Wollstein: Kayaking, Landscape and Architectural Heritage
Accommodation in Wollstein
In Powiat Wolsztyński, experiences range from kayaking on lakes to Baroque churches and museums. The Konwaliowy Kayak Trail is a 37 km circular route in Przemęcki Landscape Park, starting and ending in Wieleń and navigable in either direction. There are also places such as Kaszczor, Wieleń and Przemęt, each with its own architectural and cultural history. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Wollstein, you can plan your trip around whether you want to focus on water, landscapes or historical discoveries.
Landscape and Trails
The terrain in the powiat was shaped by the most recent glaciation: the Weichselian, or Baltic, glaciation ended around 15,000 years ago, leaving varied and lively landforms. Przemęcki Landscape Park, established in 1991, protects a large natural area. It covers 21,450 ha in the municipalities of Przemęt, Włoszakowice, Wijewo and Wschowa; 42% of its area lies in Powiat Wolsztyński. The park protects the postglacial landscape and local nature.
You can paddle the kayak circuit in either direction; its total length is 37 km. In Wieleń, you can rent kayaks and get information on arranging the trip. For a different way to find your bearings, there is a trail in Olejnica: it starts and ends at a car park, is marked with arrows between stations, and begins at an information board with general details and a route map. These specific starting points help you choose activities when planning your trip without prescribing a set order.
Churches, Monasteries and Museums
Kaszczor is home to the late Baroque Church of St. Wojciech. The Cistercian Order built it between 1764 and 1777, replacing a wooden church dating from the late 16th century. Its furnishings combine Baroque and Neoclassical elements and date from the second half of the 18th century. Also in Kaszczor, a former Protestant church building, restored in 2011, now serves as a gallery and concert hall. The rebuilt tower offers views of Kaszczor and the surrounding area.
The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wieleń was built by the Cistercians of Przemęt between 1731 and 1742 on a Latin cross plan. The high altar contains the Gothic sculpture of the Madonna and Child, “Ucieczka Grzeszników,” from the second half of the 15th century; it is the destination of numerous pilgrimages. In Przemęt, the Baroque Church of St. John the Baptist has a varied building history: it was built between 1651 and 1690, partially destroyed by fire in 1742, and rebuilt between 1758 and 1759. The high altar dates from 1755. Fragments of former 17th-century monastery buildings survive south of the church; they were remodeled around 1767 and in the 19th century.
The Wielkopolska Loop of the Cistercian Trail also offers a historical context for learning about the order. It includes former Cistercian monasteries in Paradyż, Zemsko-Bledzewo, Łekno-Wągrowiec, Ląd, Wieleń-Przemęt and Obra, as well as the nunneries in Owińska and Ołobok. In Wolsztyn, the Robert Koch Museum displays memorabilia from Koch’s time as a district physician there from 1872 to 1880, as well as from other places where he lived and conducted research. The museum is housed in two rooms on the ground floor of a building constructed between 1842 and 1846. The Marcin Rożek Museum is located in the villa built to the artist’s specifications, where he lived from 1934. The museum includes a garden extending to the lake, with numerous works by Rożek. The Open-Air Museum of the Folk Architecture of Western Greater Poland reconstructs the layout and buildings of a linear village on 3.5 hectares on the western shore of Lake Wolsztyńskie.
Places, Views and Regional Cuisine
A wooden observation tower near Siekowo and Kluczewo stands in the forest atop the “Winnica” hill, at an elevation of 101 m. The tower itself is 30 metres high and can be reached by climbing 147 steps. In Wroniawy, the palace is another example of historic architecture: the residence built for Stanisław Plater dates from the 19th century and was remodeled in the Neo-Baroque style in the early 20th century. It is surrounded by a 12-hectare landscaped park.
Wolsztyn is a useful landmark for travel to and around the area: a major road linking Poznań and Zielona Góra passes through the town. Passenger trains run from Wolsztyn to Poznań, Leszno and Zbąszyń. If you are also interested in regional cuisine, you will find agritourism providers in Gmina Siedlec offering home-cooked meals and healthy rural produce.
Other places to consider when exploring the region include Godziszewo, Boruja, Tuchorza, Wolsztyn, Kopanica, Solec Nowy, Barchlin, Bucz, Wilcze, Chorzemin and Grójec Mały.
For the broader travel overview: Greater Poland.
