Stare Wierzchowo

• Stare Wierzchowo lies on the Gwda River.
• The “Gwda” kayaking trail runs through the village between Jezioro Wierzchowo and Jezioro Smolęsko.
• Stare Wierzchowo also lies on the 61.4 km “Pętla Szczecinecka” kayaking route.
• The red-marked “Szczecineckie Jeziora” cycling trail is 65.1 km long and runs through Stare Wierzchowo.
• The Neo-Baroque Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel was built in 1928; before that, a half-timbered church built in 1757 stood on the site.
• Notable structures in the village also include a restored half-timbered cottage and a stone-and-brick bridge over the Gwda River.

The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel brings together two distinctly different building phases. The present Neo-Baroque building was constructed in 1928. Before that, a half-timbered church built in 1757 stood on the site, donated by the estate owner at the time, Jurgen Hans von Zarten.

Some of the church’s individual features also make it noteworthy: from the level of the upper storey, its tower is built in half-timbering. Above it rises an onion dome with a lantern. Inside, a wooden ceiling with its original polychrome decoration has been preserved. This offers travelers interested in culture a specific view of the different design elements: the Neo-Baroque church, the half-timbered section of the tower, and the colorfully decorated wooden ceiling.

The Gwda River shapes the village’s setting and is also a reference point for several kayaking routes. The “Gwda” kayaking trail runs through Stare Wierzchowo between Jezioro Wierzchowo and Jezioro Smolęsko. If you are interested in this trail while planning your trip, you can use the lakes mentioned and the route through the village as points of reference when choosing a water route.

Another option is the “Pętla Szczecinecka” kayaking route, which passes through Stare Wierzchowo. It is 61.4 km long. There are suitable spots on both sides before the stone-and-brick bridge over the Gwda River. This makes the bridge a specific landmark if you are considering paddling on the Gwda.

The red-marked “Szczecineckie Jeziora” cycling trail passes through Stare Wierzchowo and is 65.1 km long in total. This figure refers to the length of the cycling trail, not to a section within the village. If you would like to include cycling in your trip, the stated distance is a useful indication that this is a longer route.

A restored half-timbered cottage is also part of the village’s visitor experience, welcoming visitors to Stare Wierzchowo. Together with the half-timbered church from 1757, the half-timbered section of the present church tower, and the bridge over the Gwda, half-timbering appears here in different contexts. The cottage is a distinct part of the village and should not be confused with the church buildings.

If you would like to compare other village pages, you can also find Silnowo, Borne Sulinowo, Sitno, Drezno, Krągi, Sępolno Wielkie, Pilawa and Szczecinek.

Which kayaking routes run through or near Stare Wierzchowo?

The “Gwda” kayaking trail runs through the village between Jezioro Wierzchowo and Jezioro Smolęsko. Stare Wierzchowo also lies on the 61.4 km “Pętla Szczecinecka” kayaking route.

How long is the “Szczecineckie Jeziora” cycling trail?

The red-marked cycling trail is 65.1 km long and runs through Stare Wierzchowo.

What is special about the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel?

The Neo-Baroque church was built in 1928. From the level of the upper storey, its tower is built in half-timbering and topped with an onion dome with a lantern; inside, a wooden ceiling with its original polychrome decoration has been preserved.

For the broader travel overview: Neustettin.