Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park – the beauty of history and nature

The Sea of the Poles (Mare Polonorum) – this is what the historian, chronicler, and geographer Jan Długosz called Lake Gopło. A view of this body of water can be admired from the terrace of the historic manor by the Mouse Tower in Kruszwica (Inowrocław County), which has been modernized and adapted as the new headquarters of the Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park.

“The regional self-government is pleased to support projects aimed at preserving the unique natural values and cultural heritage of our region. One such project is the new headquarters of the Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park, which enables educational activities to be conducted in comfortable conditions, while the purchased equipment makes it possible to share knowledge using modern technologies. Such investments allow for an even better understanding of the nature of landscape parks, their rich flora and fauna, as well as the fascinating tangible testimonies of cultural heritage,” emphasizes Piotr Całbecki, Marshal of the Region.

The Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park was established in 1992 to protect the natural environment, distinctive landscape features, and historical values of this land, connected with the beginnings of the Polish State. The park lies in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, covering the municipalities of Kruszwica, Piotrków Kujawski, and Jeziora Wielkie. In the nature reserve within the park, visitors are only allowed to walk along designated trails. Restrictions also apply to Lake Gopło, where a specific waterway is designated for navigation.

The 25-kilometer-long lake, together with its surrounding reed beds, marshes, fields, and small patches of forest, constitutes the most valuable part of the park. Its untouched shoreline is the greatest scenic asset of the Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park. Lake Gopło is home to 25 species of fish, including European catfish, zander, burbot, and eel. The kilometers-long belts of reeds and coastal thickets provide a habitat for many animal species, particularly rare bird varieties. Nearly 200 bird species inhabit these areas, including the greylag goose (the park’s symbol), mallards, pochards, tufted ducks, garganeys, northern shovelers, white-tailed eagles, and common buzzards. Along the shores of the lake, one can spot large flocks of cranes gracefully striding across the meadows and fields.

The park’s fauna is also remarkably rich. Deer, roe deer, wild boar, and even the occasional moose roam here. Along Lake Gopło’s shoreline, playful otters and busy beavers can be observed. Walkers and hikers may also come across 11 species of amphibians and many insect species. The park is also home to numerous interesting and rare plants, such as toothed yellow sweet clover, common centaury, and broad-leaved marsh orchid.

The Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park is not only about nature but also culture and history: the legendary first capital of Poland – Kruszwica – with the Mouse Tower and the Collegiate Church of Saints Peter and Paul. It is also worth visiting Giżewo, Kościeszki with its historic wooden church from 1766, Lachmirowice, Rzeszynek, and Popowo, where remnants of old manor houses bear witness to the wealth of these lands.

The park can be explored individually or in organized groups, on foot, by bicycle, or by kayak. Numerous cycling routes and educational trails with tourist viewpoints run through the park, including:

the “Mare Polonorum” educational trail;
the “Gopło” historical and natural trail;
the “Potrzymiech” educational trail.

Park staff organize many outdoor events and rallies. Up-to-date information on these can be found on the park’s official Facebook page.

Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park in numbers:

total area: 9,982.71 ha, of which Lake Gopło covers 2,154.5 ha;
120 plant communities, including a total of 865 vascular plant species;
numerous natural monuments, with the 300-year-old field elm “Popiel” as the most notable, as well as 4 inanimate natural monuments, including the “Fire Boulder”;
the largest of Lake Gopło’s 11 islands is Potrzymionek, with an area of 81 ha.

In the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region there are 10 landscape parks, managed by the regional self-government:

Wdecki Landscape Park,
Brodnicki Landscape Park,
Gostynińsko-Włocławski Landscape Park,
Górznieńsko-Lidzbarski Landscape Park,
Krajeński Landscape Park,
Nadgoplański Millennium Landscape Park,
Tucholski Landscape Park,
The Association of Landscape Parks „Lower Vistula Valley” (formerly the Chełmno and Vistula Valley Landscape Park Complex), which includes:
– Chełmno Landscape Park,
– Vistula Valley Landscape Park,
– Łosiowe Hills Landscape Park.