areas of the Å»erkowsko-Czeszewski Landscape Park. Further along, you will pass the castle at GoÅ‚uchów and a unique wooden Palace in Antonin. and through the historic city of Kalisz! Finally, the route leads to the afore-mentioned Kobyla Góra. Read More…
