Lebork Land – dunes, palaces and amazing nature

Lebork Land, as the name suggests, first invites you to its largest city,  Lebork. The history of the village situated along the Pomorskie Way of St. James, takes us back to medieval times and is associated with the activities of the Teutonic Order. When visiting Lebork, it is impossible not to pay attention to the fourteenth-century defensive walls and towers. These are the remains of old, over 1200-meter-long fortifications. In the area you will also find the remains of the former Teutonic castle with towers and the 14th-century complex, which was once the seat of the Teutonic mayor.

The most important monument in the city is the Sanctuary of St. James, whose construction was completed in 1345, and till today impresses with, among others 18th century ivory tabernacle. The Gothic brick church is the seat of the Franciscan monastery and is located on the pilgrimage route to the Spanish Santiago de Compostela.

Leaving Lebork, it is worth going North, towards the Baltic Sea and the enchanted world of the Slowinski National Park.

Palaces and nature reserves

Before we reach Leba, we pass through the “palace” village of Wicko. The palace in Poraj, over 100 years old, inscribed on the list of monuments, the palace in Charbrow from 1660 or the 16th century palace in Nowecin are examples of magnificent, dignified architecture from years ago. But Wicko and its surroundings are also very green areas.

Along the Slowinski Coast you can admire Lebsko, the third largest lake in Poland and the Leba Spit, which separates it from the sea through a thin land line. There are nature reserves here, led by the Sarbska Mierzeka separating the Sarbsko Lake from the Baltic Sea.
You can find moving dunes here, the height of which can reach even 24 m above the sea level.

Walking down the dunes

The northern part of the Lebork Land is primarily the Slowinski National Park. A paradise for nature lovers, lakes, peat bogs, forests, meadows, flora and fauna. A paradise for those who want peace and quiet, want to breathe fresh sea air, feel the breeze from the Baltic Sea. The Slowinski National Park consists of moving dunes and many interesting facts that you can explore on your own or with a guide. One of the curiosities is the fact that until the dunes cover themselves with vegetation, they move in accordance with the rhythm of the blowing wind. Walking on the dunes (only on the routes marked by the employees of the Slowinski National Park!) Sometimes resembles a trip around the desert. The fact that we are at the seaside and not on hot sands reminds us of the wind, which constantly comes from the Baltic Sea.

The best starting point for walks on the dunes and the Slowinski National Park is Leba. It’s a small coastal town with great infrastructure. You will find hotels, guesthouses, apartments, restaurants, cafes here. Leba enchants with its location: from the north it opens to the Baltic Sea, from the east it borders with the Sarbsko Lake, and from the west it envelops the Lebsko Lake and the Slowinski National Park.

Although today Leba is primarily a destination for tourists and nature lovers, one should not forget that it is also an old port, fishing centre and marina. In spring and summer, Leba offers a number of attractions for children and adults. In Leba You find a sand dune, a park, but also a beautiful, wide beach, on which we lounger until sunset.