Starogard County: River Landscapes, Forests and History

Forests, Rivers and Trails

The area around Skarszewy also combines nature with opportunities to stay active. The valleys of the Wierzyca and Wietcisa are protected landscape areas. The meandering Wietcisa is also the Wierzyca’s largest tributary within the municipality of Skarszewy. Hikers will find the signposted green Skarszewy Tourist Trail, as well as marked hiking and cycling routes. Another point of reference for hikers is the red Kociewie Lakes Tourist Trail: it begins in Skarszewy and ends in Szpęgawsk.

The Brzęczek Nature Reserve offers a different natural setting. It covers 26 hectares of forest and includes Lake Brzęczek. At the Wirty Arboretum, visitors can follow walking paths to admire its distinctive plant life. The arboretum is one of Poland’s oldest forestry dendrological gardens. If you want to plan your trip mainly around forests, plants and marked trails, these different places offer concrete starting points for making your choice.

Churches, Fortifications and Historic Buildings

Fragments of the old town fortifications have been preserved in Starogard Gdański. The Gothic parish church of St. Matthew dates from the 14th century and has rich Baroque and Rococo furnishings. Starogard Gdański is also home to the Bożnica, a Jewish synagogue dating from the 19th century. It is the only Jewish synagogue in Kociewie. Visitors interested in different religious and architectural landmarks will find distinct historical subjects here, without having to reduce them to a single period.

The Gothic church of St. Barbara stands in Kokoszkowy. Built of stone and brick, it has been preserved in its original form since the 14th century. In Skarszewy, the Knights Hospitaller castle dates from 1305; today it is the seat of the Gminny Ośrodek Kultury in Skarszewy. The two places pair historic buildings with very different descriptions of their present-day roles: at St. Barbara, the church’s preserved form is central, while at the castle, it is the building’s current function as the home of a cultural institution.

Manor-house estates add to the picture. The manor house in Rokocin is part of a manor-and-park complex whose country-estate traditions date back to the 16th century. The park at the manor house in Sumin has educational trails; the grounds are used for recreation and leisure. In Rokocin, tourists can also learn to ride horses and drive a horse-drawn carriage. The Stado Ogierów in Starogard Gdański was founded in 1897 and has a collection of horse tack. These activities and collections make horses and historic country estates further possible interests for your trip.

Visits with Different Areas of Focus

Grodzisko Owidz includes reconstructed huts belonging to a herb gatherer and a fisherman. Events with a historical theme are held there. The reconstructed buildings offer a different approach to history than churches, remnants of fortifications or a synagogue: here, the focus is on reconstructed dwellings and historical events. Since you can tailor your visit to your own interests, you can combine cultural history with the county’s nature or trail experiences without needing to follow a set route.

To find your way around Starogard County, you can also visit the pages for Smętówko, Lubichowo, Linowiec, Rynkówka and Pinczyn. The municipality of Kaliska is also relevant for planning your journey: National Road 22, known as the “Berlinka,” and the Tczew–Chojnice railway line run through it. This describes the transport routes through the municipality; when choosing where to stay, you can also consider whether nature trails, historic sites or both matter more to you.

For the broader travel overview: Pomerania.

More destinations

More places under the same destination:

Berent, Preußisch Stargard, Danzig.