Discover Pölitz: Culture, Nature and Trails

• Police is home to a Neo-Gothic church of St. Mary dating from the late 19th century. Its tower is more than 60 metres tall.
• The Polickie Lapidarium in Staromiejski Park is a museum of funerary sculpture and a memorial site; it contains more than 120 restored cemetery elements.
• Hiking routes include, among others, an 11.6-kilometre yellow trail and municipal routes of approximately 40, 48 and 58 kilometres.
• Nearby, the Environmental Education Centre in Zalesie offers individual visits and activities on nature trails in nearby forests.

The church of St. Mary in Police combines Neo-Gothic architecture with striking height: its tower rises more than 60 metres. Built at the end of the 19th century, the church is one of the town’s notable architectural monuments and is also considered its unofficial symbol. Those interested in religious architecture will find a clear architectural landmark here.

Another way to explore the past is the Polickie Lapidarium in Staromiejski Park. It is both a museum of funerary sculpture and a memorial site. Its establishment began around the turn of 1997/98. More than 120 restored cemetery elements from 24 pre-war German cemeteries give the site its distinctive character.

The ruins of a medieval Augustinian monastery stand in Police-Jasienica. It was founded on the banks of the Gunica in the 14th century. The surviving structures include Gothic perimeter walls of the east and south wings, preserved up to first-floor level, as well as basement rooms. This makes it possible to distinguish on site between the surviving structures and the original monastery complex; conservation work may affect access.

The history of the former industrial site goes back to a smaller predecessor company: Hydrierwerke Politz AG was established on the basis of Norddeutsche Mineralölwerke GmbH. The predecessor company partly regenerated unused ship fuel. An educational walking trail runs through the ruins in the municipality of Police and is maintained by the Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Ziemi Polickiej „SKARB” association. There is a shorter and a longer version.

The association also leads tours of the site, presenting its history, myths and legends. The industrial history is closely linked to the war years: between 1939 and 1944, eight camps were established near the factory, where prisoners of war from across Europe were held. The factory was bombed repeatedly. The last air raid took place in February 1945; only ruins remained afterwards. If you are planning a visit, bear in mind that conservation work may affect access.

The municipal routes vary considerably in their stated lengths. The yellow hiking trail “Szlak Policki” is 11.6 kilometres long. It starts at Police Rynek and runs via Trzeszczyn, the monument in Trzeszczyn, Stare Leśno, the Szczecin–Tanowo road and Bartoszewo. Check the current trail markings on site.

Several longer routes run through the municipality of Police. “Dookoła gminy Police” starts in Police and passes through Siedlice, Pilchowo, Tanowo, Witorza, Tatynia, Wieńkowo, Jasienica, Nowa Jasienica, Drogoradz, Uniemyśl and Trzebież before returning to Police; it is about 48 kilometres long. “Nad brzegi śródleśnych jezior” runs via Siedlice, Pilchowo, Lake Bartoszewo, Tanowo, Węgornik, Lake Świdwie, Zalesie, Lake Piaski, Lake Karpino and Trzebież before returning to Police. This loop is about 58 kilometres long.

Another option is “Szlakiem budownictwa ryglowego”: this route of about 40 kilometres runs from Police via Tanowo, Tatynia, Jasienica, Niekłończyca and Trzebież before returning to Police. The distances make it easy to distinguish the shorter route from the longer loops. Check current route conditions before setting out.

The Puszcza Wkrzańska is a large forest complex in the municipality of Police, crossed by numerous hiking trails. Over a period of more than a dozen years, 205 bird species were observed there. Breeding birds include, among others, lesser spotted eagles and white-tailed eagles; red kites are often seen. The ornithological reserve at Lake Świdwie was included in the Ramsar Convention in 1984 and is one of the world’s important wetlands.

The Transboundary Centre for Environmental Education is located nearby, in Zalesie. It lies in the buffer zone of the Świdwie Protected Area, in the Puszcza Wkrzańska and next to the Trzebież Forest District. The rooms open to visitors include the Ecosystems Hall and the Atmospheric Phenomena Hall; there is also an observation terrace, exhibits in the corridors, a sensory garden and a playground on the grounds.

The centre also offers activities for hikers and cyclists on nature trails in nearby forests. Participants receive basic equipment for fieldwork; current booking arrangements may vary. A nature-oriented recreation area with access to the water was also created on the banks of the Łarpia in the town of Police, connected by walking and cycling paths.

Discover more destinations: Przęsocin, Brzózki, Dobra, Dołuje, Pilchowo, Kołbaskowo, Trzebież, Mierzyn, Bezrzecze, Nowe Warpno, Tanowo, Police, Wołczkowo, Kurów.

Which of the routes listed is the shortest?

At 11.6 kilometres, the yellow hiking trail “Szlak Policki” is the shortest route described here. The other routes listed are about 40, 48 and 58 kilometres long.

When is the environmental centre in Zalesie open to individual visitors?

Individual visits are possible on Saturdays, including for families, adults with children and adults. Check the current visitor arrangements before setting off.

What is the Polickie Lapidarium?

The lapidarium in Staromiejski Park is a museum of funerary sculpture and also a memorial site. It contains more than 120 restored cemetery elements from 24 pre-war German cemeteries.

For the overarching travel overview: West Pomerania.