Godziszewo brings together a waterside landscape, hiking opportunities and local history. The village lies on the Styna and beside the extensive Lake Godziszewskie; the lake is shared by the villages of Godziszewo, Demlin and Obozin. For planning your trip, there are three distinct areas to consider: recreation by the water, hiking, and architectural and settlement history.
Water, terrain and orientation
The landscape around Godziszewo is hilly and was shaped by the Baltic glaciation; numerous rises and depressions are part of its character. At 105.7 m above sea level, Święta Góra is the village’s highest point. This elevation adds a specific local point of reference to the general description of the landscape.
Two main roads run through Godziszewo: the Starogard Gdański–Gdańsk route from south to north, and the Skarszewy–Tczew route from west to east. These represent two distinct directions through the village, which can be clearly distinguished on a map.
Recreation by the water and hiking
Lake Godziszewskie offers tourists relaxation and leisure activities by the water. One specific hiking option is the northern section of the Jezior Kociewskich Trail between Skarszewy and Starogard Gdański. It is marked in red and is 38.2 km long. At kilometre 11.5, it passes Lake Godziszewskie; at kilometre 11.6, it passes the Styna.
The 11.5 and 11.6 markers follow one another closely along the route, placing the lake and river in quick succession. These two features offer different planning reference points: leisure activities by the water on the one hand, and a marked hiking route with named waypoints on the other. If you plan to hike the trail, it is advisable to check its current condition before setting out.
The Styna is also an important body of water for anglers. There are three fishing districts along the river from Lake Godziszewskie to its mouth; in addition, the entire Styna is open to fishing. The water features described therefore serve different purposes: the lake offers general recreation by the water, while the Styna is also associated with fishing.
Church and historical traces
The present-day Church of St. John of Nepomuk was built in 1748 as a single-nave Baroque structure on a small rise. “Single-nave” means that the building has one nave and explains its basic form as well as its construction date. The vestibule contains a Renaissance tomb for Jan Wiesiołowski and his wife, Justyna z Branickich. The church’s original Rococo interior is considered one of the most valuable in Kociewie. The building’s design, the tomb and the interior offer distinct art-historical points of interest within the same church.
The village’s history extends beyond the church. Godziszewo has a Roman Catholic cemetery dating from the early 20th century, which is included in the monuments inventory. Former mill-related structures also survive along the Styna. Alongside the church, these add further historical points of interest: a cemetery and traces of former mills by the river.
Hand-shaped pottery suggests that a settlement may have existed in Godziszewo as early as the 8th century, in the early Middle Ages. This would place the possible settlement considerably earlier than the precisely dated church building of 1748.
Discover more destinations: Skorzenno, Zblewo, Kolincz, Suchobrzeźnica, Koźmin, Białachowo, Osiek, Wilcze Błota
For the broader travel overview: PreuĂźisch Stargard.
