Discover Pölitz: Forests, Trails and History

Pölitz (Police) offers a variety of reasons to stay in the municipality: neo-Gothic architecture, a memorial site, traces of industrial history and trails through forest landscapes. The following sights and routes are in the municipality of Police; the Environmental Education Centre in Zalesie is nearby. This lets you include culture and nature in your travel plans without conflating the destinations or their locations.

Architecture and Memorial Sites in Police

The neo-Gothic Church of St Mary in Police was built in the late 19th century. Its tower is more than 60 metres high; the church is one of the city’s significant architectural monuments and unofficial symbols. The Polickie Lapidarium, a museum of funerary sculpture and a memorial site, is located in Staromiejski Park. Its establishment began around the turn of 1997–98. The lapidarium includes more than 120 restored cemetery features from 24 pre-war German cemeteries. The church and lapidarium thus offer two distinct ways to explore history: neo-Gothic architecture and remembrance through historic funerary art.

Industrial History and Trails Through the Ruins

The ruins of Hydrierwerke Politz AG represent a chapter in industrial and wartime history. The plant developed from the smaller Norddeutsche Mineralölwerke GmbH, which regenerated partly unused ship fuel. Between 1939 and 1944, eight camps were established near the factory, where prisoners of war from across Europe were held. Hydrierwerke Politz AG was bombed repeatedly; the last air raid took place in February 1945. Ruins were left behind.

An educational hiking trail runs through the site and is maintained by the Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Ziemi Polickiej „SKARB” association. There is a shorter and a longer route option. The association also leads tours of the site and introduces visitors to its history, myths and legends. Conservation work may affect access, so check current access conditions before visiting.

Routes of Varying Lengths

Several routes in the municipality of Police make it easy to choose how much to cover. The yellow hiking trail “Szlak Policki” starts at Police Rynek and runs via Trzeszczyn, the monument in Trzeszczyn, Stare Leśno, the Szczecin–Tanowo road and Bartoszewo. It is 11.6 kilometres long. The “Szlakiem budownictwa ryglowego” route runs from Police via Tanowo, Tatynia, Jasienica, Niekłończyca and Trzebież and back to Police, and is about 40 kilometres long.

“Dookoła gminy Police” runs via Police, Siedlice, Pilchowo, Tanowo, Witorza, Tatynia, Wieńkowo, Jasienica, Nowa Jasienica, Drogoradz, Uniemyśl and Trzebież and back to Police; the route is about 48 kilometres long. Longer still is “Nad brzegi śródleśnych jezior,” at around 58 kilometres: it runs from Police via Siedlice, Pilchowo, Lake Bartoszewo, Tanowo, Węgornik, Lake Świdwie, Zalesie, Lake Piaski, Lake Karpino and Trzebież and back to Police. The distances help compare the route lengths but do not indicate how long it will take to walk or cycle them. Check current trail conditions and markings before setting out.

Forest Landscapes and Birdwatching

Puszcza Wkrzańska is a large forest complex in the municipality of Police, criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails. Over a period of more than a dozen years, 205 bird species have been observed there. Breeding birds include lesser spotted and white-tailed eagles; red kites are often seen. The bird sanctuary at Lake Świdwie was included in the Ramsar Convention in 1984 and is one of the world’s significant wetlands. Forest trails and birdwatching thus offer different ways to experience nature, while the sanctuary’s designation underscores its importance as a wetland.

The Environmental Education Centre in Zalesie

The Transboundary Environmental Education Centre in Zalesie is located near Pölitz. It lies in the buffer zone of the Świdwie Sanctuary, in Puszcza Wkrzańska and next to the Trzebież Forest District. On Saturdays, the centre is open to individual visitors, including families, adults accompanying children and adults. Visitors can see the ecosystem room, the atmospheric phenomena room, the observation terrace and exhibits in the corridors. The grounds also include a sensory garden and a playground. Check current visitor arrangements before travelling there.

The centre also offers activities on educational trails in nearby forests for hikers and cyclists. Participants receive basic equipment for exploring the area; current booking arrangements may vary. This makes it possible to combine a visit to the centre with an educational activity in the forest, while the Saturday opening provides a dedicated time for individual visits.

Relaxation Along the Łarpia Waterfront

A nature-oriented recreation area with access to the water has been created along the Łarpia waterfront in the city of Police. Walking and cycling paths connect the area. It adds another aspect of local leisure activities to the historic sights and forest trails.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nowe Warpno, Tanowo, Police, Wołczkowo, Kurów, Trzebież, Mierzyn, Bezrzecze, Dobra, Dołuje, Pilchowo, Kołbaskowo, Brzózki, Przęsocin.

For the overarching travel overview: West Pomerania.