River Runs Through It: Exploring the Warta Kayaking near Porta Posnania (p.17) | Photo by Marceli Motyl
Flowing right through Poznań, the Warta River is popular with beach bums, nature lovers, and sports enthusiasts alike. Poznań owes its existence to the Warta River. Originating in the Jurassic limestone landscape of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland to the south, it flows along for a merry 800 km before merging with the mightier Oder River in Kostrzyn on the PolishGerman border. In Poznań, the river separates the Old Town (p.16) from Ostrów Tumski aka the Cathedral Island (p.24), and the Lake Malta (p.52) district which lies beyond. Fairly unpolluted and flanked by lovely marshes and meadows, it’s no surprise that the river attracts Poznań’s dwellers looking for some rest, recreation, and exercise. As Poland's third longest river, it also provides many kilometres' worth of cycling, kayaking, and boating opportunities. While swimming in the river is unfortunately a nono (head to one of Poznań's many lakes for that), the city has created a number of sandy public beaches, including Wilda (I-12), Szeląg (L-1), and 8
Hamaki (Hammocks, K-7). The river banks have long been a popular drinking spot for the city’s youth, and now some beach bars have popped up to expedite the experience, offering booze, music, and deck chairs. These range from simple and somewhat rambunctious establishments near Św. Rocha Bridge (K-9) and Królowej Jadwigi Bridge (J-10) to more artistic undertakings - two of which, kontenerART and Ogród Szeląg, we've listed on p.69. Want to get more active? The city has created a nicely paved biking and walking loop Wartostrada - stretching from Lecha Bridge to the north to Przemysła I Bridge to the south (both just a bit off our map). On the way, you’ll pass Citadel Park (p.56), Porta Posnania (p.25), and the Technical University campus. But that's just the start - below, we list our top tips for making the most of what Warta has to offer.
