Gdańsk: Lake Landscapes, Cycling Routes and Cultural Heritage

If you are looking for a hotel in Gdańsk, the landscapes and routes of Gdańsk County can shape the direction of your trip: choose from lakes and wooded hills, flat stretches across lowland areas, cycling routes, waterways and historical sites. The differences between the areas and routes can help you decide what to focus on during your stay.

Landscapes between highlands and lowlands

In the west of Gdańsk County, the Gdańsk Heights stretch along the edge of the Kashubian Lake District, which is part of the Pomeranian Lake District. Gentle morainic terrain, small hills, lakes in ribbon valleys and forests shape the landscape here. The Radunia and its many tributaries form gorges and meanders. To the east lies Żuławy Gdańskie in the Martwa Wisła drainage basin; this landscape belongs to the larger area of Żuławy Wiślane.

The Żuławy Gdańskie Protected Landscape Area covers 27,491 hectares within Gdańsk County and protects the characteristic cultural landscape of Żuławy. The Radunia Valley Protected Landscape Area covers 925 hectares. It includes the valley floor and slopes of the Radunia, as well as adjacent forest and agricultural areas with basins and gorges. The four named nature reserves in the county include Jar Reknicy, Bursztynowa Góra, Wyspa na Jeziorze Przywidz and Dolina Kłodawy.

Cycling routes of different lengths

For a circular route through the highlands near Przywidz, comparing route lengths provides a useful starting point: “Wzgórza Przywidzkie” is 12 kilometres long and runs mainly through forest along the highest elevations in the municipality. A burial mound field lies along the route. The “Dolina Reknicy” circular route is 13 kilometres long, starts and ends in Przywidz, and passes through the glacial valley of Lake Głęboczko and the Reknica River. The “Szlak Trzech Jezior” is an 18.5-kilometre circular route along the lakes Przywidzkie Małe, Połęczyńskie and Głęboczko in Przywidz Municipality.

The “Szlak Motławski” offers a different perspective on distance: it is 37 kilometres long in total, of which 24.7 kilometres run through Gdańsk County. The section in the county is flat and follows asphalt roads or paths made of concrete slabs, away from heavy car traffic. This makes it possible to compare the three circular routes near Przywidz, which vary in length, with a longer route for which the length and surface of the section within the county are also specified.

Architecture and history along the routes

The 20-kilometre “Szlak Domów Podcieniowych” is a route for walkers, cyclists and waterway travellers. It leads to seven arcaded houses, including the grandest one in Trutnowy, as well as churches in Osice, Trutnowy and Koźliny. Other stops include the ruins of a Gothic church in Steblewo and an 18th-century granary in Koźliny. The half-timbered arcaded house in Trutnowy was built between 1720 and 1726 by Dutchman Peter Lettahn for Georg Basener.

The 34-kilometre “Szlak Śladami Mennonitów” leads, among other places, to arcaded houses in Krępiec and Trutnowy, churches in Wróblewo and Kiezmark, a bell tower in Wiśliny, and a Mennonite stele in Wocław. Its landscape is shaped by the meandering Motława, numerous canals and smaller waterways, and extensive meadows dotted with willows typical of the region. The Faktoria Handlowa offers a different way to explore the past: this reconstruction of a trading settlement that existed around 2,000 years ago also serves as a modern exhibition and educational centre. Archaeological finds relating to the history of the Amber Road are displayed there, along with a portrayal of everyday life in a settlement from the 1st century AD.

Route to the hydroelectric power stations and along the Motława

The “Szlak Elektrowni Wodnych” walking and cycling route leads to a group of eight hydroelectric power stations, built along the Radunia River between 1910 and 1937 and open to visitors. Six of the stations form the Radunia cascade; they are considered notable examples of interwar industrial architecture. Gdańsk County also offers favourable conditions for cycling and canoeing. A canoe trip can be taken along the Motława route from Gdańsk to Tczew, which passes through the county.

Discover more destinations: Gdańsk, Świbno, Elganowo, Ostrowite, Straszyn, Pomlewo, Juszkowo, Postołowo, Kłodawa, Pruszcz Gdański, Koszwały, Przejazdowo, Suchy Dąb, Łęgowo, Otomin, Grabiny-Zameczek, Cedry Wielkie, Pszczółki, Żukczyn, Miłowo, Ząbrsko Górne, Przywidz, Pręgowo Górne, Wiślina, Trzepowo, Cedry Małe, Buszkowy Górne, Kleszczewo, Warcz.

For the overarching travel guide: Pomerania.