The most famous of the buildings on the Kashubian trail of manors and palaces is probably the palace in Rzucewo. There are also signs leading to the EuroVelo 10 bicycle route around the Baltic Sea.
This neo-Gothic residence dates back to the XIXth century and was built on the site of a burnt manor house from the XVIth century. The owners of this property included: the Wejher, von Below and Radziwill families, and even King Jan III Sobieski, after whom the accommodation facility currently located here was named. Today, the palace in Rzucewo is one of the popular places for organizing weddings and receptions for the inhabitants of the Tricity, and nearby attractions include the Seal Hunters Settlement cultural park, where objects from a Stone Age settlement discovered here have been recreated.
Manor house in Starbienin, photo: Pomorskie Travel
Traveling along the “Manors and palaces of northern Kashuby” trail, we can also come across places that are still ruined or places that, after renovation and several years of operation, have been put up for sale again and have not yet found a new owner. Among them is the manor house in Starbienin, whose architecture resembles Italian villas. Renovated a few years ago, the building was the seat of a branch of the Kashubian People’s University, but today there are no flags flying on the masts, and the court’s alleys are overgrown with tall grass. However, its original shape can still be admired from the road running nearby.
Manor house in Łętów, photo: Pomorskie Travel
Manor house in Góra, photo: Pomorskie Travel
The condition of the manor house in Letowo is much worse. One of the oldest estates in northern Kashuby existed already in the XVIth century and was owned by the von Lantow family. Like the manors in Gora and Mierzynek, it is still waiting for a new owner.
The fragment of the trail of manors and palaces in northern Kashuby running through Gora is probably the most demanding place on the multi-day route around Kashuby. First, a sharp uphill climb to the village, and then a descent along the sand route to the Reda valley – these are one of the few really difficult places, of the remaining sections runs along asphalt side roads or dirt roads, which puts the trail in a rather positive light in terms of safety. Most of the surfaces are also of at least good quality and for an average cyclist, riding the route will certainly not be a problem.
Unfortunately, several short forest or field sections will not make it easier for parents with children in bicycle trailers. It is also better not to take road bikes on the Kashubian palace route – trekking (tourist, cross) and mountain bikes will be best.
Autor: Szymon Nitka
