Golubsko-Dobrzyński: City Walls, Castle Museum and E11

Golub-Dobrzyń is the most important center of tourist activity in Golub-Dobrzyń County; the region’s cultural and landscape themes extend beyond the town. The medieval street plan, city walls and museum in Golub Castle give visits to the town a historical focus; at the same time, the international E11 long-distance trail passes through Golub-Dobrzyń. The wider region also offers religious culture, Chopin history and landscapes. Nearby attractions include Obory, Szafarnia, Płonne, Radomin, the Drwęca and Lake Okonin; the drumlin fields near Zbójno are in the immediate vicinity.

Medieval Town Center and Castle Museum

Golub-Dobrzyń has a medieval street plan and well-preserved city walls dating from the first half of the 14th century. The walls included 17 towers. The date and number give the fortifications a specific historical context; together with the street plan, they form a distinct focus of the town’s history.

Golub Castle houses a museum with armor, weapons and furnishings from past eras. It also features exhibitions on the history of Golub-Dobrzyń and the activities of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society. Check current visitor information in advance. A guided tour of Golub-Dobrzyń can include access to the tower of the church in Golub by prior arrangement. The church dates from the late 13th to the 14th century.

The E11 in Golub-Dobrzyń and Activities in the Wider Region

The E11 passes through Golub-Dobrzyń. If hiking is part of your trip, you can use this long-distance trail as a specific point of reference for your stay; check the trail conditions before setting out. One feature of the wider region is the Drwęca, known as a canoe trail for many years. Hiking and canoeing represent different types of activity that you can consider separately when planning.

In the wider region, Lake Okonin is one of the best-developed lakes in the county. During the season, it attracts many people looking to spend time by the water. Seasonal conditions can change; check them in advance if you are planning a stay by the lake. The Bobrowisko nature reserve is also located in the wider region, on the slopes of the Drwęca valley, where many rare and protected plant and animal species occur.

Religious Culture and Chopin History in the Wider Region

In Obory, in the wider region, spiritual and evangelizing Wieczernik gatherings have been held at the sanctuary every Saturday since 1999, in the spirit of Carmelite spirituality. They are open to everyone and bring together pilgrims from all over Poland. Check the schedule in advance, as dates may change. The Pietà in Obory, a place in the wider region, also attracts pilgrims from all over Poland. The Pietà of Obory is made of linden wood and dates from the last years of the 14th century or the first half of the 15th century.

The listed Carmelite monastery complex in Obory is located in the wider region around Golub-Dobrzyń; it includes a church and a monastery. The church, now the parish Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was built between 1627 and 1649; the monastery was constructed between 1741 and 1753. The different construction dates give the complex its own historical context.

Fryderyk Chopin spent extended holidays in Szafarnia twice, in 1824 and 1825, in the wider region around Golub-Dobrzyń. The Chopin Center is located in the 19th-century palace of the Dziewanowski family. The program of the Chopin Center in Szafarnia, a place in the wider region around Golub-Dobrzyń, includes concerts, exhibitions, art competitions and the International Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Young People. In Płonne, in the wider region, other historical attractions can be found side by side: a historic manor park, a Gothic church and a monument to Colonel Jan Dziewanowski, who commanded the Polish charge at Somosierra.

Landscapes in the Surrounding Area and Regional Flavors

In the wider area around Golub-Dobrzyń, the beech avenues in Radomin include 585 historic trees. The drumlin fields near Zbójno, in the immediate vicinity of Golub-Dobrzyń, are considered unique landforms in Europe. Both attractions complement the cultural sites with a landscape perspective on the wider region. “Ryba z Kija” is a regional recipe prepared on both sides of the Drwęca.

Discover more destinations: Frydrychowo, Nowogród, Golub-Dobrzyń, Kowalewo Pomorskie, Miliszewy, Wrocki, Nakielski, Świecki.

Go to the main travel overview: Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.