Protected landscapes, marked trails and places with a long architectural history come together in Starogard County. When planning your trip, you can first decide what to focus on: would you like nature to be at the heart of your stay, or would you prefer to explore various traces of local history? Both offer inspiration for a visit. If you are looking for a hotel, this decision can help you organise your travel interests.

Landscapes, Rivers and Trails

The Bory Tucholskie in Starogard County has numerous hiking, cycling and kayaking trails. This means there are different ways to get active: you can focus on a hike, a bike ride or a route on the water. The municipality of Osiek lies entirely within the protected area of the Bory Tucholskie. This location is a distinct point of reference within the landscape; the information about the trails refers to the Bory Tucholskie area in the county.

In Skarszewy, there is the marked green Skarszewy Tourist Trail, as well as marked hiking and cycling routes. The red Kociewie Lakes Tourist Trail also begins in Skarszewy and ends in Szpęgawsk. The distinctions between the routes are particularly useful when choosing: one is named the green Skarszewy Tourist Trail, while the red trail is identified by its two endpoints. The Wierzyca and Wietcisa valleys in the municipality of Skarszewy are protected landscape areas. The meandering Wietcisa is also the largest tributary of the Wierzyca there.

The Brzęczek Nature Reserve covers 26 hectares of forest and includes Lake Brzęczek. The Wirty Arboretum in Zblewo offers a different nature-focused experience: it is one of Poland’s oldest forestry dendrological gardens. Visitors can admire the distinctive plant life along the walking paths. Protected river and forest landscapes and a garden with a botanical focus thus offer different ways to enjoy nature.

Buildings and Local History

Fragments of the defensive walls have been preserved in the Old Town of Starogard Gdański. The Gothic Church of St Matthew dates back to the 14th century and has rich Baroque and Rococo furnishings. Another historic church stands in Kokoszkowy: St Barbara’s was built of stone and brick and has remained unchanged since the 14th century. These buildings reflect different aspects of local history, from the remains of fortifications and Gothic architecture to later decorative styles.

The Bożnica in Starogard Gdański is a Jewish synagogue dating from the 19th century and the only Jewish synagogue in Kociewie. The Stado Ogierów in Starogard Gdański was founded in 1897 and has a collection of horse harnesses. In Skarszewy, the Knights Hospitaller castle dates from 1305; today, it houses the Gminny Ośrodek Kultury in Skarszewy. The date and its present-day institutional use provide two different points of reference for the castle’s local history.

Manor houses and parks also shape the character of certain places. The manor house in Rokocin is part of a manor and park complex whose tradition as a country estate dates back to the 16th century. Tourists can learn to ride horses and drive a carriage in Rokocin. The park of the manor house in Sumin has educational trails; the grounds are used for relaxation and leisure. In Owidz, the Grodzisko includes reconstructed huts belonging to an herb gatherer and a fisherman. Events with a historical theme are also held there. These places combine landscape, leisure and different ways of exploring history, while offering distinct experiences.

Discover more destinations: Lubichowo, Linowiec, Rynkówka, Pinczyn, Smętówko, Kwidzyn, Starogard Gdański, Lębork.

For the broader travel overview: Pomerania.