Pomeranian is a land of amber and wind where the waves of the Baltic Sea crash against high white dunes. This region is the core of the Baltic sea coastal route which offers long stretches of sand and the freshest sea air. You can drive to the Hel Peninsula which is a thin strip of land that stretches out into the sea with water on both sides of the road.
The road takes you to the Słowiński National Park where giant dunes of sand move with the wind and bury the pine trees in their path. You can climb these sandy hills to look out over the blue sea and the vast lakes that sit just behind the coast. Nearby the Malbork Castle stands as the largest red brick fortress in the world with massive walls that have never been taken by force.
Your trip leads you through the Kaszuby region where the hills are high and the lakes are hidden in the deep woods. You can hear the local people speak their own unique language and see the colorful embroidery that they are famous for. From the tall lighthouse at Stilo to the busy ports of the north this region is a mix of wild nature and the old power of the sea.
Pomeranian highlights
- Moving Dunes Łeba Climb giant hills of sand that are moved by the wind every year to bury the pine forest. From the top you can see the blue Baltic sea on one side and a giant lake on the other.
- Malbork Brick Castle Explore the largest castle in the world made of millions of red bricks by the Teutonic knights. The halls are massive and the walls are thick enough to stop any army of the past.
- Hel Peninsula Road Drive on a thin strip of land with the crashing sea on both sides and pine trees in the middle. At the very end you can find a lighthouse and a place where seals live.
- Kaszuby Stone Circles Walk among ancient rings of stones set in the woods by tribes thousands of years ago. People say the stones have a strange power and the woods are very quiet around them.
- Słowiński National Park Hike through a wild coast of white sand and dead trees that look like bone in the sun. It is a unique and raw landscape that feels like a desert by the sea.
- Bytów Teutonic Castle Visit a strong brick fort that sits on a hill and holds a museum of local culture and old tools. The towers are thick and offer a view of the green hills of the lake district.
- Kwidzyn Castle Cathedral See a massive brick building with a long bridge that leads to a tower used as a bathroom long ago. It is a strange and giant sight that rises over the quiet river plains.
- Czołpino Lighthouse Climb the red brick tower hidden in the deep woods to see over the top of the dunes to the sea. The walk to the tower is through a quiet forest of old wind blown pines.
- Goth Village Odry Explore the old graves and stone circles left by a tribe that lived here long before the first kings. The forest is peaceful and the history of the place is full of mystery.
- Wdzydze Kiszewskie Park See a village of old wooden houses by a large lake that is shaped like a giant cross. You can see how the local people made colorful pottery and painted their furniture.
The local Four
History of Pomeranian
Pomeranian is a land of wind and amber where the sea has shaped the history of every town. For centuries, local people pulled "Northern Gold" from the waves and traded it with the Roman Empire. This coastal past is the star of the Baltic sea coastal route where the high dunes of Łeba move across the land at a rate of up to 10 meters per year.
In the 1270s, the Teutonic Knights chose this coast to build Malbork, which became the largest red brick castle in the whole world. They ruled the sea and the rivers from behind walls built with over 4.5 million bricks. The castle remains a symbol of the power that once controlled the amber trade and the routes of the northern sea for hundreds of years.
The people of the coast, the Kashubians, kept their own language and colorful art alive through the ages. You can see their unique 19th century embroidery and visit stone circles in Odry that were set by tribes nearly 2,000 years ago. From high lighthouses that guard the ships to secret ruins in the woods, this region is a tribute to the raw power of the Baltic.