Discover Samter
Accommodation in Samter
In Szamotuły County, regional cultural history meets a variety of routes through landscapes and towns. The Warta flows through the county for 45 kilometres; a long-distance hiking trail and a 200-kilometre cycle route also pass through several named places. Visitors wishing to explore Samter and its surroundings can focus on museums and historic buildings, hiking and cycling tours, or routes along the water.
Culture and history in several towns
In Szamotuły, the Zamek Górków Museum brings together regional history and ethnography. Its permanent exhibitions are complemented by the largest collection of icons in western Poland. The Baszta Halszki is part of the castle complex and its best-preserved section. Religious architecture is another reason to visit Szamotuły. The Minor Basilica, the Collegiate Church of Our Lady of Consolation and Saint Stanislaus the Bishop, is the oldest monument in the town and one of the significant examples of religious architecture in Greater Poland.
Other buildings offer different historical perspectives. The Gothic Church of Saint Martin in Duszniki has a Rococo interior featuring a high altar, two side altars, and a pulpit; this interior dates from the second half of the 18th century. In Kaźmierz-Nowa Wieś stands a 19th-century palace in the Neo-Renaissance style. The manor house of Felicjan Niegolewski in Bytyń dates from the 18th century and is surrounded by an 11.1-hectare landscaped park. In Ostroróg, visitors can see a historic town layout that took shape between the 14th and 19th centuries: its rectangular market square has a statue of Saint John of Nepomuk at its centre. Pniewy is home to the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Agonizing Heart of Jesus; Saint Ursula Ledóchowska is also buried there.
Water, forest, and trails
At 309 hectares, Lake Bytyńskie is the largest lake in Szamotuły County. The Duszniczki forest reserve offers a different natural highlight, protecting more than a dozen Polish larches that are over 100 years old. For a short hike, Szlakiem Kani Rudej in the Pniewy municipality is one option: the trail is 2.2 kilometres long and takes approximately 45 minutes to walk. It runs along the edge of the “Las grądowy nad Mogilnicą” nature reserve.
Those looking for longer distances will find other named routes. In the county, the E-11 long-distance hiking trail passes through Szamotuły, Szczuczyn, Grabówiec, Kobylniki, Słopanowo, Obrzycko, and Klempicz. The 200-kilometre Transwielkopolska Cycle Route runs through Pamiątkowo, Szamotuły, Kobylniki, and Obrzycko. When comparing the options, note the different details provided: Szlakiem Kani Rudej has a stated length and approximate walking time, the cycle route has an overall length, and both long-distance routes list the places they pass through.
Water routes are another option. The kayaking route on the Warta heads towards the Oder and is designated for the entire stretch of the river. The Wełna kayaking route leads to the Warta. If you are considering a holiday apartment as a base, you can first decide which places and activities you want to shape your trip: cultural sites, hiking and cycling trails, or river routes. The county is also an important transport hub, with a north–south rail connection and west–east road corridors.
More places in Szamotuły County: Nojewo, Wronki, Szamotuły, Zajączkowo, Sokolniki Wielkie, Obrzycko, Chojno-Młyn, Grzebienisko, Chojno-Wieś, Podrzewie and Niewierz.
For the broader travel overview: Greater Poland.
