Discover Chodzież – Lakes, Routes and Culture

Chodzież combines a lake landscape with distinctive routes and a long cultural history. When choosing your destination, you can decide between days by the water, cycling tours and historical attractions. The city offers specific points of interest to help you plan: from Jezioro Miejskie to several cycling routes and the history of its churches and industry.

Lakes and routes around the water

Jezioro Miejskie is the largest of the three lakes within the city limits. Its promenade is over 3.1 kilometres long, and the illuminated walking and cycling path is between 2.5 and 5 metres wide. These dimensions and the path’s shared use by pedestrians and cyclists can help you plan the section that suits your outing.

The leisure facilities by the lake also give an overview of local activities: there are three sailing facilities, a fishing facility and a WOPR water rescue service facility. Chodzież’s largest beach is on Jezioro Karczewnik. The 60-metre-long beach adjoins a beach volleyball court and has a supervised swimming area.

Cycling, hiking and winter sports

For a cycling tour, you can choose between two routes of different lengths and layouts. The R-1a “Gontyniec” is about 17.5 kilometres long. From Chodzież, it goes via Oleśnica, Trojanka and Papiernia to the Karczewnik forester’s lodge, then returns to Chodzież via Leśna Street. The approximately 20-kilometre R-1 “Dolina Noteci” runs from Chodzież via Studzieniec, Milczek and Nietuszkowo to Trojanka, then returns via Oleśnica. The route lengths are approximate; the places listed give a clear idea of how the routes differ.

The Tadeusz Siejak literary and tourist trail passes through the city centre, walking and recreation areas, forests and the surrounding hills. This gives it a different focus from the two cycling routes: the emphasis here is on the different urban spaces and landscapes along the way.

The Chodzieski stok narciarski ski slope is 300 metres long and has a 200-metre ski lift. Its operation depends on weather conditions. Outside the winter season, mountain bikers use the ski slope; an MTB trail is located nearby. This means that weather-dependent winter sports and mountain biking outside the winter season are both available.

City history and ceramic tradition

The City Library’s Department of City History and Tradition has three exhibition rooms. The exhibits cover local history and culture from the earliest times to the mid-20th century. St Florian’s Church is another historical landmark: it is one of the oldest architectural monuments in Chodzież and was built before the city received its town rights. A late Baroque church, it preserves Gothic walls.

The ceramics industry has also shaped the town’s history. Its beginnings date back to the mid-19th century. Two porcelain and faience factories made Chodzież an important centre for this industry. The ruins of Chodzież Castle have also survived to this day. Together, these places and themes offer different ways to explore the city’s history—from early architectural landmarks and industrial development to the City Library’s exhibits.

Choosing the right focus

These differences can help you plan your trip to Chodzież: the lakes and their routes are a focus for activities by the water, while the cycling routes offer two clearly defined trails with their own sequences of places. The church, castle and history of ceramics provide a cultural counterpoint. If you are looking for a hotel in Chodzież, these interests can help you decide whether the town is the right destination for you. Whether your plans focus more on cycling, the water or city history depends on the kind of trip you have in mind.

For further orientation: Ciszewo. Other destinations at the same level: Dziewoklucz, Szamocin, Margonin, Budzyń, Laskowo, Podanin.

For the overview of the wider region: Colmar.