Miedzyrzecz

• The Muzeum Ziemi Międzyrzeckiej im. Alfa Kowalskiego is located in a park of just under 6 hectares between the Obra and Paklica rivers.
• The museum complex includes, among other buildings, a brick castle building and buildings that once housed the seat of the starosts of Międzyrzecz.
• A signposted black hiking trail, the R–1 cycling route, and the “Międzyrzeckie wody” canoe route pass through Międzyrzecz.

The Muzeum Ziemi Międzyrzeckiej im. Alfa Kowalskiego has more than 18,000 objects. Its collections span art and history, ethnography and archaeology, as well as numismatics, military history, and poster art. This gives the museum a broad thematic range: visitors interested in the town and its past will find different ways to explore them, from historical objects to art and posters.

One notable collection comprises 220 coffin portraits. It is considered the largest collection of its kind in Poland. The museum also holds inscription and heraldic plaques from the 17th and 18th centuries. These three groups of objects offer different perspectives on historical remembrance and design: portraits, written inscriptions, and coats of arms. The collection may therefore also interest travelers looking for unusual subjects on a cultural trip.

The museum complex is set in a park of just under 6 hectares between the Obra and Paklica rivers. Its buildings include the former seat of the starosts of Międzyrzecz, a side building of the manor, the manor inn, and the gatehouse. This mix of buildings makes the complex more than a single exhibition venue: its built heritage reflects a range of historical functions. The brick royal castle building is another part of the ensemble.

The brick royal castle building was constructed by Casimir the Great in the first half of the 14th century. It is the only royal castle building in Lubusz Voivodeship. The building’s history should be distinguished from the experience of visiting it today: visitors can explore the castle ruins. Those interested in medieval architecture can include a historic building and its surviving ruins in their travel plans, while keeping the castle building distinct from the other buildings in the museum complex.

The Church of St. John the Baptist is another point of cultural and historical interest. Wall paintings depicting the Crucifixion of Christ have been preserved in the presbytery. Along with the coffin portraits and the inscription and heraldic plaques, this adds religious visual art to the range of subjects. When choosing what to see, visitors can distinguish between the museum collections, castle history, and church wall paintings.

For hikers, a signposted black trail passes through the town along the 19.38-kilometer Kursko–Międzyrzecz–Kuligowo section. If you are considering this trail for your trip, you can take the stated length of the section into account. It refers to the route section and, on its own, says nothing about walking time or difficulty.

The international R–1 cycling route also passes through Międzyrzecz, along a 24.2-kilometer section between Pieski and Bobowicko. On the water, the signposted 58.0-kilometer “Międzyrzeckie wody” canoe route passes through the town. These details describe different ways to travel and different route sections. You can first decide whether hiking, cycling, or canoeing suits your interests; the three routes should be considered separately.

Other places to consider for your trip include Kęszyca, Wiejce, Trzciel, Chycina, Pszczew, Nowa Niedrzwica, Murzynowo, and Rokitno.

How large is the park by the museum?

The museum is located in a park of just under 6 hectares between the Obra and Paklica rivers.

What makes the coffin portrait collection special?

The museum has 220 coffin portraits, making it the largest collection of its kind in Poland. Its holdings also include inscription and heraldic plaques from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Which signposted routes pass through Miedzyrzecz?

A section of the black Kursko–Międzyrzecz–Kuligowo hiking trail, a section of the R–1 cycling route between Pieski and Bobowicko, and the “Międzyrzeckie wody” canoe route pass through the town.

For the overall travel overview: Międzyrzecki.