Łeba: Cultural Stories and Special Discoveries

Church, Memorial and Local History

The Church of the Assumption of Mary was built in 1683. Some of its building materials came from St Nicholas Church, which was destroyed by storms in 1558. A granite reconciliation obelisk stands on the church’s exterior wall. The glacial erratic is 2 metres high and 1 metre wide and commemorates the residents of Łeba and the surrounding villages who lost their lives in the First World War. The church and obelisk therefore represent different chapters in the town’s history: the construction of a place of worship and the remembrance of people from Łeba and its surroundings.

Another trace of the past is Łeba’s oldest house. It stands at 86 Kościuszki Street and was built by the merchant and consul Johann G. Mampe at the former address of 18 Main Street. The two street addresses preserve different connections to the location: Kościuszki Street identifies the current site, while the former address of 18 Main Street is associated with the house’s construction. Anyone interested in the town’s development can include this building alongside its ecclesiastical memorial sites.

Collections and Stories from the Harbour

The Butterfly Museum offers a glimpse into the diversity of the insect world through its permanent exhibition. More than 4,000 butterflies and other insects from almost every part of the world are displayed in 102 entomological cases. These figures give the exhibition a clearly defined scope: you can explore an extensive collection rather than expect to see only a few species or butterflies. Łeba is also home to a private amber museum, considered the largest private amber museum in Poland. This gives you a choice of two different museum visits: an exhibition about butterflies and other insects, and a museum devoted to amber.

You can also encounter a story of Łeba’s connection to seafaring at the marina. There you will find a replica of the Świerkowa Tratwa, the so-called Spruce Raft. The raft is associated with the voyage of three sailors from Łeba to Sweden on 28 August 1957. One of them was Andrzej Urbańczyk, who later became known as a sailor. The replica and the story of the voyage offer a different perspective on local history from the church, the obelisk or the oldest house: the focus here is on a specific journey across the Baltic Sea.

A Circular Route for a Longer Excursion

In the area around Łeba, a circular route that is subject to a seasonal fee runs from Stara Łeba along the coast and via Łącka Dune, returning to Stara Łeba. The route is 15.10 km long. Bear the full distance in mind when planning your day; the seasonal fee is also something to consider when deciding whether this excursion suits your trip. The circular route is quite different from visits to museums and historic sites: here, the focus is on a longer journey through the surrounding area. The route’s length alone does not indicate how long it will take or how difficult it is.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Łeba, your preferred focus may therefore be a deciding factor. Would you like to explore local history, collections and the story of the Spruce Raft, or would you also like to include the circular route along the coast and over the dune in your stay? If people in your travel group have different interests, it can help to consider these experiences separately when planning your stay, rather than making a single excursion the measure of the whole trip.

Discover More Places

Another place at this level is Nowecin, which can help you get your bearings. Other places include Żarnowska, Łebień, Poraj, Wicko, Sarbsk, Lędziechowo and Lebork.

For the broader travel overview: Lauenburg.