Łeba: History, Discoveries and Coastal Landscapes

Church, Memorial and an Old House

The Church of the Assumption of Mary brings together two moments in the town’s history. It was built in 1683, partly using materials from St. Nicholas Church, which was destroyed by storms in 1558. A two-metre-high, one-metre-wide granite boulder stands against the outside wall as a reconciliation obelisk. It commemorates the people of Łeba and the surrounding villages who lost their lives in the First World War. Here, architectural history and remembrance meet as two distinct aspects of the same place: the construction of a church building and the memory of people from Łeba and the villages around it.

Another perspective on the past can be found at 86 Kościuszki Street. This is where Łeba’s oldest house stands, built by the merchant and consul Johann G. Mampe on the former Main Street 18. The two numbers refer to different details: the current address is 86 Kościuszki Street, while the former address is recorded as Main Street 18. Its connection to Mampe by name also helps place the house in context beyond its architectural history.

Maritime History and Exhibitions

A replica of the Świerkowa Tratwa, or so-called Spruce Raft, stands in the marina in Łeba. The raft commemorates a voyage made by three sailors from Łeba to Sweden on 28 August 1957. One of them was Andrzej Urbańczyk, who later became known as a sailor. The date, number of participants, and destination give the story a specific context. If you are interested in maritime stories, the raft offers a distinct point of interest—unlike the histories of the church and house, which are rooted in buildings and their past.

The Butterfly Museum focuses on the variety of creatures on display: its permanent exhibition comprises 102 entomological display cases containing more than 4,000 butterflies and other insects from almost all over the world. The numbers convey the scale of the exhibition, while the specimens’ origins from almost all over the world point to its broad geographical scope. Łeba’s private Amber Museum is considered the largest private amber museum in Poland. The two museums offer different themes for your plans: a large-scale display of butterflies and other insects on the one hand, and amber on the other.

A Longer Route in the Surrounding Area

If you would like to plan a longer route in addition to visiting the local sites and exhibitions, a circular trail in the Łeba area runs from Stara Łeba along the coast and to the Łącka Dune before returning to Stara Łeba. The route is 15.10 kilometres long and subject to a seasonal fee. Both the start and finish are in Stara Łeba; the coast and dune are explicitly part of the route described. Remember to factor in the seasonal fee when planning your trip.

You can choose what to experience in Łeba based on what interests you most: memorial sites and buildings, the story of the Spruce Raft, museum themes, or a longer route through coastal landscapes and dunes. These different focuses also give you a concrete starting point for finding a hotel in Łeba.

More Local Pages

Also listed under this area: Nowecin. More local pages: Wicko, Łebień, Dymnica, Roszczyce, Żarnowska, Lędziechowo and Lebork.

For the parent travel overview: Lauenburg.