Discover Zielonogórski: Museums, Nature and Waterways

Museums and historic design

The Lubuskie Muzeum Wojskowe in Drzonowo presents exhibits on military history from the Middle Ages to the present day. The permanent exhibition is spread across four rooms in a 19th-century Neoclassical palace. The museum also has a collection of heavy military equipment in the palace park complex and an exhibition pavilion. This includes military vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, tanks, artillery and fortifications, as well as aircraft and helicopters. The interiors and exhibits offer different points of interest: visitors interested in technology will find something different here from those whose visit focuses mainly on architecture and design.

The Muzeum Archeologiczne Środkowego Nadodrza features the permanent exhibition “Wicina – a metallurgists’ settlement from 2,500 years ago.” It is devoted to finds from a Bronze Age settlement of the Lusatian culture, including jewellery made of bronze, gold, glass and iron, as well as weapon parts, tools and pottery. In Babimost, the Izba Pamiątek Regionalnych offers another perspective on regional everyday and material culture. Its ethnographic collection includes agricultural tools, folk costumes, household items, musical instruments and weaving equipment.

The interior design of the Dom Pomocy Społecznej in Trzebiechów is another point of interest for culture-minded travellers. Henry van de Velde designed the interiors of the building, which was constructed in the first decade of the 20th century. Original features have been preserved, including the wooden door fittings and staircase, glazing, furniture, fireplaces, polychrome decorations and other furnishings. If you are interested in design details like these, you can add this place to your selection of cultural destinations.

Forest landscapes and trails

The Laski Nature Reserve protects forest areas in the Gniła Obra valley. Together with wet meadows, natural ponds and marshes, they form a species-rich floristic and faunal ecosystem. The Radowice Nature Reserve, north of Podlegórz, offers a different forest landscape: deep ravines covered in old beech forest shape the area, and streams spring from numerous sources in the forest. The contrast between the valley, wetlands and wooded ravines makes these nature destinations distinct points of interest alongside the museums.

Several hiking routes are described in detail. The blue circular trail from Trzebiechów via Podlegórz and Ostrzyce and back to Trzebiechów is 10 kilometres long. A red trail runs along the southern slopes of Wał Zielonogórski between Zalew nad Ochlą and Wieża Bismarcka (Wilkanowska): it is 7.5 kilometres long, with an elevation difference of around 70 metres. If you would rather include a shorter cycling route in your day-trip plans, there is a 2-kilometre blue cycle path from Podlegórz to Radowice Nature Reserve. These distances can help you choose routes to suit your preferred length without treating different routes as if they were the same.

The nature and forest education trail in the Krzystkowice Forest District offers another way to experience nature and learn. It opened in 1998, is 2.5 kilometres long and includes 16 themed stations, as well as educational and recreational features. Walking the trail takes about 1.5 hours. When planning your day, you can choose between marked trails with stated distances and an educational trail with stations and an approximate walking time.

Cycling, water and other interests

A 12-kilometre cycle route connects Babimost with the picturesque Lake Linie before continuing towards Kargowa. Two kayak routes on the water lead to Cigacice: the 9-kilometre Oder River kayak route runs from Mielno via Wielobłota and Przytoczki; the 11-kilometre Obrzyca River kayak route starts in Smolno Wielkie and runs via Podlegórz, Radowice and Górzykowo. Organised kayak tours also use the Bóbr River. Its fast current, gentle gradient and slightly winding course offer a sporting challenge.

At Lake Wojnowskie, a marina built in Stary Kramsko offers water sports and recreation. If you are planning a swimming trip, you will find Zalew Świdnicki near Świdnica: the complex consists of two water basins with a total area of 5 hectares. A designated bathing area is supervised by lifeguards during the holiday season. These water destinations differ in their described character—from a kayak route to water sports at the marina and a supervised bathing area.

A village quest or a visit to a winery can also shape your day trip. The village quest “Na Świdnickim szlaku! Quest o historii i zabytkach Świdnicy” takes you to monuments connected with Świdnica’s history. The winemakers at Słoneczne Tarasy winery invite visitors for a visit and wine tasting. The Gmina Babimost is also home to an international airport capable of handling the largest transport and passenger aircraft. When choosing a base for a holiday apartment, it is worth using your preferred destinations and activities as a guide and weighing up culture, trails and water-based options accordingly.

For more information, see the pages for these places: Zielona Góra, Stary Kisielin, Drzonków, Nowogród Bobrzański, Kargowa, Przewóz, Nowe Kramsko, Przylep, Marzęcin, Krępa, Sulechow, Cigacice, Babimost, Trzebiechów, Kolesin, Jeleniów, Słone, Racula and Zatonie.

For the wider travel overview: Lubusz.