Choszczeński: Cycling Routes, History and Relaxation

There are several ways to plan a trip to Choszczeński: Choszczno combines historic buildings with a museum and places for outdoor activities; the cycling routes vary in length, while the wider Choszczno County offers additional nature and culture. If you are looking for a hotel, you can first decide whether you are more interested in the town’s history, a particular cycling route, or time by the lake and on walking paths.

History in Choszczno

The Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 14th century. The church contains a ceramic relief of the Tree of Jesse, depicting the genealogy of Christ. There is also a 15th-century epitaph for the mayor Mikołaj Rebentisch. Choszczno’s defensive walls also date from the 14th and 15th centuries. At the corner of Piastowska and Wolności Streets, a Gothic tower from the Barbican outwork of the Stone Gate complex has survived.

Other landmarks in the town mark different periods: the railway station building opened in 1848, and the water tower was built in 1903. The Aleja Gwiazd Kolarstwa Polskiego (Polish Cycling Stars Avenue) was unveiled in 2002, adding a cycling-related theme to the historic buildings. Medieval landmarks and more recent memorial sites thus stand side by side in Choszczno, without necessarily forming a single sightseeing route.

The Muzeum Ziemi Choszczeńskiej (Choszczno Land Museum) preserves several hundred movable artefacts dating from the Stone Age to the present day. Which items are currently on display may vary. Museum visits are possible only after an appointment has been confirmed in advance, so please arrange your visit beforehand.

Cycling routes on different scales

The Trasa Pojezierzy Zachodnich (Western Lakeland Route) runs through the Choszczno municipality on a 20 km section from its southern to its northern boundary. It forms part of a 420 km route from the border with the Federal Republic of Germany to Biały Bór. „Rowerem po Ziemi Choszczeńskiej“ (“Cycling around Choszczno Land”) is the municipality’s main tourist cycling route and is 83 km long. The marked Green Route runs for 16.7 km from Choszczno to Recz.

These distances refer to routes on different scales: 16.7 km is the length of the Green Route, 83 km is the length of the main tourist cycling route, and 20 km is the section of the Trasa Pojezierzy Zachodnich that passes through the municipality; the full route is 420 km long. When choosing a route, it is therefore important to consider not only the distance but also whether you are looking for a route ending in Recz, the municipality’s cycling route, or a section of a longer route.

Walks, the lake and other leisure spots

Park Moniuszki retains the original layout of its walking paths, although individual paths may change. Miejska Góra in Choszczno is a walking area with running routes. Lake Klukom lies in the town centre and is surrounded by a promenade. The recreation area by the lake also has fishing spots. The availability of individual leisure facilities may change, so it is worth checking shortly before your visit.

Golf is another local attraction: the Modry Las golf complex includes the 9-hole Orli Las course. Alongside cycling and walking, this offers options for other leisure interests. When planning, it helps to distinguish between the specific destinations and the length of each route rather than assuming that the place names indicate a single connected route.

Nature and culture in the wider Choszczno County

The wider Choszczno County has numerous lakes and rivers, many of which are managed fishing waters. Drawa National Park is a protected part of the ancient Drawsko Forest and is associated with the municipalities of Drawno and Bierzwnik. The marked hiking trails in the municipality of Drawno and in the national park and its surrounding area total 77 km. These details relate to the wider region and not to Choszczno alone.

Relics of a medieval Cistercian monastery complex have been preserved in Bierzwnik. The recurring event „3 Dni na Cysterskim Szlaku“ (“3 Days on the Cistercian Trail”) is also held there. At the 2024 edition, members of the Association for the Protection of Cistercian Heritage guided tourists through the monastery and to archaeological sites. This links a historic site with a specific event activity at a stated point in time, without assuming a date for a future edition.

Discover more destinations: Choszczno, Bonin, Kiełpino, Drawno, Łasko, Skrzaty, Dominikowo, Gostyczyn, Bierzwnik.

For the broader travel overview: West Pomerania.