Ciechocinek: Graduation Towers, Parks and Trails

You can get to know Ciechocinek through three distinct features: its graduation towers and saltworks, recognized as a historic ensemble; its characterful parks; and its several named hiking and cycling trails. This lets you shape your stay around cultural history, walks and outdoor activities.

Graduation Towers, Saltworks and Historic Ensemble

The complex of graduation towers and saltworks, together with Tężniowy Park and Zdrojowy Park, has been recognized as a Pomnik Historii (Monument of History) since November 22, 2017. The recognition was granted by an ordinance of Polish President Andrzej Duda. The three graduation towers have a combined length of 1,742.3 m and are just under 16 m high. They are the largest graduation towers in the world.

Zdrojowy Park: Plants, Architecture and Flower Clock

Zdrojowy Park, also known as Główny Park, is Ciechocinek’s oldest park. It covers about 19 ha and is home to more than 140 plant species. Its distinctive features include rare tree and shrub species, as well as wooden buildings typical of Ciechocinek: a music pavilion in the Zakopane style and a pump room. The protected pedunculate oak “Konstanty” is another natural monument in the park. It is more than 22 m high and has a trunk circumference of 547 cm.

A flower clock stands at the entrance to Zdrojowy Park, and a monument to Stanisław Staszic is located in the middle of the park. The clock is shaped like a clock face. Several thousand flowers are planted for it each year. Its hands are moved by an electric mechanism designed by J. Hibner beneath the raised mound.

Museum and Walks

The Muzeum Warzelni Soli i Lecznictwa Uzdrowiskowego displays exhibits on salt production and the development of the spa resort. These include carefully restored equipment for therapeutic exercise by Wilhelm Zander. Alongside the outdoor facilities, you can also learn about salt production and spa history.

The oldest part of Tężniowy Park stretches from Plac Gdański toward Graduation Tower No. 1 and is used mainly for walking and relaxation. The park’s main walking route, known as the promenade, runs through its southwestern section, bordered by dense trees.

Hiking and Cycling Trails Compared

Four named hiking trails lead to or pass through Ciechocinek. Two are the same length, at about 8 km each, but follow different routes:

• The green “Krystynki” hiking trail runs from Ciechocinek via Kuczek to Raciążek and is about 8 km long.
• The blue “Wiślany” hiking trail runs from Ciechocinek via Słońsk Dolny to Wołuszewo and is also about 8 km long.
• The yellow “Kujawski” hiking trail follows the route Podole–Ciechocinek–Wołuszewo–Aleksandrów Kujawski–Służewo and is about 24 km long.
• The red Toruń–Ciechocinek–Nieszawa hiking trail passes through Ciechocinek and is about 41 km long.

A cycling route also passes through Ciechocinek: the Toruń–Ciechocinek–Włocławek cycle route is about 63 km long. The route lengths allow a direct comparison of the stated distances, without indicating how long the trails take or how difficult they are.

Water Activities and Outdoor Recreation

The nearly 1 ha complex of a water playground and summer pools at im. Heleny Prawdzic-Kuczalskiej includes numerous water attractions, summer pools and three slides, including the 110 m-long “Anakonda.” The summer pools are seasonal; check the current opening days before your visit.

The municipal Vistula beach, Plaża Miejska nad Wisłą im. prof. Marka Grzesia, has beach volleyball courts, gazebos and a barbecue area. The former Millennium Park on Staszica Street has tennis courts, a climbing wall, a ropes course and a café. As the availability of recreational facilities may change, it is a good idea to check what is currently on offer before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Kwiatkowo, Przybranowo, Nieszawa, Odolion, Stawki, Aleksandrów Kujawski.

Return to the regional travel overview: Aleksandrowski.