Borowo – A church with mosaics, history and cycling routes

Borowo combines a distinctive local history with a church whose mosaics have earned it the nickname “Kashubian Ravenna,” and with a cycling route established between Borowo and Borkowo. These themes offer different points of reference for planning a trip: local history, ecclesiastical heritage, and cycling and walking routes.

Borowo: Landscape, History and Church

Borowo lies along a former Gdańsk–Kartuzy transport route, in a wooded, marshy area near the Borkowskie Lakes. Historically, the village was also located on a trade route to Western Pomerania. Its ribbon settlement pattern is not strongly developed; it emerged in the 20th century from an earlier hamlet of scattered homesteads. The local history therefore encompasses both historical transport links and later settlement development.

One dated reference goes back to the Middle Ages: in 1209, the Pomeranian dukes Mestwin and Świętopełk donated the lands of Borowo to the Norbertine convent in Żukowo. Much later, the parish of Christ the King of the Universe in Borowo was established, effective 10 January 1982. These two dates point to different chapters in the history of the village.

The church in Borowo is also known for its mosaics. Their beauty and scale have earned it the nickname “Kashubian Ravenna.” The nickname draws attention to the mosaics as a distinctive cultural feature of the village; Borowo’s historical connections are another story in their own right.

Cycling and Walking Routes Related to Borowo

A cycling route has been established between Borkowo and Borowo. As part of the project, information boards and solar lamps were installed, and the existing tourist infrastructure was modernised. Check local conditions and signage before setting out.

Another project concerns the construction of a pedestrian and cycling connection between Borowo and Borkowo. The surrounding area includes a protected landscape area and lies near the nature reserve and the “Jar Rzeki Raduni” Special Protection Area. Cycling in Borowo is therefore connected both with an established route and with a project involving protected landscapes.

Within the wider Kartuzy destination

Within the wider Kartuzy destination, Kartuzy offers its own cultural context. The Gothic collegiate church there dates from the 14th century. It is considered one of Pomerania’s most valuable architectural monuments and is unique on a national scale; it is also a testament to the work of the Carthusian Order. Its Baroque coffin-lid-shaped roof symbolises the Carthusian monks’ monastic way of life with the words “memento mori” — “remember that you must die.”

The Franciszek Treder Kashubian Museum in Kartuzy presents Kashubian cultural heritage, including literature, material culture, language, and regional history and traditions. Exhibits are displayed in eight galleries in the main building. They include Bazyli’s blacksmith’s workshop, the exhibition “Kaszubska współczesność z korzeni wyrasta” and temporary exhibitions. The museum thus offers a different focus from the mosaics in Borowo’s church.

The paths and green spaces in Kartuzy are also a distinct part of this regional context. The Promenada Asesora is a walking and cycling path along the shore of Lake Karczemne. It is linked to the Ławka Asesora, which serves as a viewpoint over Kartuzy. Another promenade was built in 2020 on the shore of Lake Klasztorne Małe.

On the north-western outskirts of Kartuzy lies the Arboretum Leśników Kartuskich. It covers 4.03 hectares of woodland managed for timber production that is over 100 years old, with 23 species and varieties of woody plants and more than 150 species of herbaceous plants and shrubs. A nature trail about one kilometre long runs through the arboretum. Check trail details before your visit.

A green-marked Nordic walking route around Kartuzy starts and ends at the Ławka Asesora. It runs entirely through the forest, along wide, surfaced paths and hilly terrain, and passes close to small forest lakes. Nordic Walking Route No. 1 goes via Kosy and Bilowo to Kartuzy; the route is listed as 8.4 kilometres and about two hours. Check these route details again before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Goreczyno, Kartuzy, Mezowo, Miechucino, Lapalice, Mirachowo, Sianowska Huta, Miszewko

Back to the main travel overview: Kartuzy.