Discover Pomerania: Nature, Culture and Cuisine

• The Pomeranian Voivodeship has nine landscape parks covering almost 168,000 hectares in total; seven lie entirely within the voivodeship’s borders.
• The Słupia Valley Landscape Park was established in 1981 in the Słupia River basin and along its middle and lower reaches.
• The voivodeship’s three most important post-Cistercian monastery complexes are Oliwa, Pelplin and Żarnowiec.

The landscape parks each have a distinct focus. The Słupia Valley Landscape Park highlights the links between the river landscape, natural assets and cultural heritage. It was established to protect these values and preserve their balance. Its location encompasses the Słupia River basin and the river’s middle and lower reaches.

The Vistula Spit Landscape Park protects the wildlife and landscape of the Vistula Spit. Its defining features include pristine forests with diverse plant life, large longitudinal dunes where sea holly often grows, and broad sandy beaches. Alongside river and forest landscapes, the region therefore offers a distinct coastal focus.

For hiking enthusiasts, Słowiński National Park is another useful point of reference: it has 131 kilometers of hiking trails. Check the park’s latest information before planning if the trail length is important to your decision. This figure describes the national park’s trail network; it does not indicate how long an individual hike takes.

The total area of the landscape parks also helps put Pomerania’s protected landscapes into perspective. It shows the extent of the designated parks, but does not replace a closer look at the individual landscapes: river areas, forests, dunes and beaches each represent a different natural focus.

Oliwa and Pelplin were former monasteries for men; Żarnowiec was a former convent for women. Together, they are among the three most important post-Cistercian monastery complexes in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. This distinction highlights their different historical roles without combining the three sites into a specific route. If you are interested in cultural history, you can use these names as starting points for further trip planning.

As additional context for the broader travel destination of Poland, the cuisine offers both regional and nationwide perspectives. In Kociewie, szandar is a traditional potato cake served hot with onions and salad made from pickled cucumbers. Pierogi are small dumplings found throughout Poland, with a variety of fillings: savory options include potatoes and cheese, cabbage and mushrooms, meat or vegetables, while sweet fillings include quark or fruit.

Bigos is also part of this Polish culinary context: sometimes translated as hunter’s stew, it combines sauerkraut, various types of meat and plenty of spices. Poland’s leading desserts include cheesecake, poppy seed cake and apple pie; poppy seed cake is especially often eaten at Christmas and Easter. These examples add context to Polish cuisine but do not indicate that any particular dishes are available locally.

Start your planning by asking whether nature, hiking trails or cultural history interests you most. The contrasts between river landscapes, dunes and beaches, and monastery complexes can help you define your travel preferences.

As general guidance for the broader travel destination of Poland, Intercity Express trains connect larger cities and do not stop at smaller stations. Check current connections and timetables before making specific travel plans. This nationwide information does not replace checking the connection for your particular destination.

Discover more destinations: Prussian Stargard, Bütow, Stolp, Putzig, Neustadt, Stuhm, Karthaus, Marienwerder, Conitz, Marienburg, Berent, Danzig, Gdynia, Lauenburg, Tiegenhof, Dirschau, Schlochau, Zoppot, Starogard County.

What is the total area of Pomerania’s landscape parks?

The nine landscape parks cover almost 168,000 hectares in total. Seven of them lie entirely within the borders of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

What distinguishes Oliwa, Pelplin and Żarnowiec?

Oliwa and Pelplin were former monasteries for men, while Żarnowiec was a former convent for women. All three are among the voivodeship’s most important post-Cistercian monastery complexes.

How long is the trail network in Słowiński National Park?

The national park has 131 kilometers of hiking trails. Check the park’s latest information before planning your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Poland.