Nowy Tomyśl showcases wickerwork in different roles: as decoration along a street and as protection for nesting birds. Also featured are the Nowotomyski Ogród Zoologiczny, located on the grounds of a park, and a city trail with panels about the history of buildings, people and events. These highlights offer different ways to explore the city: wicker art in the streetscape, a protective function in the park and a historical guide. When planning your visit, you can therefore prioritize according to your interest in crafts, nature or local history.
Wickerwork in the Streetscape
The Wiklinowy Deptak runs along Mickiewicza Street in Nowy Tomyśl, between Plac Niepodległości and Plac Chopina. There you can see numerous forms made from wicker: canopies, flower beds, planters, awnings and building facades. The examples range from individual objects to facade design. The two squares mark the beginning and end of the route, providing a clear sense of its location. Here, wickerwork is visible not only in individual forms but also in the way it is incorporated into facades. The shared material connects these examples, even though they differ in scale and function.
Park, Zoo and Bird Protection
The Nowotomyski Ogród Zoologiczny has been in existence since 1974. It covers more than 5 hectares and is located on the grounds of the Park Kultury i Wypoczynku, which covers more than 30 hectares. The figures therefore refer to two different areas: the zoo and the park grounds. The zoo’s area may change as a result of future redevelopment.
In Feliks-Szołdrski Park, the Ptasia Wyspa, woven from wicker, serves to protect the birds that nest there. This is a different use of the material from the forms along the Deptak: there, wickerwork shapes the streetscape; here, it serves a protective function. These offer two different examples to explore, without describing the same structure or purpose.
City History on Panels
The Nowotomyski Szlak Turystyczno-Historyczny runs through the city and near sites of historical and tourist interest. Its stylized panels provide information about the history of buildings, people and events, as well as places and sites for tourism and leisure. Its focus is therefore on orientation and historical context. Unlike the wickerwork, the main focus here is not a material but the history conveyed by the panels. If you are particularly interested in city history, this trail offers a distinct thematic experience alongside wicker art and the park.
Neutomischel: Museum and Regional Routes
In the wider destination of Neutomischel, the Muzeum Wikliniarstwa i Chmielarstwa adds another perspective on wickerwork. It is the only museum of its kind in Poland. Every year in the second half of August, the Ogólnopolski Konkurs Plecionkarski takes place there as part of the Jarmarku Chmielo-Wikliniarskiego; dates may vary. This competition offers a seasonal highlight alongside the wicker forms in the streetscape. Check the exact date before travelling if you want to plan your visit around it.
The regional routes in the wider destination of Neutomischel also differ in how they are travelled and described. The yellow hiking trail begins in Nowy Tomyśl and continues via Paproć, Chojniki and Szarki. The Szlak Wikliny, by contrast, is a cycling loop of about 113 kilometres through the municipalities of Miedzichowo and Nowy Tomyśl. For the hiking trail, the places mentioned help you follow its course; for the cycling route, the loop format and approximate length are given. As the hiking trail’s route may change and the Szlak Wikliny’s signage should be checked on site, verify the latest information before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Silna Nowa, Zbąszyń, Glinno, Łęczyce, Wąsowo, Opalenica, Pawłówek, Wojnowice.
Back to the overview of the wider destination: Neutomischel.
