The Lednica Landscape Park covers the area surrounding Lake Lednica, located halfway between Poznań and Gniezno. The island on the lake, Ostrów Lednicki, is often referred to as the “Island of rulers”. Over a thousand years ago, a huge stronghold stood here, one of the centers of power of Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave. Every step you take, you can find the traces of these early times. You can also visit the places connected to the origins of Poland.
The main highlight attracting tourists here are the remains of the Piast stronghold from the Early Middle Ages, including the ruins of the stone palatium built during the reign of Duke Mieszko I. The building consisted of both a residential area and a chapel with a baptistery. Interestingly, archaeological excavations uncovered here the remains of baptismal pools. Was Mieszko I baptized here? We may never know for sure.
For centuries, the island and surrounding waters have concealed countless treasures. Large quantities of historic military artifacts, luxurious objects, and various items related to Christian worship have been found so far. The museum’s collection of early medieval weapons is one of the richest in Europe. You can admire these treasures in the Museum of the First Piasts at Lednica. The museum also includes the Greater Poland Ethnographic Park in Dziekanowice. It’s a reconstruction of a village from about 150 years ago, where you can see how our ancestors lived.
On the northern shore of the lake, near the village of Imiołki, stands the Fish Gate, a place of annual gatherings of Catholic youth. After an all-night vigil, they go through the gate together.
Did you know that one of the symbols of Greater Poland are windmills? There are as many as eight right around Lake Lednica: three are situated on a hill in Moraczewo, four in the ethnographic park and near the museum, and one stands lonely on the lakeshore in the village of Rybitwy.
