Film history in Lipno is more than just a biographical footnote: the city is the birthplace of Pola Negri, and the “Pola i inni” festival makes the connection to her silent-film career a central part of its program. Historic buildings and regional routes complement this focus.

Pola Negri and Lipno’s Film History

Lipno is the birthplace of Barbara Apolonia Chalupiec, the internationally renowned silent-film actress Pola Negri. The “Pola i inni” festival has been held in Lipno since 2007. During the festival, the “Nawojka” cinema screens films featuring Pola Negri, including silent films accompanied live on the piano. If this particular combination of film history and screenings interests you, check the festival dates before planning your stay around them. Visitors can also stroll along the Aleja Gwiazd on the Bulwar Poli Negri, adding another activity to the cinema and festival.

The Izba Pamięci Poli Negri has also been open since 2005. Its collection includes memorabilia, documents, letters and photographs of the actress. Its focus differs from that of the festival: it centers on memories and materials relating to Pola Negri rather than film screenings. The Mieszczańska Izba Muzealna is also located in Lipno. Check visitor access in advance if you plan to visit.

Historic Buildings in Lipno

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is considered Lipno’s oldest historic building and has historical, scientific and artistic value. On Wzgórze św. Antoniego stands a fortified settlement dating from the 14th century, registered as a heritage site. Those particularly interested in medieval history can make this a separate focus alongside the city’s churches and cultural buildings.

The Gabriela Narutowicza City Park is a protected historic park monument dating from the 19th or early 20th century, adding another historical era to the mix. The history of how individual buildings have been used also shapes the cultural landscape. A former Orthodox church later served as a community center and now houses the “Nawojka” cinema. The Miejskie Centrum Kulturalne is located in a building constructed in the 1920s that once served as the seat of the county council.

Walking and Cultural Routes in Lipnowski County

The marked blue hiking trail from Lipno Town Hall to the monastery in Skępe is 32 kilometers long and runs along the shore of Jezioro Wielkie. With its named starting point and destination, this route can be planned as a separate activity, rather than a short detour between Lipno’s cultural sites. If you include it in your plans, it gives you a specific hiking option for your stay.

The Franciscan Route links monasteries, monuments and churches, including sites in Skępe, Obory and Trutowo. The Wooden Churches Route runs from Brzeźno through Ostrowite and Wielgie to Czarne and includes surviving wooden churches from the 18th century. These routes offer different focuses: a 32-kilometer hike, religious and historic sites along the Franciscan Route, and wooden churches along a route through several towns. This lets you choose according to the theme that best suits your stay, rather than treating the routes as one combined tour.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Destinations

Tailor your search to the destinations you actually plan to visit.

Discover more destinations: Lipno, Skępe, Będzeń, Polichnowo, Głęboczek, Kikół, Moczadła, Glewo, Popowo, Wielgie.

Back to the main travel overview: Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.