Discover Küstrin: Fortress history, Oder Valley and active pursuits
Accommodation in Küstrin
Küstrin (Kostrzyn nad Odrą) is a destination for anyone interested in fortress history and spending time outdoors. The old town, an exhibition in the bastion fortress, a riverside promenade, and routes on the water or by bike each offer a different focus. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to explore historic sites, take a tour on the Warta, or consider the international R1 cycle route.
Old Town and Bastion Fortress
The Muzeum Twierdzy Kostrzyn museum complex includes the old town, destroyed in 1945 and never rebuilt, as well as buildings from the 16th-century bastion fortress. As you walk through the old town, you’ll come across the remains of old townhouses, cobbled lanes and pavements. The damaged walls rise no more than 1.5 metres above the ground. This makes it possible to explore the historic site on foot, while the low wall remains draw attention to the surviving traces of the built environment.
The old town site is open daily, year-round, from sunrise to sunset. Check the current visitor rules before your visit. The casemates of Bastion Filip house a permanent exhibition about decisive moments in the history of the fortified town. It covers both the destruction in 1945 and the origins and development of the fortress. The exhibition adds historical context to what you see on your walk.
On foot, by kayak or by bike
A promenade invites you to walk along the top of the fortifications on the Oder. From there, you can see across the Oder Valley. This route offers a different way to experience the surroundings than the lanes and wall remains of the old town: here, the focus is on walking along the fortifications and taking in the expansive views.
For a trip on the water, a kayak route starts at the municipal MOSiR landing stage in Kostrzyn nad Odrą. The route first runs 1.5 kilometres upstream on the Warta, then continues through channels and former riverbeds along the right bank of the Warta. Check local conditions before setting off.
The international R1 cycle route also passes through Kostrzyn nad Odrą. It comes from Lubniewice via Sulęcin and Czarnów, then continues from there towards Germany. If you’re using this route to plan your trip, check the local signage. The kayak route and the R1 offer different ways to travel actively; choose according to whether you’d rather be on the water or on a bike.
Planning your stay
The tourist information point at the Berlin Gate offers maps, guidebooks, publications and souvenirs. You can also get information there about sightseeing routes, current events and what the Muzeum Twierdzy Kostrzyn has to offer. This can help you refine your interests while you’re there and choose suitable places to visit as you plan your trip.
When looking for a hotel in Küstrin, the experiences you’d like to focus on can be a useful guide: the fortress and old town, a walk with views across the Oder Valley, a kayak tour or the R1 each offer a different theme. The activities described can therefore serve as a starting point for planning your trip around history, water or cycling.
Discover more destinations: Landsberg An Der Warthe, Rybakowo, Kłodawa, Deszczno, Zdroisko, Wojcieszyce, Witnica, Santoczno.
Go to the main travel overview: Landsberg An Der Warthe.
