Rowy on the Łupawa: Coastal Routes and Fishing History
Accommodation in Rowy
Rowy can be explored through several of its distinctive features: the fishing port at the mouth of the Łupawa, a long fishing tradition and routes through the landscape of Słowiński National Park. There are also historic buildings and a museum exhibition about the coast. This combination offers several ways to get to know the area when choosing a place to stay on the Polish coast.
Port and Fishing History
The fishing port lies at the mouth of the Łupawa. The river is not just a landmark in Rowy: kayakers can travel along the Łupawa by water. The port and river also reflect Rowy’s long tradition as a fishing village. The town was first mentioned as a fishing port in 1282.
Rowy is also a starting or finishing point on two routes. The international R-10 “Nadmorski” coastal cycling route runs for 38 kilometres through the Gmina Ustka and reaches Rowy at its eastern border with the Gmina Smołdzino. Another route, 20 kilometres long, runs between Rowy and Przewłoka and is called “Szlak Zwiniętych Torów”.
Routes Through Forest, Dunes and Coastal Landscapes
The 17-kilometre Rowy–Dołgie Małe–Rowy circular route passes through the forest complexes of Słowiński National Park to Lake Dołgie Małe. It then runs through wooded dunes to the sea and back to Rowy, parallel to the coast. The described sections bring together forest, lake, dunes and coast in a circular route, offering a different sequence of landscapes from the two routes between towns.
If you are interested in the water, the Łupawa is another option for kayaking alongside the land routes. Rowy’s location at its mouth connects this activity with one of the town’s defining landmarks, while the different routes and water-based activities still offer distinct experiences.
Church, Legend and Lifesaving Station
The Neo-Romanesque church in Rowy was built between 1844 and 1849 from hewn glacial granite stones. Its façade features a “black stone” associated with a weather legend: if it gets wet, a storm is said to be coming. The stone links a specific feature of the church building with a local tale.
Behind the coastal dune, a historical municipal account describes a lifesaving station: a house bearing a Maltese cross, which was considered preserved at the time of publication and was owned by the Maritime Office. Together with the church, it illustrates different traces of the town’s history, from a religious building to one associated with the Maritime Office.
The Coast Through the Seasons
The branch of the Słowiński National Park Museum in Rowy explores changes to the sandy area near the coast and seasonal biodiversity on the beach in its exhibition “Plaża – cztery pory roku” (“Beach – Four Seasons”). Particular attention is given to the changing birdlife. The exhibition complements the impressions of the routes and coastal landscape with a natural history perspective on seasonal change.
The museum branch is partially adapted for people with mobility impairments. Since accessibility information should be checked again before a visit, please enquire about the current situation in advance. The tourist information office is at ul. Nadmorska 17 and is open in July and August; you should also check this seasonal information again before your trip.
Whether you are most interested in fishing history, coastal routes, nature or historic buildings, Rowy offers a range of themes to help you plan your stay. The routes described differ in length and course, while the port and the Łupawa connect the town with its fishing tradition and kayaking.
More Places
Komiłowo, Osowa, Strzelinko, Smołdziński Las, Wrzeście, Objazda, Losino, Dębina
For the broader travel overview: Słupsk.
