Family outings in Wielkopolska

Family outings in Wielkopolska

Wielkopolska Location Wielkopolska Province is located in the basin of Warta river, in the central part of Wielkopolsko-Kujawska Lowland. Simultaneously, it is situated on the crossroads of the main European East-West track leading from Berlin to Moskow (via Poznań, Konin and Warsaw) and the track from Prague towards the north (via Wrocław, Leszno, Poznań). As a result, the province has very favourable transportation connections with other European countries as well as the rest of the world.

Area The province occupies the area of 29 826 km2, which is 9,5% of the Polish territory.

Population Wielkopolska is inhabited (approximately) by 3,4 million people, which is 8,7% of the whole population of Poland.

The Capital The capital of the province is Poznań, a city with population of 600 000 people. Due to its economic, commercial, scientific, cultural and tourist significance, the city is considered the centre of western Poland. Also, Poznań has its own airport (Ławica airport) performing both national and international functions.

Important Cities PHOTOS ON THE COVER: Z. SZMIDT ARCHIVES OF COMMUNITY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN KRZYWIŃ, AUTHOR: J. LISIECKI ARCHIVES OF UNION OF THE ŚREM REGION, AUTHOR: M. DZIUBA ARCHIVES OF NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL-FOOD INDUSTRY IN SZRENIAWA

Gniezno, Kalisz, Konin, Leszno, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Piła.

ISBN 978-83-61454-58-8

www.wielkopolska.travel www.turystyka-kulturowa-wlkp.pl

Project co-financed by the European Union through the Regional Development Fund, as part of the Wielkopolska Regional Operational Program for the years 2007 - 2013 EUROPEAN FUNDS FOR INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN WIELKOPOLSKA

Wielkopolska for children

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o begin with, we propose 15 ideas for a successful weekend with children. Among our suggestions, there are adventures involving physical activity, such as the ropes parks in Oborniki and Leszno, or the horse-riding centre in Jaszkowo, or even ski slopes open year-round. When winter comes, the ski run in Chodzież is a must. Skiers and snowboarders are attracted to the Malta Ski centre in Poznań throughout the year.

To all those interested in discovering history, we recommend visits to Poznań, Kalisz, Gniezno as well as nearby locations of historic significance. In Poznań, a meeting with the Town Hall tower billy goats in the main square is always a good idea, after which we can call in at the Franciscans” monastery on Przemysł Hill to get an understanding of what Poznań was like centuries ago. Gniezno in turn woos visitors with legends associated with the Hill of Lech. In Ostrów Lednicki, we can get a feeling of the truly great history by immersing in the climate of Poland’s oldest times, when the Polish state was only taking its shape. In Grzybowo, there’s a chance of an encounter with a medieval warrior. In the Kalisz district of Zawodzie, from spring to autumn, we can take an even deeper breath of Medieval history in a carefully reconstructed settlement – the place now bustles with life thanks to efforts made by various groups of activists.

Nature lovers are recommended a visit to Stobnica, where they can experience an eye-to-eye encounter with a wolf and take a walk in the beautiful surroundings. In Gołuchów, we can easily combine active rest (water sports) with history (the castle) and close contact with nature at either the beautiful arboretum or around the animal enclosures inhabited by, among others, wisents (European bison).

In a certain way, Wielkopolska is a unique province. It attracts enthusiasts of steam engines and trains. The steam locomotive shed in Wolsztyn is open year-round and from spring to autumn families can enjoy rides on various trains and draisines. In Cichowo, famous for its film heritage park Soplicowo, there’s an opportunity to enjoy a ride on the new miniature train, which tours the park. A true feast for railway fans.

Wielkopolska is worth tasting and discovering in a number of ways. Each of our weekend suggestions combines active rest with an educational function. Nobody will be bored because there are a variety of activities to suit all needs. Most importantly, there are ideas for all sorts of weather, and for each season of the year. ◗

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When Friday comes, we often find ourselves coping with the usual dilemma how to spend our Saturday and Sunday. Parents start wondering how to organize the time for their offspring – how to drag them away from computers or television sets. We can see no problem here: Wielkopolska is attractive enough to accommodate for all the weekends, throughout the year. There won’t be enough weekends to fully appreciate the region’s potential.

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In the company of goats...

Relaxing in Poznań Poznań

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The billy goats in the Town Hall

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t about noon, the square in front of the Poznań Town Hall fills up with people, and both children and adults look up at the Town Hall tower, where two mechanical billy goats appear precisely at noon. The billy goats butt their heads while the tower clock is striking twelve, to disappear after the last strike.

The original ‘fool’s tool’, (i. e. the billy goats) was ordered from master Bartholomew Wolf in Gubin in the mid-sixteenth century, at more or less the same time when Italian architect Giovanni Baptista di Quadro redesigned the Town Hall in the Renaissance style, which remains until the present day.

According to the legend, the presentation of a new clock on the tower was celebrated with a feast, whose main course was to be the roasted leg of a roe deer.

However, the meat was burnt. The desperate head chef Mikołaj decided to send his assistant Pietrek to get some more meat. When Pietrek failed to purchase the meat, he ventured out of the town himself. He noticed two small billy goats grazing on the meadows near the Warta river. Without thinking twice, he grabbed the animals and hastened to the Town Hall. However, the billy goats managed to escape the cooks, ran upstairs to the tower and went onto the cornice. When the governor arrived at the Town Hall, nobody noticed him as all the people were looking up to see the two white billy goats. The sight made the governor laugh so much that he ordered master Bartholomew to incorporate two billy goats which butt

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The Old Market Square in Poznań is teeming with colours and at the same time, it is not particularly big, which is especially appreciated by children. They feel safe here, and at midday, they can enjoy watching the billy goats on the tower of the Town Hall.

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In the company of goats...

their heads in the mechanism of the clock to commemorate the event. The billy goats returned to the meadow and to their owner – a poor widow.

In the summer, the Old Market Square in Poznań looks like one huge cafe. Almost in every tenement house we can find a cafe or a restaurant, some of which are quite extraordinary. Among these establishments, visitors can come across palaces built by the Działyński, Mielżyński and Górka families, as well as the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Henryk Sienkiewicz museum. You can take a walk from the Old Market Square, pass the Działyńskis’ palace and then go towards the Przemysł Hill. Unfortunately, cellars built in the Gothic style are the only remains of the original castle built by Prince Przemysł I and his son Przemysł II. The castle, which was built in the 18th century and rebuilt after the second World War, now houses the Functional Art Museum.

Opposite the castle stands a church belonging to the Franciscan order. In the cellars of the church, visitors can enjoy three models of Poznań made by Krzysztof Przybyła. The Town of the First Piasts presents Poznań in the times of the first rulers from the Piast dynasty. The second model – the Old Poznań – forms a part of an audio-visual show which presents the history of the city.

The author based his model on an engraving made by George Braun and Franc Hogenberg in the year 1618.

Viewers can easily recognise the oldest part of Poznań – the Ostrów Tumski holm or the Old Market, but the model also features buildings and objects which no longer exist. The third model presents the Old Square and was prepared for the visually impaired – it is three-dimensional and features a description in the Braille alphabet. ◗

The Poznań City History Museum – Town Hall Stary Rynek 1 61 – 772 Poznań tel. 61 852 56 13 www.mnp.art.pl The Old Poznań Model ul. Franciszkańska 2 (cellars of the Franciscan order church; the entrance is located in Ludgarda street) 61 – 768 Poznań tel. 61 855 14 35; 602 463 028 www.makieta.poznan.pl

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...and elephants Take the Maltanka narrow-gauge railway to the zoo n order to see the animals living in the Poznań zoo, choose a means of transport which is as exotic as the inhabitants of the zoo – the Maltanka Park Railway. The narrow-gauge railway operates between April and October. The first train stop is situated near the Śródka roundabout. You can’t miss the characteristic checked half-timbered station building. The railway, which is one of the last remaining narrow-gauge railways in Poland (the railway is 600 mm wide) runs along the Maltańskie lake and the last stop, called Zwierzyniec, is located nearby the zoo.

Usually, the feature of zoos which children find the most appealing are the elephants. Why is that? Because these animals are often mentioned as friends of the characters in fairy-tales. Visitors can observe the elephants living in the Malta Zoo from a distance. A special facility was built for the animals, including an indoor enclosure measuring about 3500 square metres and an outdoor enclosure of about 2.5 hectares, as well as an additional outdoor area of six hectares. Near the main outdoor part, an ‘African village’ with a bar and a cafe was built for visitors. The upstairs terrace of the village, which can be reached by a bridge, provides excellent views of the natural landscape of the zoo, as well as the main elephant enclosure, featuring a stream and a waterfall.

The animals living in the zoo built on the Biała hill near the Malta Lake often enjoy conditions which closely resemble their natural environment. For example, a number of habitats for birds were designed nearby the

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numerous lakes and this might be the reason why the birds manage to reproduce so successfully in the Poznań zoo. The hilly area, which is covered with trees, certainly suits the European deer, the fallow deer or the llama.

However, not all animals are able to roam the zoo freely.

For some of them, special enclosures have been built, either outdoors or indoors, in accordance with their climatic preferences or due to security considerations.

Visitors can easily spend a whole day in the Poznań zoo.

Those who do not enjoy long walks or feel tired can take advantage of the free-of-charge railway which runs around the zoo. It is not even necessary to get out in order to see the animals in their enclosures. Those who need more excitement can visit Zoolandia, a small park with ropes for climbing, which is available to children as young as three. ◗

The Maltanka Park Railway ul. Jana Pawła II 1 61 – 131 Poznań tel. 61 877 26 12 maltanka@mpk.poznan.pl Poznań Zoo ul. Krańcowa 81 61 – 048 Poznań tel. 61 877 35 17 sekretariat@zoopoznan.neostrada.pl www.zoo.poznan.pl

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From the ski slope... to tropical lands Poznań

Andrzej Wituski, a former president of the city of Poznań, was jealous of his colleague – Herbert Schmalstieg, the mayor of Hannover, because of Maschsee, a beautiful lake in the centre of the city. This inspired Mr Wituski to create an attractive area around the Malta lake.

He was successful, and this is how the sports and recreation facility with a ski slope open all year round, was created.

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From the ski slope...

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Go skiing even on a hot day and then... nitially, the natural ski slope on the Freedom Mound was used by the lovers of skiing only on the few days when it was covered by snow. However, for several years now, it has been possible to go skiing on the slope even on a hot day. In the Malta Ski facility, it is possible to use both traditional skis and a snowboard.

Nearby the ski slope, visitors can take advantage of a summer tobogganing track. Get on top of the 530metre track and take the exciting ride on a special sleigh-like carriage in a winding steel chute placed picturesquely on the mound. You’re bound to enjoy the ride, during which the carriage takes numerous turns and leans at various angles. At the same time, the ride is completely safe, although children aged less than 8 can only travel in the company of an adult. During the summer, Malta Ski offers an unusual attraction: a trip down a seventy-metre ski slope in a rubber boat. The children are certainly going to enjoy the adventure, and their parents will recall their childhood days.

Those who prefer slightly less exciting ways of spending their free time can travel to the observation deck situated at the top of the Freedom Mound. From the deck, they can enjoy an exciting view of the Malta Lake and the city. To travel to the top, visitors need to take a chairlift, which is always undeniably attractive in a lowland area.

Numerous other attractions can be found at the foot of the slope, including a mini-golf course and a golf course for those who are learning to play the game.

Between April and autumn months, visitors can rent roller blades, bikes, scooters, or nordic walking poles.

Nearby the Malta lake, children will enjoy the biggest playground made of wood in Poznań, which for many years has attracted the youngest visitors. Adults can spend

their time in one of the numerous cafes located nearby the playground.

The area near the Malta lake is also used for numerous cultural events. Throughout the summer, the open-air Summer Cinema is set up near the ski slope. To celebrate the 750th anniversary of granting the municipal charter to Poznań, a Time Garden was built. Dorota and Andrzej Gosienieckis designed five different sundials: a classic sundial with a horizontal dial and a style whose shadow tells the current time, an analemmatic sundial, which uses the shadow of the visitor to tell the time, a multiple sundial, which shows the current time in a number of European capital cities, a bow sundial, which tells the time to an accuracy of fifteen minutes, as well as the pre-Slavic sundial, which is said to bring good luck to those who touch its sun-shaped part. And if all that is not enough, you can visit the picnic area or simply relax in the green areas surrounding the Malta lake. There is no doubt that the Malta Lake and its surroundings are now as attractive as the famous Maschsee in Hannover. ◗

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Malta Ski Reception Office and Equipment Rental ul. Wiankowa 2 61 – 131 Poznań tel. 61 878 22 12, 61 878 22 13 recepcja@maltaski.pl www.maltaski.pl

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...to tropical lands

... visit the tropical land in the centre of the city he Palmiarnia palm house is often associated with palm trees, which are not a natural element of the Polish landscape. Not all of us are able to travel to the Mediterranean to enjoy viewing these beautiful trees in their natural environment. However, the Palmiarnia is more than just palm trees.

The Poznań Palmiarnia is one of the biggest palm houses in Poland, and even in Europe. It features about 1100 species of plants, 50 species of water plants and 170 species of fish in a number of huge aquariums.

The main attraction of the palm house is the Exhibition Pavilion One, which features plants from the sub-tropical climate, including a palm tree from the Sabal minor species, which survived the year 1945, when a huge part of the palm house was destroyed by the war.

Those wishing to see live citrus plants should visit Exhibit Pavilions Two and Three. In the third pavilion, it is worth seeing the cork oak, the species which is used to make cork stops for bottles of wine.

When you feel tired by the sub-tropical heat, visit the Aquarium Pavilion or the pavilion featuring succulent

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plants native to America to see the unusual shapes of the cactus plants. In Pavilions 5 and 6, visitors can find tropical trees including rare specimens such as the black pepper or the ebony tree. Those who visit Pavilion 9 will be able to see plants which naturally grow in the savannas, and see for themselves that the conditions in which the lions are living in the Poznań zoo are quite different from their natural environment.

When walking around the Palmiarnia, remember to take a look into the ponds, which are teeming with exotic fish. Those who enjoy watching butterflies are advised to follow information in the local press – the media regularly provide information concerning the appearance of butterflies which are normally not found in our climate. Organise a trip to the Palmiarnia as soon as you can, as the life of a butterfly is very brief.

The Poznań Palmiarnia dates back to the year 1910, which is when the first greenhouses were built. It is located in Wilson Park – a beautiful old park, a former botanical garden named after American President Thomas Woodrow Wilson. ◗

Palmiarnia Poznańska ul. Wilsona 18 60 – 767 Poznań tel. 61 685 89 07 www.palmiarnia.poznan.pl sekretariat@palmiarnia.poznan.pl

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With the Prosna river in the background Relaxing in Kalisz Poznań

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What was life like in Middle Ages?

‘Oh, isn’t it good to stand and stare near the Prosna river in the spring’ is a well-known line from a song sung by the Kabaret Starszych Panów cabaret group. However, this is not entirely true. Kalisz, which is the town featured in the song, remains beautiful throughout the year.

There is no doubt that the town has a special character, since it was the only town mentioned

by Greek scientist Claudius Ptolomaeus in his work Geography, describing the areas between the Danube and the Baltic Sea. www.kalisz.pl

isitors interested in history are advised to visit the Kalisz Piasts Town, a reconstruction of the seat of the dukes from the Piast dynasty, and one of the most influential centres in the process of creating the state of Poland in the 10th century. The Piasts Town is localised in Zawodzie, one of the town’s quarters. The archaeological reserve covers the area of three hectares and it includes the foundations of St Paul’s collegiate church, the first church in Kalisz, founded by Duke Mieszko III, as well as a burial mound in which the dead were buried following a ceremonial burning of the body. Other attractions in the reserve include a reconstructed 10-metre-high gate tower and a higher tower built for defence, complete with a palisade, as well as seven typical houses from the Middle Ages. Visitors can see the Mieszko fleet of boats made of hollowed-out trees, which the adventurous visitors can use to travel across the pond created by a widening of the moat. It is worth looking down from the bridge leading to the town, as visitors can see the original fortifications of the embankment, dating back to the Middle Ages.

Between spring and autumn, visitors can watch archaeological excavations conducted in the reserve. In the summer, they can enjoy numerous attractions including mock jousts, fairs and feasts (such as the Archaeological Fair in June and the Kupała Night in July, the Feast of Piasts in September and the Prince’s Honey Gathering Event in September). Try your hand at making clay dishes, making objects of bone, horn or animal skins, and learn the techniques used in the production of pitch and wood tar. In the wooden huts, watch the presentations of old crafts such as weaving, leathercraft or metalwork.

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When visiting the Zawodzie district, it is worth visiting the St. Adalbert’s church. Inside the church, the visitors can see an old sculpture of saint Adalbert wearing his pontifical robes. The saint is wearing a glove on one hand, but not on the other hand, which is raised. This particular sculpture and the fact that the saint is not wearing a glove on one hand is connected with a legend describing the time during which saint Adalbert stayed in Kalisz. Edward Stawecki mentions the legend in his Album Kaliski, published in the year 1858: ‘When saint Adalbert was telling the words of the holy faith to the congregation that had gathered, he put his gloves and his staff on the ground. One of the listeners came closer and stole one glove. When he noticed the theft, the holy apostle felt angry that the glove be stolen at the very moment when he was telling the words of the Saviour most vigorously. Not being able to discover the thief, he supposedly stated that as a punishment for the deed, none of his listeners, nor their descendants, would ever preach the words of the Saviour, or in other words, that they would never become priests…’ ◗ The Kalisz-Zawodzie Archaeological Reserve Gród Piastów ul. Bolesława Pobożnego 87/101 62 – 800 Kalisz tel. 691 996 528, 62 757 16 08 www.muzeum.kalisz.pl

With the Prosna river in the background

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Look down from the Town Hall tower

ne of the most important elements of every town is the tower from which visitors can admire the panoramic view of the area. Kalisz is no different. The central feature of the Old Market Square is the Town Hall. The first town hall was built after the year 1360. The current one was rebuilt in the year 1925 and it was designed by architect Sylwester Pajzderski. The tower features a clock with a diameter of about 3 metres. On their way to the viewing platform, visitors can take a look at the mechanism of the clock. The tower of the Kalisz Town Hall is open for visitors from the beginning of May to the end of October. Inside the tower, on several floors, visitors can see an interesting exhibition presenting the history of the town. From the viewing platform, visitors can take a look at the town. The mediaeval layout of the streets in the centre of the town is clearly visible, but unfortunately, it is not possible to see the Dorotka Tower, one of the elements of a small part of the wall surrounding the town which have survived unchanged until this day. According to the legend, the daughter of the Kalisz starost (the royal deputy) fell in love with a shoemaker called Marcin. When the affair was discovered, the shoemaker was killed, and Dorotka joined a group of travelling flagellants. Soon, the love-stricken Dorotka was captured by her father’s servants and the angry starost, whose pride had suffered a heavy blow, punished his daughter by having her bricked up alive in the tower.

According to the legend, any girl found guilty of immoral behaviour was locked up in the tower and nicknamed ‘Dorotka”. It is rumoured that even today, the sighs of the unhappy lover can still be heard in the tower on a quiet day. ◗ PHOTO Z. SZMIDT

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Municipality Office Rynek Główny 20 62 – 800 Kalisz tel. 62 765 43 00 www.kalisz.pl

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Calisia, the boat of Saint Adalbert rosna is a magical river, particularly in Kalisz. Visitors are encouraged to take a walk along the river banks, or even better, to go for a boat trip on the river in Calisia, the boat of Saint Adalbert. The boat trips on the Prosna river begin and finish near the Wojciech Bogusławski theatre, and the boat returns near the Bursztynowy (Amber) Bridge. The educational boat trips begin with a meeting near the theatre. Then, visitors take the Calisia boat to the Zawodzie reserve. There, visitors take a tour of the Saint Adalbert’s church, then visit the Archeological Reserve (the exhibition pavilion) and read legends about Kalisz. After visiting the reserve, visitors take the boat back to the theatre. The crew on the boat are dressed in medieval-style clothes, which makes the trip even more attractive. ◗

Mieczysław Machowicz ul. Górnośląska 18 62 – 800 Kalisz tel./fax 62 753 43 29 kom. 509 611 272 info@machowicz-rymarstwo.kalisz.pl www.machowicz-rymarstwo.kalisz.pl/

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Wisents and wigwams Poznań

In Izabella’s castle in Gołuchów

Gołuchów

he most important attraction in Gołuchów is the castle, which is more than four hundred years old. If given appropriate lighting, the castle might easily serve as a natural feature of a horror film. The castle owes its present look to Izabella Działyńska, nee Czartoryska. It was Izabella who invited a group of architects, sculptors and painters from France. They redesigned the castle and gave it a new shape, resembling the famous castles on the Loire river, but at the same time maintaining the details characteristic of Polish castles from the Renaissance period. From the very beginning, Izabella’s intention was not to build a family residence, but something resembling a museum, and there is no doubt she was successful. The castle is surrounded with the biggest natural landscape park in the Wielkopolska (with a size of about 160 hectares), which features a collection of several hundred species of trees and bushes. Initially, the castle was surrounded by a rather small garden in the Italian style. When he inherited the property, Jan Działyński founded the park and introduced collections of trees and bushes imported from around the world. ◗

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Relaxing in Gołuchów

In Gołuchów, the border between history and present times becomes blurred and legends come back to life like winsents did, animals which were reintroduced to Wielkopolska.

And in the village of Brzezie, those looking for entertainment can find an intriguing world...

The Castle – a branch of the National Museum in Poznań 63 – 322 Gołuchów tel. 62 761 50 94 www.mnp.art.pl goluchow@mnp.art.pl

The wisent sanctuary in Wielkopolska ou do not have to travel all the way to the Puszcza Białowieska national park in order to see a live wisent (European bison). Instead, you can visit Gołuchów.

Since 1977, tourists have had an opportunity to visit a special enclosure for these huge animals in the forests next to the park.

The wisents can roam freely within the enclosure, which measures 20 hectares. If they could walk the whole area freely, they would probably be very difficult to see. Therefore, the animals (there are about 10 wisents in the area) are kept in special smaller enclosures during the day, so that the visitors can see them the whole year round. Within the last 30 years, 76 wisents have been born in Gołuchów. To prevent the wisents from feeling a bit lonely, other species of animals, such as the konik (the Polish primitive horse), the fallow deer and the wild boar have been introduced to the enclosure. Keeping wild animals in an enclosure is a reflection of the tradition of creating private zoos in the vicinity of family residences of Polish magnates. ◗

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Forest Culture Centre ul. Działyńskich 2 63 -322 Gołuchów tel. 62 761 50 45, 62 761 50 46 www.okl.lasy.gov.pl

Wisents and wigwams

The stone the construction of the castle in Gołuchów.

However, one of the devils who worked for the master of the Gołuchów castle, did not manage to carry it to its destination as on its way he met a woman carrying a cock to the village fair. The cock crowed suddenly and the scared devil left the stone in the forest. It is rumoured that a great treasure is buried under the stone, but nobody is able to recover the treasure, as the stone is too heavy. According to another legend, the knights of Saint Jadwiga of Silesia are sleeping under the stone. The saint is believed to have convinced Holy Mary not to allow the knights killed in a fight against the Tatars to die, but only to fall asleep. When the Catholic faith is in danger again, the knights are again going to rise with swords in their hands to fight and win another battle. ◗

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n the pine forest located about 2.5 kilometres to the south of Gołuchów (the forest along the Gołuchów – Kalisz road), visitors can admire the biggest glacial erratic in Wielkopolska. The stone is 3.5 metres high and has a circumference of 22 metres. It is known as Saint Kinga’s or Saint Jadwiga’s stone. The stone is a medium-grained Scandinavian pink granite rock, covered with lichen, which gives the stone its characteristic grey colour. There are a number of legends explaining how the stone was brought to the area.

One of the legends claims that the devil wanted to throw the stone at Kalisz when he became angry with the inhabitants of the town.

However, the stone was very heavy, and at the sound of the first crow in the morning, the devil was still far away from the town. He dropped the stone and abandoned it in the forest, where it remains until today. Another legend states that the stone was to be used for

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Wigwams under the Moon

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Wigwams under the Moon Brzezie, ul. Stawiszyńska 1 63 – 300 Pleszew tel. 510 117 490, 510 117 492, 62 742 02 02 www.luna-pleszew.com biuro@luna-pleszew.com

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been converted into restaurants and bars.

Those who prefer cooking in the open air, might prefer to choose the barbecue area.

There is a small lake in the ‘Wigwams under the moon’ recreation complex, and visitors are encouraged to rent a pedal boat, go fishing or simply relax and sunbathe on the beach by the lake. ◗

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isitors are encouraged to spend at least a few hours in Brzezie, a village located between Pleszew and Kalisz. They can admire four hectares of unusual landscape, whose character is defined by four wigwams.

‘Wigwams under the Moon’ is the name of a one-of-a-kind recreation ‘republic’. The place even has its own currency of 1 cacyk (the equivalent of PLN 5) and 1 lunar (the equivalent of PLN 50). This feature of the ‘recreation republic’ makes the visitors feel as if they were taking part in an exotic trip. There is something for everyone to enjoy: small children will immediately run to the indoor playground if the weather happens to be rainy, and if it is dry, they will be tempted by outdoor playgrounds, a tree house, climbing ropes and swings. Adults might be more interested in visiting the old vaults, which have recently

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Relax by the lake he forests surrounding Gołuchów offer another attraction to visitors – an artificial lake with an area of 51 hectares. The lake has a sandy beach, a swimming area with a lifeguard and visitors can take advantage of summer houses, a camping area and boat, kayak and pedal boat rental. It is a perfect place for those who enjoy sunbathing, swimming, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing

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or fishing. On the western side of the lake, nearby the school, visitors can use sports and recreation facilities, including a volleyball court and a beach volleyball area, a football stadium, tennis courts, a gymnasium, as well as playgrounds and recreation areas. ◗

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Gołuchów Tourist and Sports Centre ul. Leśna 1 63 – 322 Gołuchów tel./Fax 62 761 50 63, 62 761 51 77 tel. 606 662 954 gotis@goluchow.pl

Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 11

On the hill of Lech

Gniezno

City of Gniezno was built on seven hills. Each of these hills has its individual character and symbol. However, the most important one is the hill of Lech, on which the cathedral stands.

It was first noticed by Lech ccording to the legend, three brothers named Lech, Czech and Rus were travelling through dense forests in search for a land on which they could settle. After a long trek, the brothers suddenly saw a broad valley with a number of small hills. On the highest hill, in an old oak tree, an eagle had woven its nest. The legend has it that Lech, enchanted by the beautiful view, said ‘I will take this white eagle as an emblem of my people, and around the oak tree, I will build my town and call it Gniezno, in commemoration of the eagle’s nest’. And that is what he did. Czech decided to go further south in search for a new land for himself, while Rus decided to go further east. So much for the legend. In terms of historical facts, there is no doubt that in the first half of the tenth century AD, Gniezno became the central town of the Polans tribal state.

According to a document dating back to the end of the tenth century AD, Gniezno played the role of a capital town connected with the Piast dynasty. The results of archaeological research have confirmed that at the end of the eighth century AD, a town with a duke’s house as well as a settlement were built and surrounded by walls made of earth and wood. It is supposed that the Hill of Lech was the focal point of the tribal pagan worship, which is proven by the remains of a religious fireplace dating back to the 7th-8th century AD, found in the vaults of the Cathedral, as well as a stone mound under Saint George’s Church. It is assumed that the first Catholic church, made of stone, was built here as early as in the ninth century AD. Mieszko I, the first historic ruler of Poland, built a state which extended over a considerable territory and strengthened the state politically by introducing Christianity. The ceremony of baptising Poland probably took place in Gniezno, on the Silent Saturday of the year 966. Thus, Gniezno became the capital town. The Cathedral, which to some extent is the reflection of the history of this area, is built in the Gothic style. The building has three naves, and it is built according to the basilica model and features an ambulatory. The central nave is separated from the chancel by a chancel arch, and from the side naves – by ogive-shaped arcades dating back to the mid-fourteenth century and richly decorated with carvings.

The side naves adjoin fourteen chapels, two vestries, a library and the new chapter house, and the western part

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Relaxing in Gniezno

www.powiat-gniezno.pl

exhibition – a show which presents the history of the region from the middle of the tenth century to the beginning of the sixteenth century.

There are five lakes in the city of Gniezno: Jelonek Lake, Winiary Lake, Świętokrzyskie Lake, Koszyk Lake and Wełnickie Lake. Apart from that, there are numerous ponds both within the city and in the surrounding area, so visitors will certainly find the Gniezno Lake District quite impressive. ◗ The Archcathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary ul. Kanclerza Łaskiego 9 62 – 200 Gniezno, tel. 61 426 38 98 www.archidiecezja.pl Visiting hours: on weekdays, between 9 a. m. and 5 p. m., except for 12-1 p. m., when the Holy Mass is celebrated; in April and October, until 4 p. m. On Sundays and national holidays, between 1 p. m. and 2.30 p. m., and between 4 p. m. and 5 p. m., on Sundays and national holidays, groups are only allowed with a guide. There is an entrance fee and additional fees for seeing the Gniezno Doors, the vaults, entering the tower and seeing the bells.

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Museum of the Origins of the Polish State ul. Kostrzewskiego 1 62-200 Gniezno tel. 61 426 46 41 fax 61 426 48 41 www.mppp.pl

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of the church houses two crypts located near the towers, as well as the old chapter house.

At the end of the nave, in the southern vestibule, visitors can admire a portal dating back to the second half of the 14th century, which includes the famous Gniezno doors, one of the most valuable Romanesque relics in Europe. The doors consist of two leafs and are made of bronze. They feature 18 plots decorated with low reliefs showing the life and teachings of Saint Adalbert, from his birth to his martyr death and the burial of the saint’s body.

The young generation considers the Gniezno Doors to be a kind of a comic strip. The relics of the saint, who is also the saint patron of Europe, are placed in the cathedral inside a Baroque reliquary in the shape of a silver coffin, on top of which lies a figure of the saint wearing his bishop robes.

Visitors are advised to take a walk from the Hill of Lech to the six remaining hills: the Hill of Saint Peter (now Saint Peter and Paul’s Cemetery), the Hill of St Lawrence (St Lawrence’s Church and the marketplace), the Hill of St Michael (St Michael’s Church), the Virgin Hill (the Old Market), the Hill of Teutonic Knights and the Żnińskie Hill. On each of these hills, visitors will find something interesting for them. One of the most interesting institutions is the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State, which mainly shows artefacts connected with the Middle Ages in Poland, as well as the history of Gniezno and the whole region. The most interesting feature of the museum is a multimedia

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PHOTO ARCHIVES OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN GNIEZNO, AUTHOR: J. MIKOŁAJCZAK

On the hill of Lech

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The Gniezno Narrow-Gauge Railway uring your stay in Gniezno, it is worth to spend one day taking a trip on the Gniezno Narrow-Gauge Railway from Gniezno to Anastazewo.

The trains run regularly from mid-June to the end of August, on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays.

The train has a restaurant carriage. The distance of about 30 kilometres is covered in three hours. The train starts the journey in Gniezno. There are five stops on the way: Żelazkowo, Niechanowo, Witkowo, Powidz and Przybrodzin. It is worth remembering that on the final Day of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity annual event, a special trip on the train is organised from

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Gniezno to Witkowo. A number of special events are organised every year, including the Railway Engine F? te at the end of April / beginning of May, the Railway Engine Midsummer Eve in June, as well as the Baked Potato Day in September. The narrow-gauge railway was built in the year 1896. ◗ The Gniezno Narrow-Gauge Railway ul. Wrzesińska 2 62 – 200 Gniezno tel./fax 61 426 11 30 www.gkw-gniezno.pl

PHOTO ARCHIVES OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN GNIEZNO, AUTHOR: J. ANDRZEJEWSKI

Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 13

What was life like in the Middle Ages?

Poznań

Lednica

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Relaxing by the Lednickie Lake and in Grzybowo

At Lednickie Lake If you wish to learn how people lived in the times of the Piasts dynasty, why don’t you take a trip to the holm. Here, near Lednickie Lake, on the island, and in the nearby Grzybowo, visitors can get the feel of the way our ancestor lived. They can feel and touch elements of a very distant past.

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hose who visit Lednickie Lake have the impression that in this part of the world, present times are not much different from the past. Perhaps only the modern rhythm of life is slightly different. Archaeologists live at a slower pace than the locals or the tourists, as they cannot afford to miss even the smallest detail. The First Piasts Museum in Lednica includes several attractions such as Lednicki Holm, the Small Open-Air Ethnographic Museum, the Wielkopolska Ethnographic Park, as well as archaeological reserves localised in Giecz, Grzybowo and Radzim.

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Lednicki Holm, an island measuring 7.5 hectares, situated in the southern part of Lednickie Lake, offers a range of attractions to visitors, including the ruins of stone buildings dating back to the second half of the tenth century AD, the times of Duke Mieszko I and King Bolesław Chrobry (Boleslaw I the Brave): a palatine, a chapel with a baptistery, and the town church. The island used to be surrounded by thick embankments, and two bridges used to connect it to the mainland. Lednicki Holm was one of the central elements of the state during the times of Mieszko I. The present-day visitors travel to

What was life like in the Middle Ages?

The town of Grzybowo he town of Grzybowo was founded at the beginning of the tenth century AD and existed until the end of the century. The period of its peak development was the second half of the tenth century.

A number of well-preserved elements of the town have been discovered, and the archaeological works conducted since the end of the nineties are slowly uncovering the secrets of the area. Some of the historical artefacts discovered in the town are now on display in the museum in Września. Every year, on the last-but-one weekend of August, an International Convention of Knights is held in Grzybowo, which attracts knights from around Europe. Every year, the theme of the convention is different. The participants of the convention exchange their ideas and at the same time, share their knowledge with the audience. The knights have jointly started the construction of an open-air ethnographic museum, which will ultimately complement the museum in Grzybowo. w

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the island by ferry, which is an additional attraction. The Small Open-Air Ethnographic Museum is a small parkland area onto which a number of historical buildings have been transferred from the Wielkopolska region. Near the entrance to the Museum, visitors can see the Skarbczyk, a small-scale copy of the Church of St John of Jerusalem in Poznań, which houses several exhibitions.

The main exhibition presenting historical artefacts connected with Lednicki Holm is located in the old granary building in Dziekanowice.

The Wielkopolska Ethnographic Park stretches over the Lednickie Lake Area. The Park is one of the biggest ethnographic parks in Europe. Visitors can see buildings dating mainly to the 18th and the 19th century, from the whole Wielkopolska Area. It is worth comparing a peasant cottage from the year 1602 to a similar cottage dated 1936, both built in accordance with the vertical-post log construction model. The two buildings provide an interesting example of contrasts between cultures. In the Ethnographic Park, visitors can feel as if they were walking around an old village, as apart from peasant houses from various parts of the Wielkopolska Area, the Park features windmills, a small church, a granary, a blacksmith’s shop and a school. The buildings look as if they were still inhabited and the peasants living there went to work in their fields a short while ago.

In May, the Small Open-Air Ethnographic Museum organises an archaeological-historical fete, during which children and teenagers are encouraged to change into ‘young researchers’ and learn new facts and skills from the employees of the First Piasts Museum in Lednica.

After they take a ferry trip to Lednicki Holm, they will

find themselves in a different world. Reconstruction groups will make it possible for them to move back to the past and ‘taste’ the way in which their ancestors lived.

It is worth seeing the Corpus Christi procession organised in the Wielkopolska Ethnographic Park in Dziekanowice and see the colourful crowd of people dressed in folk costumes, walking slowly around the Park.

On the first Sunday of each month, the historical buildings come to life as potters, shoemakers, blacksmiths and ordinary peasants move into the buildings. The housewives cut out the traditional folk paper cuts, embroider, spin wool, weave cloth on looms and churn butter. A number of people dressed in folk costumes walk around the area – some of them are members of folklore groups, who invite visitors to singing and dancing events. A fair is held on the central village square.

For several years now, on the other side of the lake, visitors have been able to see the ‘Millennium Gate’, near which the John Paul II House is run by the Poznań Dominican Friars Order. Every June, a Youth Meeting is organised in the area, but visitors are invited to visit the John Paul II House (in which a museum commemorating the Polish pope is being created) or walk under the fish-shaped Millennium Gate all year round. ◗

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Archaeological Reserve in Grzybowo tel. 61 427 50 17

First Piasts Museum in Lednica Dziekanowice 32 62-261 Lednogóra tel. 61 427 50 10 fax 61 427 50 20 www.lednicamuzeum.pl sekretariat@lednicamuzeum.pl Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 15

Under the sky and on the ground Relaxing in Leszno and its surroundings Poznań

Leszno

Leszno, the town of the King Stanisław Leszczyński, is most frequently associated with speedway racing, hang-gliding and balloon trips. In the year 2009, a miniature zoo was opened in the town, and the Tarzan rope-climbing park was built in the same year. www.leszno.pl

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16 | Family Outings in Wielkopolska

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Under the sky and on the ground

In the Leszno Old Town f you want to rest after the exciting trips under the sky, it is worth visiting the Old Town in Leszno. Visitors can admire the three-floor Town Hall from the Baroque period. The building is rectangular, with a tower in the centre. The Town Hall is crowned with a parapet featuring a balustrade, and covered with a gable roof. The tower is crowned by a lofty steel cap, dating back to 1817 and featuring an arcade. The Town Hall was given its present look during the alterations conducted in years 1707-1708 and was probably designed by Pompeo Ferrari.

For those who visit Leszno in June, it is worth taking part in the ‘Bumming Around’ fair, which is organised to celebrate the walks around the Old Market and surrounding streets traditionally

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taken by the inhabitants of Leszno every Sunday. The fair is organised during the Grand Prix competition on the speedway track in the Leszno Old Market. Numerous sellers set up their stalls, craftsmen tempt visitors with their products, and artists give numerous performances. In September, an event called ‘The Return of the King’ is organised in Leszno and Rydzyna. During the event, the king and his court enter the Old Market square in Leszno, numerous performances are given, including court dances and sword fighting, as well as groups of amateur actors presenting the most important events from the history of Leszno.

Organised tours are made along the ‘Following the footsteps of King Stanisław’ route and an antique fair is organised on the courtyard of the castle in Rydzyna. ◗

City Office Leszno

ul. Kazimierza Karasia 15 64 – 100 Leszno tel. 65 529 81 00

ABC Editorial Office ul. Słowiańska 63 64 – 100 Leszno tel. 65 529 25 40 abc@gazetaabc.pl www.gazetaabc.pl

Leszno-Region Tourist Organization ul. Karasia 15 64 – 100 Leszno tel. 65 529 82 34 www.leszno-region.pl biuro@leszno-region.pl

Hanging on a rope n the Tysiąclecia Park, situated near the Alfred Smoczyk Speedway track, it is worth visiting the Tarzan Rope-Climbing Park, where a number of ropes, bridges and other climbing facilities are stretched among old trees. Visitors can choose from among four tracks: the toddlers’ track (just above the ground), the children’s track (11 obstacles) and the adults’ track (15 and 20 obstacles, with varying levels of difficulty). More tracks are currently being developed. As Internet users often point out, the rope climbing park has breathed new life into the Tysiąclecia Park and it now attracts whole families. Soon, the park will offer other attractions such as new playgrounds and a café.

Another feature of the Tysiąclecia Park is a miniature zoo, which has

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been operating since 1977.

Currently, the miniature zoo is inhabited by 13 species of mammals and 12 species of birds. The miniature zoo is very popular among parents with young children, as the youngest ones enjoy watching bears, wild boars, fallow deer, roe deer and llamas, as well as ducks, peacocks and pigeons.

Another place recommended for recreation is the Akwawit complex.

With the services it offers, Akwawit is undoubtedly one of the greatest attractions of Leszno. Older children can swim in the pool equipped with water jets and geysers or take a ride down a water slide. For the younger ones, there's a small pool with warmer heated water. ◗

Tarzan Rope Climbing Park

Park Tysiąclecia ul. 17 Stycznia 64 – 100 Leszno tel. 510 24 25 26 info@parklinowytarzan.pl www.parklinowytarzan.pl Miniature Zoo

t is worth visiting Osieczna to see three post mills – wooden windmills of the most popular type in Poland. Windmills of this kind were usually built on top of hills.

In windmills of this type, the whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post, around which it can be turned to bring the sails towards the wind. The mill was turned into the

wind with the help of a long tailpole.

The front wall, through which one entered the mill, was usually adorned with various decorations, including miniature galleries. The sails in windmills of this type are located on the opposite wall.

The central post mill in Osieczna dates back to the year 1763 and it has recently been renovated. ◗

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Spread your wings n Strzyżewice, on the outskirts of Leszno, we can find an airfield, the Leszczyński Flying Club and the Central Glider School. It is the biggest and bestknown centre for gliders in Poland; it is also the allPoland centre for model planes and balloon trips. It is here that the International Glider and Balloon Competitions are organised. The Central Glider School, in accordance with its name, offers courses for glider pilots and aeroplane flights.

It provides courses for those interested in obtaining a tourist pilot licence. Every year, a glider picnic called ‘Leszno. Spread your wings’ is organised in June. During the rally, visitors can admire gliders and balloons, as well as try what it feels like to fly in a glider or a balloon and at the same time enjoy breathtaking views of the town from high above the ground. ◗

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Central Glider School in Leszno ul. Szybowników 28, 64-100 Leszno tel. / fax 65 529 24 00 info@cssleszno.eu www.cssleszno.eu

Park Tysiąclecia ul. 17 Stycznia 64 – 100 Leszno tel. 65 529 93 67 mzz@mzz.leszno.pl Akwawit Conference and Recreation Center

ul. Św. Józefa 5 64-100 Leszno Tel. 65 529 37 81 www.akwawit.pl basen@akwawit.pl

The land of windmills in Osieczna

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Municipal and Community Administration Office

ul. Powstańców Wielkopolskich 6 64 -113 Osieczna tel. 65 535 00 16 urzad@osieczna.pl; www.osieczna.pl TOU ION -REG ESZNO PHOTO ARCHIVES OF L

Wypoczynek rodzinny w Wielkopolsce | 17

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The most beautiful buildings of Poland Relaxing in Kościan and Cichowo

Poznań

Kościan

In Kościan we can find the famous Eiffel Tower, and in Chichowo we can visit a Polish manor farm characteristic of the Eastern Borderlands, described by Adam Mickiewicz in Pan Tadeusz and shown in the epic’s film adaptation directed by Andrzej Wajda. If there’s enough time left, you can crown the day with a draisine ride.

To travel within view of the Statute of Liberty ou don’t always have to leave the country to see the world’s most beautiful buildings. In Kościan, in the Nenufar recreation park there are miniature models of buildings known from Europe’s capitals: the Parisian Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and London’s Big Ben. To reach the Statute of Liberty, a symbol of New York, we must take a boat ride.

The Nenufar Club offers a combination of an educational park with a recreation centre. It covers a large area of both land and water. Visitors can count not only on sports activities (canoeing and rafting rallies) but also leisure: there are barbecue and bonfire spots, wooden shelters where we can prepare a meal and where children can play, and playgrounds as well as angling spots.

From spring to autumn, the park offers various forms of activities organised with children in mind. The youngest ones (aged 3-6) can participate in the ‘Fairy Tale World’ project: children get on rafts and travel to places

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resembling those they know from fairy tales. Older children (13 and over) can join the pirates, who will take them on a round-the-world journey. The latter form of activity requires active involvement on the part of the children. But there is a reward: a treasure hunter’s diploma. In summer, there are one-week „Pirate Holidays’ organized there, and from 5 November to 23 December, the Nenufar Club organizes its annual project entitled ‘In Search of Santa’.

The Nenufar Club has plenty to offer also to adults: this place is appreciated by both children and their parents. ◗ Nenufar Club ul. Boczna 64 – 00 Kościan tel. 695 741 212 www.nenufar-koscian.pl

www.powiatkoscian.pl

Krzywiń Draisine Railway ne of the major attractions of this area is the Krzywiń Draisine Railway, with its base in Bieżyń.

The village is situated in the poviat of Kościan (Commune of Krzywiń), near the Leszno – Środa Wlkp. road. It is the starting point for all trips.

Draisines can travel mainly between Bieżyn and Jerka, and between Bieżyń and Kunowo. The Krzywiń Draisine Railway owns two different draisines, which can take on a single journey a total of 15 people.

There’s also a possibility of taking a trip around the Bieżyń base station as well as ordering longer journeys, to destinations situated beyond the Gostyń station, to as far as Krobia.

Longer trips must be reserved 30 days ahead of the planned departure as details need to be agreed on with the national railway operator PLK. The draisine line functions thanks to the efforts made by its enthusiasts; future plans envisage restoration work on currently impassable sections of the line so that trips can be extended to as far as Miejska Górka. We recommend a visit to the Railway Museum in Kunów. ◗

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Krzywiń Draisine Railway tel. 600 292 454 kkd@krzywinskie.drezyny.com www.krzywinskie.drezyny.com

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Soplicowo manor farm in Cichowo uring his stay in Wielkopolska (1831 – 1832), Adam Mickiewicz visited the Krzywiń Region (paying a visit to, among others, Kopaszewo). Cichowo in turn is where Marek Pinkowski lives, the man who established the ‘Academy of Film Animals’. His storks appeared in Andrzej Wajda’s Pan Tadeusz. Pinkowski was so fascinated by the beauty of the area the film was set in that he talked Krzywiń’s regional authorities and film producers into creating the Soplicowo Film Heritage Park. The park was opened on 26 June 1999 and it consists of the manor farm designed by Allan Starski for the purpose of the film. The manor farm’s building are surrounded by Zosia’s garden, brought back to life with domestic animals, the film’s ‘stars’. Inside the

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buildings, we can see the costumes and props used in the film as well as listen to music composed for the film by Wojciech Kilar.

Near the attraction there is Lake Cichowskie (Mórka), whose clear waters woo bathers and anglers alike. In summer, Cichowo hosts numerous outdoor events. The most popular ones include the European Competition of Fire Pumps for Horse-driven Vehicles, vintage motorbike rallies, knights’ gatherings, horse-riding competitions and the Soplicowo Days... ◗

Soplicowo Film Heritage Park – Marek Pinkowski Cichowo 11 64 – 010 Krzywiń tel. 65 517 71 77 www.krzywin.pl Miniature Park Railway tel. 600 645 647, 514 864 038 www.shk.org.pl www.krzywin.pl

Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 19

Relaxing in the MiędzychódSieraków Lake District

From a manor farm to a forest

Sieraków Poznań

The Międzychód-Sieraków Lake District woos visitors with lakes and forests.

It is also a paradise for mushroom pickers and all those interested in various forms of active tourism (a number of walking, bicycle and horse-riding trails).

There are breathtaking sights awaiting us in this paradise.

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Do it yourself he Regional and Natural Education Centre at Mniszki found its seat on the premises of a deserted and run-down manor farm. The effects of the renovation work are stunning. Artisans with rare crafting skills established their workshops in the buildings of the former manor farm: a smith, a potter, a shoemaker, a basket weaver and a cooper. A colonial store and a rural school building have also been reconstructed. But the place isn't much like a museum. We can feel at Mniszki the genuine spirit of the old days fading into the past before our very eyes. At Mniszki, we don't just watch. At Mniszki we are actively involved in the workshops: we can try making our own nail, shape our own pot, weave a basketor collect herbs for a bouquet during the celebrations of the

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Assumption of the Virgin Mary... At the Mniszki centre we can admire also unique artefacts: tools that used to be indispensible for life and work on the farm. Most of them have been presented or loaned to the centre by the local community.

Another attraction offered by Mniszki can be a walking or cycling expedition into the Kamionki Valley, while in autumn we can go mushrooming. ◗ Regional and Natural Education Centre Mniszki 2 62 – 421 Kamionna tel. 95 748 81 18, 509 609 653 www.mniszki.pl

A forest garden earby the seat of the Sieraków Forestry Division in Bucharzewo, families will find the Educational Integration Garden, the first such facility in Poland. The Forest Garden has been adapted to the needs of those who cannot discover the forest with the sense of sight.

The Garden stretches on nearly two hectares and it comprises various educational paths. Following the dendrological path, children can learn to distinguish among tree species by touching their trunk. In the part dedicated to hunting, they can try the salty taste of the salt lick or climb a tower blind. They learn about fires by touching a charred trunk. The most exciting path is the path of the senses, which children traverse barefoot. The

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Forest Educational Garden is organized in such a way as to enable participation of the disabled, especially the blind and visually impaired children. They can discover the forest by walking on conifer cones and acorns... With disabled children in mind, the paths are marked with descriptions in Braille. ◗ Sieraków Forestry Division Bucharzewo 64 – 410 Sieraków tel./fax 61 29 52 065 sierakow@poznan.lasy.gov.pl

From a manor farm to a forest

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Visit the Opalińskis’ town he Opalińskis’ town tempts visitors with, above all, its castle and its stallion herd. There are just some ruins left of the original abode of Sieraków’s owners. In the 1990s, one wing of the castle was reconstructed and in 1995 the Opalińskis’ sarcophaguses were located there, moved from the crypt of the parish church. The sarcophaguses had been renovated to its past splendour before they were placed in the castle’s cellar, which was turned into a crypt with an altar for this new role. The sarcophaguses of the town’s past owners are exquisite works of art – objects of envy for many museums. They are a testimony to the great history of the noble family and the history of Poland and the Sieraków region.

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Nearby the castle, there’s the famous stud farm, operating there for nearly two centuries now. It breeds the Wielkopolski horse and the Polish Pony, called ‘Konik polski’ in Poland. Every year the stables attract thousands of tourists who want to take a ride on horseback or in a carriage, or participate in a St. Hubertus Hunt organized every autumn. We can also visit a historical coach house with a collection of coaches dating from the turn of the 20th century and a harness collection.

Children will enjoy a pony ride. ◗

Opaliński Castle Museum ul. Stadnina 3a 64 – 410 Sieraków tel. 61 29 52 392 www.muzeum-sierakow.pl sierakow_muzeum@wp.pl Stallion Herd ul. Stadnina 4 64 – 410 Sieraków tel. 61 29 52 511 www.stadosierakow.pl biuro-sierakow@stadosierakow.pl

Weave yourself a basket owy Tomyśl is associated with wicker. The world's largest wicker basket made of 8 tons of wicker has come to be the town's symbol. It can be admired in the town's center.

The basket marks the beginning of the Wicker Trail, taking us to the Basketry and Hop Growing Museum.

The museum was established in 1985 in a partially reconstructed cottage of an Olender settler, a building dating back to the end of the 18th century. Children most commonly associate wicker with the traditional Easter basket. But wicker weaving is both a farming activity and a craft. Wicker was and still is used to weave not only baskets but also to make furniture, fences and lamps.

On the ground floor of the museum, we can admire wicker products from prehistoric to modern times. The barn is used as the center for workshops and outdoor events; under its roof we can admire the masterpieces created during the open-air artistic events. The museum organizes short weaving courses. And you don't have to come in groups. The course can be an excellent activity for the whole family to enjoy. ◗

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ul. Topolowa 10 Nowy Tomyśl tel. 61 – 442 23 11 nowytomysl@muzeum-szreniawa.pl www.muzeum-szreniawa.pl

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www.nowytomysl.pl Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 21

Under steam

Relaxing in Wolsztyn

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A railway town Who would have thought that in the age of fast trains, Internet and mobile telephony the world would go crazy over the good old steam locomotive? Piękna Helena (Beautiful Helena) is a locomotive from Wolsztyn that turned a small sleepy town into a place known far beyond Polish borders. www.wolsztyn.pl

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very spring a parade of steam locomotives is organized in Wolsztyn. This ‘railway town’ attracts not only historical engines from all over Europe but also, even more importantly, enthusiasts of heritage trains from all over the world. Wolsztyn has amazing attractions awaiting them: there are fully operational models of steam locomotives (hardly ever seen outside museums).

Visitors can actually take a ride in the cab of a steam locomotive. The parade is accompanied by another event: The International Competition of Engine Drivers.

Wolsztyn remains attractive throughout the year as its steam locomotive shed is the only one in Europe to operate scheduled passenger services on rules unchanged since its beginnings. The Wolsztyn Steam Locomotive Shed has 30 steam locomotives, including its pride: Polish steam engine Pm 36-2 Beautiful Helena, capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 130 km/h. When visiting the steam locomotive shed, we must call in at the Exhibition Room – a paradise for heritage railway enthusiasts. The first railway line reached Wolsztyn as early as in 1886 (from Zbąszynek). Soon the town became an important rail junction. In 1907, a steam locomotive shed was built to house eight trains. Nothing has changed since then: Wolsztyn continues to be an important rail junction. ◗

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Wolsztyn Steam Locomotive Shed ul. Fabryczna 1 64 – 200 Wolsztyn tel. 68 419 17 68, 663 294 674 info@parowozowniawolsztyn.pl www.parowozowniawolsztyn.pl

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At Koch’s and Rożek’s he steam locomotives are not the only attraction of the town. Tourists interested in the medical world could visit the house where Robert Koch lived and worked. It was in Wolsztyn where this Prussian physician subdued the anthrax bacillus. Koch worked as the poviat's doctor in years 1972 – 1880. In the building where he lived (housing also a hospital) Koch began research into wound infections and experiments with the anthrax-causing bacteria. On moving to Berlin, he announced the results of his work on tuberculosis, which brought him a Noble Prize.

Wolsztyn's residents are proud with the fact that such

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a great medical career of a Nobile Prize winner was started in their town.

Another famous resident was Marcin Rożek. The sculptor left his home town for a taste of the Parisian fame to return to Wolsztyn in 1934. There is an exhibition dedicated to the artist at the place where he lived. In the garden we can look at the copies of some of his sculptures. Two rooms house temporary exhibitions. The museum boasts also a collection of memorabilia dedicated to another famous resident: Józef Maria Hoene-Wroński, a philosopher and mathematician born in Wolsztyn in 1776. ◗

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Marcin Rożek Museum ul. 5 stycznia 34 64 – 200 Wolsztyn tel. 68 384 26 48 www.muzea-wolsztyn.com.pl Robert Koch Museum ul. Roberta Kocha 12 64 – 200 Wolsztyn tel. 68 384 27 36 www.muzea-wolsztyn.com.pl

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Under thatched roofs

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Under thatched roofs he Ethnographic Museum of the West-Wielkopolska Folk Buildings Heritage Park stretches on 3.5 hectares along the south-west shore of Wolsztyńskie Lake. This open air heritage park comprises, among others, a homestead with a log tavern from Nowy Solec (1706), a log barn from Solec (the end of the 18th century), a stable with a carriage house from Szarki (19th century), an octagonal wooden well from Jastrzębsko (18th century) and a farm-hand’s house from Nowa Tuchorza (19th century). As was usual in such settlements, a smithy and a chapel can also be found there.

The place gives us an impression of a genuine living village – a feeling reinforced with the presence of live animals and exhibitions inside the particular buildings.

When we get tired walking round the heritage park, we can rest on the nearby beach, where we can also hire water sports equipment. ◗

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West-Wielkopolska Folk Buildings Heritage Park ul. Bohaterów Bielinka 26 64-200 Wolsztyn tel. 68 384 26 19 www.wolsztyn-muzeum.com.pl 24 | Family Outings in Wielkopolska

Wyrzysk Osiek

At the borderline

Poznań

Wielkopolska borders on Pomerania here.

At the province’s frontiers the biggest attractions are forests and lakes.

However, when staying in this region we should also pay a visit to Osiek and Wyrzysk.

Relaxing in Osiek and Wyrzysk

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The usual country life he Folk Culture Museum in Osiek upon Noteć lives in harmony with the seasons of the year. The exhibitions organized there are paratheatrical in nature: they bring back such customs as Christmas carolling and the Christmas Eve Supper, Shrovetide festivities, traditional Easter, the unveiling and capping ceremony of weddings. Another form of presentation are interactive activities, for example learning about how linen is made, from retrieving the fibres to weaving fabrics, or about how to make regional food specialties (including beetroot syrup and sweets made from this syrup), how to bake bread and churn butter or prepare a home-made roasted-grain beverage. Visitors do not just watch but they

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can join in the activities any time they wish. These activities are complemented by large outdoor events such as the living heritage park, May-day picnics, Farewell to Summer picnics, at which local folk groups perform while artists present their handmade regional craftwork.

The Folk Culture Museum comprises two parts: ethnographic and archaeological sections. The first one watches over the nearly completely recreated village on an oval plan. Besides the cottages and utility buildings, we can see here windmills, a forge, a wood yard and a house that combined the functionality of an elementary school and its teacher’s home (mid 19th century). The objects collected in the heritage park come from the central ri-

The Wyrzysk Poviat Railway

ver basin of Noteć, so from the Noteć Forest, Krajna and Pułaki.

The archaeological section in turn presents exhibits obtained in effect of the excavation work conducted in that area in the second half of the 20th century. ◗

Folk Culture Museum ul. Dworcowa 10 89 – 333 Osiek nad Notecią tel. 67 286 60 90 www.muzeum.pila.pl

nthusiasts grouped around the Wyrzysk Poviat Railway Society (TWKP) succeeded in preserving the oldest sections of the Wyrzysk Poviat Railway: Białośliwie – Łobżenica as well as branches from the Industrial Plant to Glesno and Czajcze to Wysoka. The import of new trains at the Białośliwie station is also owed to the same society. The Białośliwie enthusiasts watch over the railway's starting station, too. This station is the only example in Europe and perhaps the only example in the world, of a multi-level railway station, connecting to the standard-gauge railway. We can see all that from the outside, but trains run between Białośliwie and Łobżenica only occasionally (to individual reservations). ◗

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Wyrzysk Poviat Railway Society ul. Kościuszki 5 89 – 340 Białośliwie tel. 606 339 343 zarzad@twkp.most.org.pl

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www.powiat-pilski.intrux.pl Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 25

With wolves and adrenalin Stobnica Poznań

In the vicinity of Oborniki, there are two places that can raise our adrenalin levels: wolves in Stobnica and an exciting ropes park on the town’s outskirts. But there’s nothing to be afraid of...

A real wolf is not a toy but... ur beliefs about wolves are shaped already in our childhood days by fairy tales. The wolf is usually the black character of those stories.

But Mr. Dawid Mech believes that ‘the wolf is not a vicious animal, nor is it just a soft toy to be cuddled. It is neither dangerous nor is it nice.

It is just one of the many interesting species pestered by man for centuries – an animal that deserves its place for life.’

If somebody wants to experience an encounter with a wolf, they could go to a zoological garden but then they will only get a glimpse of a wolf.

Another possibility is to go to Stobnica (on the edge of the Noteć Forest near the town of Oborniki) and visit the Research Station of the Zoology Department of Poznań University of Life Sciences, the so-called MythDebunking Centre, known also as the Wolf Park.

Established in 1974, the research station is involved in reintroducing to their natural habitats rare and locally extinct species of animals, such as the European beaver. In the valley of the Kończak stream, we can see such rare species as the Polish Konik (tarpan type), the wood grouse and the black grouse... But Stobnica owes its fame first of all to wolves.

The first female wolf named Fifty was brought to Stobnica in 1996. She was born in the zoo in Nowy Tomyśl. Her parents were selected by hunters from among the wolfs found at a nest site in Noteć Forest. Soon the wolf received some company and was no longer lonely. After some time, children of the first wolfish residents were born. Wolves are kept in enclosures but the brave ones can enter inside, only in the company of the wolves’ keepers though. Those who have found enough courage to step inside the enclosure say that they have changed their opinion of wolves completely.

Is Stobnica a wolf paradise? Probably it is a safe place for wolves, which are now on the verge of extinction. To visitors, it is a lesson in life and a beautiful place in the valley of Kończak, a stream winding meanderingly nearby. Stobnica’s wolves appeared in a few documentaries shot for National Geographic and in a historical drama Ogniem i mieczem (With Fire and Sword). ◗

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Zoology Department Poznań University of Life Sciences ul. Wojska Polskiego 71 c 60 – 625 Poznań tel. 61 848 76 49 lub 61 848 76 48 Research Station of PU Stobnica 1 64 – 607 Kiszewo tel. 61 291 36 39 26 | Family Outings in Wielkopolska

Relaxing in Stobnica

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Wandering among ropes he picturesque forest landscape on the Wełna river can be found close to Noteć Forest, by the ruins of the Wronki bridge in Oborniki. Fans of active rest will find ideal places for themselves there: a climbing wall, two ropes courses and a paintball field...

The ropes park in Oborniki consists of two obstacle courses of various levels of difficulty. The routes follow wooden platforms hanging on trees. The Madagascar course is suitable for beginners and it includes a number of interesting obstacles of a low level of difficulty. Kilimanjaro in turn is a course for people who love challenges.

The paintball field is situated along the Wełna river, in the lower area of the ropes park.

It gives visitors an opportunity to participate in a paintball game on an open outdoor area with various obstacles put up for players.

Paintballers have also at their disposal a part of the forest area. The forest terrain offers such amazing assets as labyrinths, blinds and sniper

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points. Each team receives a special fort, from which players can conquer parts of the opponents’ forest.

The climbing wall is situated in one of the park’s most beautiful spots. It is 8 meters high and is wide enough for four simultaneous climbs.

One alternative to all this excitement at heights is a canoeing rally on Wełna, of the most picturesque rivers in Poland. The rally can start in Jaracz or Wełna (3.5 hours), Ruda (6.5 hours) or Rogoźno (7 hours). The day can be crowned with a bonfire arranged on the territory of the park. ◗

Adrenalina Ropes Park tel. 506 384 140, 505 107 720 www.parklinowy-oborniki.pl biuro@parklinowy-oborniki.pl

www.oborniki.starostwo.gov.pl

Chodzież

Winter on the slope, summer by the lakes

Poznań

Relaxing in Chodzież ES CHIV O AR PHOT

Chodzież is surrounded by three mountains: Talerz, Łysa and Gontyniec, and three lakes: Miejskie, Strzeleckie and Karczewnik.

This way the town becomes attractive both during the winter and summer seasons.

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A ski run ount Talerz is the highest elevation located within the town (132 m above sea level) and it offers a magnificent view over Chodzież and its surroundings. In 2003, a group of enthusiasts from the Chodzież Skiing Association built a 200 metre ski run, which can be extended to 500 metres.

The completed section of the ski run is already fitted with a ski lift. It is the longest such track in the north of Poland. An additional attraction is a separate luge track. There’s an observation deck at the top of Mt. Talerz. The place is magical. We recommend climbing the mountain in summer and in winter alike. In Summer we can also climb Gontyniec, which offers an observation tower at its top.

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The lakes’ subtle beauty he three lakes become a major attraction during the summer. The youngest visitors will enjoy a boat trip aboard Chodzieżanka. Bathing enthusiasts will turn their attention to Lake Karczownik, which offers a grassy or a sandy beach. There’s also a possibility to hire water sports equipment by the lake.

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Tourist Information at the Municipal Library ul. Kościuszki 32 64 – 800 Chodzież tel. 67 381 81 38 www.biblioteka-chodziez.pl biblioteka@biblioteka-chodziez.pl

Municipal Sports and Recreation Centre ul. Staszica 12 64 – 800 Chodzież tel. 67 28 20 249 www.mosir-chodziez.pl mosir@mosir-chodziez.pl www.chtn.org.pl chtn@chtn.org.pl

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n Chodzież we will find also well preserved houses that used to belong to German weavers and clothmakers who came to Chodzież in two waves in the 17th and 18th centuries. They marked a new road, initially called Nowe Miasto (New Town), renamed into Pod Lipami and subsequently into its current name Kościuszki street. The weavers’ houses are one-storey buildings facing the street, with timber-frame walls (now covered with stucco). At the back owners built workshops and outbuildings for storing purposes. Unfortunately the houses cannot be visited as they are now in private hands. ◗

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www.powiat-chodzieski.pl PHOTO ARCHIVES OF TOWN ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN CHODZIEŻ

On horseback

Relaxing in Jaszkowo Poznań

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This charming village on the Warta river attracts horse-riding enthusiast from all over Europe.

But horses are not the only attraction of Jaszkowo.

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Charming village on the Warta ntoni Chłapowski, a descendent of a famous general Dezydery Chłapowski returned to Poland at the end of the 20th century and bought back from the State Treasury the Jaszkowo palace, erected most probably by Stanisław Mieczkowski in 1912, and the adjoining farm land. He settled down there, turning the place into a horse-riding centre.

The Horse-riding Centre is open throughout the year and offers lessons in horse riding, horse grooming (including horseshoeing) and training in basic equestrian vaulting. Jaszkowo boasts a complex of indoor riding

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maneges, a hotel, a horse clinic and a cross-country course... Both parents and their children come to practice here as horse riding is a family sport. There are special ponies bred at the centre for the youngest ones.

Depending on their budget, visitors to the Horseriding Centre can stay either at the palace itself or in its annexes. Thanks to Antoni Chłapowski, the palace was restored to its past glory. It stuns visitors with its library and ballroom. A short walk away from the palace, we will find an observation tower and a harbour, as there are also opportunities to practice water sports.

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Jaszkowo owes much to its location: it is situated on the territory of the picturesque Rogaliński Landscape Park. It is an ideal place for all those who would like to relax on bicycles, with a fishing rod or by taking a walk.

In the village it is worth visiting St. Barbara Church, dating from the mid 15th century. The presbytery houses an exhibition dedicated to Blessed Edmund Bojanowski.

Jaszkowo is just a short drive away from the palace in Rogalin or the castle in Kórnik... ◗

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Horse-riding Centre Jaszkowo 63 – 112 Brodnica tel. 61 28 37 556 info@centrumhipiki.com www.centrumhipiki.com

Family Outings in Wielkopolska | 29

Poznań bubliks

Relaxing in Szreniawa and Pobiedziska

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The Museum of Agriculture in Szreniawa with its branches and the Miniature Park in Pobiedzieska arrange themselves into the shape of a regional obwarzanek (Wielkopolska’s traditional bread rings).

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Four-field cultivation in Szreniawa ho remembers the principles of the four-field rotation? City dwellers do not seem to know anything about it, and memory of it is fading away in the countryside, too. We can find out about this traditional method of cultivation or even learn to use it at the National Museum of Agriculture and Agricultural-Food Industry in Szreniawa – by watching as four different kinds of crops are sewn in turn: wheat, turnips, barley and clover.

Szreniawa will unveil before us quite a few secrets, especially if we first check the calendar of events organized by the museum. At around Easter, Christmas and Pentecost, visitors are invited to participate in fairs at which they can taste or even learn how to cook regional specialties. The fairs’ participants include folk artists who present their crafts and works related to the particular occasion.

‘Autumn in the Countryside’ provides an opportunity to learn about farmers’ work characteristic for this season (ploughing, sewing) or about housewives’ traditional products (powidl and other preserves)...

If somebody pictures the museum as composing of showcases and exhibitions, they are so wrong... On an area of 10 hectares, there are a palace, farm buildings, and a park in Szreniawa.

There’s even a herb garden and a field.

The National Museum of Agriculture and Agricultural-Food Industry has five branches: Prof.

R. Kostecki Bee-keeping Skansen and Museum in Swarzędz (tel. 61 651 18 17), Museum of Milling and Water Equipment of Rural Industry in Jaracz (tel. 67 261 05 15), Museum of Basketry and Hop Growing in Nowy Tomyśl (tel. 61 442 23 11), Museum of Natural Environment and Hunting in Uzarzewo (tel. 61 818 12 11), Museum of Meat Industry in Sielinko (tel. 61 447 36 14). Each of them are an attraction of its own. The branches are scattered within a radius of a few dozen kilometres from Wielkopolska’s capital city Poznań. ◗

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National Museum of Agriculture and Agricultural-Food Industry in Szreniawa 62 – 052 Komorniki ul. Dworcowa 5 tel. 61 81 07 629 muzeum@muzeum-szreniawa.pl www.muzeum-szreniawa.pl

Wielkopolska in the micro scale Wielkopolska in the micro scale hile travelling from Poznań to Gniezno, we must stop at just about the place where the historical Piast Trail begins, just before Pobiedziska, on the road from Poznań to Gniezno. We don’t need to spend much time to see, on a small area, all the historic architectural structures of Wielkopolska – in the scale of 1: 20.

We might even risk and say that it is enough to see the Miniature Open Air Museum in Pobiedziska to see the whole of Wielkopolska. Of course it; s just a joke but the museum certainly is an excellent opportunity for children to see how great Wielkopolska is – even though this greatness may not be overwhelming when we are standing next to a miniature Poznań Town Hall, the Tower of Poznań International Trade Fair or the palace in Rogalin.

There are a total of 35 structures in the park. Apart from the ones mentioned above, we can also admire the Poznań Cathedral, Poznań churches of St. Adalbert, St John of Jerusalem Outside the Walls, St. Martin, Virgin Mary, the Poznań Crosses... There are also charming miniatures of palaces: from Antonin, Rogalin, Lubostroń and Czerniejewo. The park is a natural place also for the Mouse Tower in Kruszwica, the Biskupin settlement, the Gniezno Cathedral or the Palladium in Ostrów Lednicki... We can wander amidst the buildings and

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bring back legends of the beginnings of the Polish state, of King Popiel eaten by mice and of Poznań’s billy goats...

The park is open year-round. From spring to autumn it astonishes with the colours of the changing seasons.

The historic buildings look completely different when sprinkled with snow.

In 2010 a Centre for Contemporary Arts was opened in the park, nearby the miniature of Poznań’s Old Market Square. That is the kind of institution artists would like to see in Poznań. They became so impatient waiting for it that they decided to create its miniature in the park in Pobiedziska. The Centre in Pobiedziska is involved in genuine artistic activity: it organizes regular exhibitions. It is the world’s first modern arts centre in scale 1: 20. This way Pobiedziska joined such cities having their own art centres as Warsaw, Wrocław, Toruń, New York, London and Paris. The architectural model of the Modern Art Centre was designed as a buildingsculpture. ◗ Miniature Open Air Museum Pobiedziska tel. 61 81 77 822 skansen@okis-pobiedziska.pl www.okis-pobiedziska.pl

Poznań

Pobiedziska

Tourist information Poznań

Piła

Regional Tourist Information Centre 61-772 Poznań, Stary Rynek 59/60 tel. 61 852 61 56 61 855 33 79 it@cim.poznan.p

District Tourist Information Centre 64-920 Piła, al. Niepodległości 33/35 tel. 67 210 94 80 pit@powiat.pila.pl

City Information Centre 61-816 Poznań, ul. Ratajczaka 44 (entrance, ul.27 Grudnia) tel. 61 851 96 45 61 856 04 54 centrum@cim.poznan.pl City Information Centre - Branch at Poznań International Fair 60-734 Poznań, ul. Głogowska 14 tel. 61 869 20 84 centrum@cim.poznan.pl City Information Centre - Branch at Airport Ławica 60-189 Poznań, ul. Bukowska 285 tel. 61 849 21 40 lawica@cim.poznan.pl Tourist Information and Services „Glob-Tour FB” at Poznań Railway Station 60-801 Poznań, ul. Dworcowa 1 tel. 61 86 606 67 info@globtourfb.poznan.pl

Gniezno District Tourist Information Centre 62-200 Gniezno, ul. Rynek 14 tel. 61 428 41 00 info@szlakpiastowski.com.pl

Selected incoming travel agencies MARPOL TRAVEL ul. Dworcowa 1 64 – 500 Szamotuły tel./fax 61 292 38 21 www.marpoltravel.pl info@marpoltravel.pl

Nowy Tomyśl Commune Tourist Information Centre 64-300 Nowy Tomyśl, pl. Niepodległości 10 tel. 61 44 23 806 r.ratajczak@nowytomysl.pl

Travel agency „ATUR” ul. Mielżyńskiego 18/3 61 – 725 Poznań tel. 61 85 16 292, 61 85 60 881 fax 61 85 13 604 www.atur.com office@atur.com.pl

Puszczykowo Ekoinfo Centre 62-040 Puszczykowo, ul. Poznańska 1 tel. 61 633 62 83 61 898 37 11 promocja@puszczykowo.pl

Śrem Union of the Śrem Region – the Śrem Centre for the Support of Small Business 63-100 Śrem, ul. Okulickiego 3 tel. 61 283 27 04 unia@srem.com.pl

Travel agency – Karolina Gnusowska-Weiss ul. Mścibora 62/9 61 – 062 Poznań tel. 61 65 33 650 fax 61 65 33 659 office@weiss-travel.com

Wolsztyn Commune Tourist Information Centre 64-200 Wolsztyn, ul. Roberta Kocha 12a tel. 68 347 31 04 gci@wolsztyn.pl

Kalisz Tourist Information Centre 62-800 Kalisz, ul. Zamkowa tel. 62 598 27 31

it@um.kalisz.pl

Konin Tourist Information Centre 62-510 Konin, ul. Dworcowa 2 tel. 63 246 32 48 biuro@lotmarina.pl

Leszno Tourist Information 64-100 Leszno, ul. Słowiańska 24 tel. 65 529 81 91 65 529 81 92 65 529 81 92

Wielkopolska in Internet

www.wielkopolska.travel www.turystyka-kulturowa-wlkp.pl

Map of Wielkopolska

Publisher:

Wielkopolska Tourist Organisation www.wot.org.pl

Text:

Stefan Drajewski

Map:

Autograf www.autograf-poligrafia.pl

Translation:

Piotr Woryma

ISBN

978-83-61454-58-8

Poznań 2012

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