Colmar: Lakes, Forests and Ceramic History

Colmar is one of the historical names recorded for Chodzież. Chodzież lies in the Chodzież Lake District, where lakes, wooded hills and trails offer a variety of reasons to visit. When planning your stay, consider whether you would like to focus primarily on the lakes, hiking routes or the cultural history of ceramics.

Lakes and wooded hills

Gontyniec is a 192-metre-high terminal moraine hill with rich vegetation and old, impressive beech trees. An observation tower stands at its summit. The hill lies on the red hiking trail; it is better to cover the final ascent on foot than by bicycle. The summit offers a view. In the area of the Papiernia settlement, which is also on the red hiking trail, 150-year-old beeches grow and are designated natural monuments.

Another viewpoint is located on the ski lift grounds. From there, you can see Chodzież and Jezioro Miejskie, as well as a section of the Noteć ice-marginal valley, bordered to the north by a chain of moraine hills. The view thus brings together the town and lake landscape with the wider valley.

Jezioro Miejskie, also known as Jezioro Chodzieskie, is the largest of the three lakes within Chodzież’s city limits. It is a few hundred metres from the market square. At 18 hectares, Jezioro Strzeleckie is the smallest of the Chodzież lakes and is completely surrounded by forest. Fishing competitions are held there; if you would like to attend one, check whether a date is scheduled.

Water, cycling and hiking trails

Chodzież’s largest beach is on Jezioro Karczewnik. It is 60 metres long and includes a supervised bathing area. The bathing area and supervision may be seasonal; check current operations locally. A beach volleyball court is directly next to the bathing area. A car park is just a few dozen metres away; parking conditions may change.

The R-1 “Dolina Noteci” cycling route is about 20 kilometres long and runs from Chodzież via Studzieniec, Milczek, Nietuszkowo, Trojanka and Oleśnica, then back to Chodzież. Near Oleśnica, fishponds stretch alongside the route; many bird species, including swans, can be found in the surrounding area. Before setting out, check the current surface and signage conditions.

The Tadeusz Siejak Trail is about 15 kilometres long and passes through the town centre, walking and recreational areas, forests and the surrounding hills in Chodzież and its immediate vicinity. It therefore offers different sections from the R-1 cycling loop. As a literary and tourist trail, it follows in the footsteps of writer Tadeusz Siejak: six boards display excerpts from his works. Three additional points are marked on the map but have no boards on the ground.

A mountain-bike trail laid out by cycling champions Czesław Lang and Lech Piasecki is located near the ski slope on Talerz Hill. The ski slope is at an elevation of 132 metres, is 300 metres long and is considered the longest facility of its kind in northern Poland. Its operation is seasonal and depends on winter conditions.

Ceramic history and town experiences

The beginnings of the ceramics industry in Chodzież date back to the mid-19th century and are associated with the German entrepreneur Herman Heim, owner of the faience factory in Chodzież. At the beginning of its existence, the porcelain factory employed about 600 people and was among the most modern and largest porcelain manufactories in the German Empire at the time.

The Szlak Chodzieskich Karzełków Płomienistych opened on 8 September 2026. This tourist and educational attraction combines history, local heritage and play. Its concept invites visitors to enjoy a family adventure, active recreation and an unusual way to discover the town. Together with the literary boards, it offers a cultural counterpoint to the trails through forests and hills.

Earlier names for Chodzież include Chodschesen, Chodziesen, Colmar and Kolmar in Posen; this list may not include every historical name. For rail travel, the station is in the town centre. Poznań, Wrocław, Kraków and Kołobrzeg are listed as direct train destinations; check current timetables before travelling. Chodzież is also on national road 11.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Szamocin, Margonin, Dziewoklucz, Chodzież, Laskowo, Budzyń, Podanin, Wongrowitz.

For the overview of the wider region: Greater Poland.