Kashubia. In nature, at your own pace

ABOUT THE REGION

Szwajcaria Kaszubska – a picturesque land in northern Poland near the sea and Gdańsk. The essence of this land is slowness.

A couple of hours by car separate Kashubia from the Baltic coast, especially its open part in the north. There you can take a day trip to the “Polish Sahara” – massive sand dunes reaching 40 meters piled up above the sea. In summer, the unique landscape of the Słowiński National Park attracts many tourists, but we have hints for you on how to avoid the crowds and enjoy the wide Baltic beaches and conifer-smelling forests (almost!) in solitude.

Allein in der Kaschubei hinterließ die weiße Zunge des Gletschers 500 weitere solcher Wasser-Überresten. Das Wasser ist sauber, blau und im Sommer so angenehm warm, dass man es nicht verlassen möchte. Ein paar Autostunden trennen die Region Kaschubei von der Ostseeküste. Dort können Sie einen Tagesausflug in die “polnische Sahara” machen – riesige, 40 Meter hohe Sanddünen, die sich über das Meer erheben. Im Sommer zieht die einzigartige Landschaft des Slowinzischen-Nationalparks viele Touristen an, aber wir haben einige Tipps, wie man die Menschenmenge vermeiden und die weiten Ostseestrände und die nach Nadelbäumen duftenden Wälder (fast!) in Ruhe genießen kann.

PEOPLE AND WATER

There is no other place in Poland that offers so many opportunities for sports in such a small area. If you are by the Baltic Sea and windsurfing or kitesurfing is on your mind, be sure to go to the narrow strip of Hel Peninsula, reaching 150 meters at its narrowest point.

Let us be honest – the Baltic is not a warm sea, it never was one. The scenic hills and the Szwajcaria Kaszubska lakes tucked into the hollows are great to pass by on a bicycle – the area is full of marked trails designed for road and mountain bikes, but the greatest joy is probably to let go ahead aimlessly – whichever way you go, you will find something interesting and usually exclusive.

A sightseeing tour of the area will be wonderfully complemented by a visit to the open-air museum in Wdzydze Kiszewskie. Nicely situated in the woods, the complex gathers dozens of cottages and public buildings, introducing the world of Kashubian culture. This community, which is separate from the rest of the country, has preserved its own language, elevated several years ago to the status of a regional language and taught in schools. At the entrance to many villages in Kashubia, including Pierszczewko, you will meet signs in two languages, and on houses you will see black and yellow flags of the region.

Kasia recommendations

“Admiring and peeping at nature is another passion of ours that I could talk about for hours,” Kasia continues. What the legends say we already know, but science links the formation of the Kashubian landscape to the great glacier that once lingered over this part of Europe.

The farm that Kasia and Michał found has a long history. The village itself has been on the maps for 800 years; the historic barn dates back to the 18th century. “I have the impression that only happy souls lived here, and the same is true for us,” Kasia says.

See the story of Kasia

How to get there?

From Vienna – by plane (3-4 hours) to Gdańsk (change in Warsaw) and further by rental car (1 hour). Alternatively, by car – about 9.5 hours.
From Zurich – by plane (3-4 hours) to Gdańsk (change in Warsaw) and by rental car (1 hour)

Where to stay?

Kania Lodge – a country lakeside hotel in the Polish-Saxon style, run by a New Zealander in love with Kashubia. Right next door is a vineyard tended by the host. A good option for families with children

Tabun – an intimate hotel next to the stud, located in close proximity to Gdańsk. The climate of the Kashubian countryside and proximity to the city in one place

Czaplowisko – exclusive cottages on a meadow near one of the most secluded Kashubian villages

Read more about the Region