Wielkopolska National Park

Lore & Background

The idea for a preserve was first raised by Professor A. Wodziczko in 1922. After ten years of efforts, two reserves were created in 1932: one at Puszczykowo (2.39 km²) and another around Kociołek lake (1.89 km²). In 1933, a symbolic opening of the Wielkopolska National Park took place on the hilltop of Osowa Góra, but the park was not officially created until 1957. It originally covered 52.44 km² and has since expanded to 75.84 km².

The landscape was shaped by a glacier that covered the area 70–10 thousand years ago. The park is mostly flat, with its highest hill, Osowa Góra, reaching only 132 m. It is split by several tunnel-valley lakes, including Góreckie Lake, which has two islands and is regarded as the most beautiful. Other landforms include round hills, long narrow hills resembling rail mounds, and large rocks such as Głaz Leśników, a protected nature monument.

The park's flora is dominated by Euro-Syberian species, with pine making up 70% of forests. Soil is poor except near waters, where plant life is more diverse. Skrzynka Lake is partly covered by a thick layer of peat-bogs. Fauna includes over 3,000 insect species, many beetles and spiders, fish such as trout, pike, and eel, all amphibians found on Polish plains, five reptile species, around 190 bird species including black woodpecker and buzzard, and 40 mammal species including numerous bats.

Reader's Guide

Wielkopolska National Park is significant as a protected area preserving a post-glacial landscape of tunnel-valley lakes, forests, and hills in west-central Poland. Created in 1957 after decades of advocacy, it now covers 75.84 km², with over half forested and 18 strictly protected zones. Its flat terrain, shaped by a glacier 70–10 thousand years ago, features notable lakes like Góreckie Lake and landmarks such as the Głaz Leśników rock. The park hosts diverse flora and fauna, including 3,000 insect species, 190 bird species, and 40 mammal species. It is visited by over a million tourists annually and offers seven tourist trails. Cultural monuments include a 17th-century wooden church in Łódź, 19th-century manor houses at Szreniawa and Trzebaw, and ruins of a castle built in 1827 by Tytus Działyński on Zamkowa Island. The park's museum and educational center in Jeziory presents its natural richness. Its legacy lies in balancing conservation with public access, serving as a key natural and cultural resource in the Wielkopolska region.

Did You Know?

• The park was not officially created until 1957, though a symbolic opening took place in 1933 on Osowa Góra.
• Góreckie Lake, with two islands, is regarded as the most beautiful of the park's tunnel-valley lakes.
• The park contains 18 strictly protected areas and is home to over 3,000 insect species.
• The largest rock in the park, Głaz Leśników, is protected as a nature monument.