Discover Greater Poland

If you want to focus your trip to Greater Poland on nature, culture and activities on the water, you can choose from a range of travel interests. Wielkopolski National Park is known for its glacier-shaped landscape of forests and lakes, meadows, fields and erratic boulders. Nature trails make specific natural areas a destination in their own right, while museums, historic residences and distinctive regional specialities offer more to explore.

Landscape and protected areas

Wielkopolski National Park protects forest and lake ecosystems in a varied glacial landscape. The park contains 18 areas under strict protection. They preserve glacial landforms, near-natural plant communities and the animals associated with them. The Ostoja Wielkopolska Natura 2000 site is a Special Area of Conservation for habitats and overlaps with the national park. Its terrain on the left bank of the Warta is undulating and hilly, and lies in the Greater Poland Lowland.

Ostoja Rogalińska offers a different natural highlight: this Natura 2000 site includes more than 1,000 oaks, including three specimens more than 500 years old. These distinct nature themes can help you plan a trip around your interests: the national park focuses, among other things, on glacial landforms and protected habitats, while Ostoja Rogalińska is known for its ancient oaks.

Explore nature trails on foot

The Osowa Góra–Jeziory nature trail is 5.5 km long and takes 3 hours to walk. Along the way, it introduces you to the main plant communities and the natural features of areas under strict protection. At the end, a viewpoint offers a view of the castle island in Lake Góreckie. The trail thus combines nature themes with a specific destination at its end.

The Nadwarciański nature trail is also 5.5 km long, with a stated walking time of 3.5 hours. It follows the Warta and showcases habitats ranging from poplar-willow riparian forest to pine forests.

Museums, history and regional highlights

At the Muzeum Przyrodnicze WPN, the permanent exhibition is presented in four exhibition rooms on the ground floor of the Wielkopolski National Park Directorate building in Jeziory. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 14:00; on Sundays, it is open from 11:00 to 18:00 from 1 April to 30 September. These opening hours are useful if you are considering a visit on a particular day of the week.

Greater Poland’s cultural destinations cover a range of historical themes: Gniezno Cathedral was a coronation site for Polish kings. The Muzeum Zamek Opalińskich in Sieraków documents, among other things, Piotr Opaliński’s participation in Władysław IV’s campaign to Moscow. In Śmiełów, the Muzeum im. Adama Mickiewicza is housed in a Palladian palace. Pałac w Rogalinie is one of Greater Poland’s notable historic residences. In Wolsztyn, the Parowozownia is considered the world’s last still-operating steam locomotive depot.

Waterways, cycling and regional cuisine

For water tourism, Wielka Pętla Wielkopolski offers a distinctive way to explore the region: the signposted route is 688 km long and runs along the Warta and Noteć rivers, past several lakes and through two navigable canals. Cyclists visit Wielkopolski National Park; in Kraina 100 Jezior, you can cycle through distinctly hilly terrain. If you prefer wildlife watching, Nadwarciański Landscape Park is an area suited to birdwatching.

A regional speciality is another discovery to enjoy: Andruty Kaliskie wafers are baked using a traditional method. When choosing between a hotel, apartment and holiday home, start by considering which of these different themes matter to you on your trip.

Other subregions

Other subregions of Greater Poland: Poznań, Krotoszyn, Kalisz, Śrem, Gniezno, Szamotuły, Piła, Wągrowiec, Środa, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Słupca County, Gostyń, Nowy Tomyśl, Międzychód, Wolsztyn, Czarnków, Rawicz, Koło, Konin, Leszno, Chodzież, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Jarocin, Kępno, Kościan, Oborniki, Ostrzeszów, Pleszew, Turek, Września and Złotów.