Three listed townhouses at the junction of Stary Rynek and ul. Szpichlerna provide a special starting point for discovering the city’s history. The Muzeum Historii Włocławka opened there in 1972 as a department of the Muzeum Ziemi Kujawskiej i Dobrzyńskiej. Its permanent exhibitions cover the history of Włocławek and the region from prehistoric times through the period of the Polish People’s Republic. At the museum, you can therefore explore both a long historical timeline and Włocławek in its regional context.
City history in the streets and in exhibitions
Another way to discover the city’s history is the murals trail. Its large-scale murals take the city’s history as their central theme. The works are located mostly in Włocławek’s immediate Śródmieście area. Addresses include Żabia 14/16, Wojska Polskiego 3, Piekarska 15, Bulwary Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego 22 and 25, Cyganka 9, and Żabia 2. The murals are thus spread across several streets and locations in the city centre.
The city walking route, Miejski Spacerowy Szlak Obiektów Zabytkowych, is also signposted to historic buildings. The two options have different focuses: the murals trail connects large-scale images with the city’s history, while the walking route focuses on historic buildings. If you are deciding what to explore in Włocławek, this distinction can help you choose: art in public spaces or buildings as witnesses to the past.
Faience craftsmanship and cultural life
The interactive cultural centre Skarbiec Fajansu presents the 150-year history of Włocławek’s faience craftsmanship. Here, a specific craft takes centre stage, adding a local tradition to the picture of the city’s history. If you are interested in faience, the centre offers a clear thematic focus within the cultural scene.
Centrum Kultury Browar B. has a different focus. Its programme includes music concerts and theatre performances, contemporary art exhibitions, and regular courses and group activities. The programme ranges from individual cultural events to recurring activities. Together with the faience centre and the museum, it offers a selection that places historical themes, craftsmanship and contemporary culture side by side.
Exploring Włocławek on foot, by bike and from above
Two signposted routes of different lengths are available for getting around by bike. The black Jezioro Wikaryjskie–Włocławek–Wieniec cycling route is 20 km long. The red Nadwiślański cycling route runs from Włocławek via Nieszawa to Ciechocinek and is 38 km in total. The stated lengths differ by 18 km, and the places named also distinguish the routes.
Within the city, the Włower bike-sharing system has nearly 100 modern bicycles and 22 stations distributed across different districts. The fleet size and number of stations may change, so check the latest information before planning your trip.
An observation tower at the highest point of the city offers a different perspective. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of Włocławek and the surrounding area. Free telescopes are available at heights of 3.5 m, 7.7 m, 11.9 m and 16.1 m. While the murals and historic buildings draw attention to individual features of the urban landscape, the tower offers views over the city and its surroundings.
Routes in the wider region
The wider geographical context is also useful if you would like to explore beyond the city. In the broader region, within the area served by the Kujawski branch of PTTK in Włocławek, there are 160.5 km of signposted hiking trails and 40 km of signposted cycling routes. These figures relate to the branch’s area of activity and complement the specific city walking and cycling routes with a broader regional perspective.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Włocławek, Izbica Kujawska, Brzezie, Mieczysławowo, Skórzno, Grodztwo, Lubień Kujawski, Markowo, Smólnik, Chotel, Mikolajki, Kruszyn, Skoki Duże, Augustynowo, Wieniec, Baruchowo, Kowal, Szczutkowo, Antoniewo, Huta Chodecka.
For the overview of the wider region: Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
