EV10/13 – Stage 1

Logistics

The beginning of the EuroVelo 10/13 route in the Pomorskie Voivodeship is located near the village of Zaleskie near the border with the Western Pomorskie Voivodeship. The town has no railway connection. The nearest railway station is in Ustka (over 12 km). In addition to year-round connections with Slupsk, Ustka can be reached seasonally by long-distance trains, for example from Warsaw (the so-called Solar Train). Slupsk is the largest transport hub in the area, with year-round rail connections of local, regional and national importance.

Another way of reaching the beginning of the Pomorskie section of EuroVelo 10/13 is by bicycle from the railway station in Sycewice (approx. 18 km), already on the side of the neighbouring province. It is a longer way, but very interesting, as it leads through Swolowo, Starkowo and Krzemienica, very attractive villages of the Checkered Land filled with attractions. However, the most optimal solution is to start the stage already in Darlowo (Western Pomorskie Voivodeship), which has a railway connection with llawno. It is just over 30 km to the border with the Pomorskie Voivodeship.

Characteristics, mileage, tips

The first Pomorskie stage of EuroVelo10/13 runs through the rural commune of Ustka and the city of Ustka in the Slupsk county. Initially, it leads along asphalt bicycle roads, mostly along the provincial road 203. At the height of the village of Wodnica, the main route of EuroVelo 10/13 is joined by a connector from Slupsk marked as R10. In Ustka, EuroVelo 10/13 runs along the southern side, bypassing the spa and tourist part of the city. It uses bicycle roads and communication routes with low traffic intensity, as well as a bicycle footbridge on the Slupia River. To get to the centre, take Darlowska Street, cross the viaduct on Slupia, pass the railway station and turn left at the large crossroads into the Polish Navy Street. Outside of Ustka, in the direction of Rowy, there are asphalt, concrete and gravel surfaces. The route runs there along local roads and forest sections. It crosses the very centre of two holiday resorts: Poddabie and Debina. The final part of the first stage is an asphalt bicycle road leading to the centre of Rowy.

Download the section map in PDF format HERE

Possible difficulties

The topography of the terrain on individual sections of the first stage should not cause any problems. It is mostly flat and without significant elevation differences. Riding through Zaleskie may be a little difficult, because the bicycle traffic there is carried out according to general rules and is a bit uphill. Minor disruptions may also occur on Armii Krajowej Street in Przewloka and on the further section to the east, where the route runs along a local road. Between Debina and Rowy, on the section of approx. 2.6 km, special attention should be paid, because the trail uses a county road with periodic moderate vehicle traffic.

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Dedicated rest areas:

• Ustka Sportowa Street – at the football stadium (shelter, bicycle racks, bench, information board)
• Poddabie – at Spacerowa Street (shelter, bicycle repair kit, storage cabinets, information board)
• Rowy – Wczasowa Street next to the concert shell (planned place)

You will see on the EuroVelo 10/13 route and in the vicinity

• Zaleskie (Ustka commune) – a manor house from the 18th century (private property – not open to the public), a church from the mid-18th century, in the church cemetery there is a cross dedicated to the deceased inhabitants in the years 1325-1853.
• Starkowo (Ustka commune, off the EV 10/13 route) Herring Farm – a small Herring Museum presenting the heritage related to herring fishing. In the historic homestead from the 19th century, there is also a stylish guest house and an inn specializing in herring dishes.
• Duninowo (Ustka commune) – a church from the 15th century; a baroque pulpit and a set of four stained glass windows from the 19th century depicting biblical scenes.
• Ustka: a health resort, one of the most popular resorts on the Baltic Sea
  • Ustka’s “old town” – a complex of historic fishermen’s and half-timbered houses on Marynarki Polskiej and Czerwonych Kosynierow Street, in a small park named after John Paul II (the so-called Kaptain Corner), a model of an old fishing village and an outline of the former church were created.
  • Fishing port, marina and a pier at the mouth of Slupia River – the “heart” of tourism and a showcase of Ustka, at the base of the breakwater (pier) there is a statue of the Ustka mermaid, in the vicinity there is a brick lighthouse from the end of the 19th century (open to the public), on the western the side of the breakwater is led by a modern footbridge over Slupia.
  • Blücher’s Battery (Ustka Fortress) – a complex of anti-aircraft fortifications from 1937 built for the needs of the Kriegsmarine. They are located in the dunes on the western side of the port. The facilities are open to visitors all year round. There is an interactive museum presenting the history of bunkers and the military history of Ustka.
  • Amber Museum (Marynarki Polskiej Street) – rich collections of all kinds and sizes of amber nuggets, inclusions and amber craft.
  • Seaside Promenade – a popular promenade with a length of over 1 km, leading along the beach. A kind of entertainment and recreation centre, full of food outlets and souvenir shops.
  • Museum of Bread (Marynarki Polskiej Street) – a private museum of a confectioner and baker from Ustka presenting a rich collection of old equipment and devices for baking bread and cakes.
• Orzechowska Dune (Ustka commune, off the EV 10/13 route) – the natural values of this place are presented by an attractive nature trail. It has information boards, footbridges, a viewing platform and rest areas. In the vicinity of the path there is a nearly 50-meter-high observation tower, which, apart from tourist functions, is also used by foresters to observe the area. The beach and cliff in Orzechow are considered to be one of the most picturesque on the Polish coast.
• Wytowno (Ustka commune) – half-timbered church from the 14th century (tower) and 17th century (nave).
• Poddabie, Debina (Ustka commune) – intimate, seaside resorts, rich accommodation and gastronomic base.
• Rowy (Ustka commune) – a holiday resort located in the immediate vicinity of the Slowinski National Park, with a rich accommodation and gastronomic offer. A good starting point for hiking and cycling trips to the Slowinski National Park.
  • fishing port at the mouth of the Lupawa River.
  • church from the 19th century, built of chopped stones.

Unobvious attractions and other mysterious places on the route and in the vicinity

• Ledowo (Ustka commune) – remains of the 9th Permanent Artillery Battery from 1949: fire control towers, firing positions, shelters. The building is open to the public.
• The third pier (Ustka town) – a concrete structure reaching approx. 200 m into the sea. According to the plans of the Third Reich from the 1930s, it was to be part of a large seaport. The terminal was never completed and the only remnant is the so-called third pier.
• Debina (Ustka commune) – Former 69th Missile Squadron – military buildings have been preserved in the area of the former unit from the 1970s: shelters, rocket launchers and fire control stations, warehouses, garages. Unfortunately, the area is not open to the public and can only be viewed from behind the fence.
• Objazda (Ustka commune) – an abandoned palace built in the Neo-Renaissance style at the end of the 19th century. It is a private building, not open to the public. Its reconstruction is planned. In the village there is also a half-timbered church from 1606.

Other bike trails and excursion suggestions.

• USBS Trail – the trail also called Through the Green Heart of Pomorskie leads from Ustka through Slupsk, Slupia Valley Landscape Park, Bytow to Somin.The red trail of the rolled railway tracks from Ustka to Rowy – partly coincides with EV 10/13, from Wytowno towards Rowy it follows a different course, using a fragment of the former railway embankment.

• The blue railway route – is an extension of the Rolled Train Tracks route and leads along the railway embankment from Balamatek through Objazda, Gardna Wielka, Stojcino and Siecie to Smoldzino.