One of two “green lungs of Poznań”, located just a few kilometers from the city boundaries. It takes less than half an hour to get there, and one can commute not only by car but also by train or suburban bus. Zielonka Forest is a mixed forest that covers a large area. A number of things make the natural scenery even more appealing: the picturesque lakes, steep hills and numerous forest legends. In addition, the forest is surrounded by twelve towns and villages with wooden churches, which are connected by the so called Wooden Church Route.
Dziewicza Góra (Virgin Hill)
Dziewicza Góra is one of the highest peaks nearby Poznań. Although it’s only 143 meters high, the ascent might be a bit tiring as it begins on a flat plain. At the summit there is a tall concrete observation tower. A magnificent panorama of the entire Zielonka Forest, neighboring towns and nearby Poznań stretches from there. Admission to the tower is free, but please note that it’s open only during the day.
The summit of Dziewicza Góra is a major node of marked hiking routes. At its foot there is a tourist station with a convenient parking, bike racks, restrooms and a bonfire area. Following the red trail, you’ll encounter all the most interesting spots in the forest. The blue trail takes you to the historic monastery in Owińska, and the yellow trail to the old wooden churches in Kicin and Wierzenica.
Zielonka, the heart of the Forest
At the very heart of the Zielonka Forest Landscape Park there is a settlement from which the park takes its name – Zielonka. Here you will see a forest arboretum, established by the Poznań University of Life Sciences. An interesting range of trees is open to visitors free of charge. What makes the walks here even more enjoyable are the information boards about each specimen and well-maintained paths.
Wooden Church Route
The easy obtainability of lumber as well as the fact that forest settlements were usually small, conduced to building wooden churches. Fortunately, many of them have remained till today. They are connected by the Wooden Church Route around the Zielonka Forest, which links 12 old temples. Although all of them were built of wood, each is unique, represents a distinct style, and has its own special story.