Żnin: Motorboat Racing, Museums and Local History

Żnin offers several distinct themes to consider when planning your trip: motorboat racing, other activities on the lakes, the history of the town and everyday life, and a tourist narrow-gauge railway. If you are looking for a hotel in Żnin, you can choose where to stay based on the subjects that interest you during your visit. The locations and activities also differ in their planning requirements.

Local History and Collections

The Muzeum Sportów Motorowodnych features a collection on motorboat racing, including engines, propellers, medals, photographs, posters and programmes from events in Żnin and on waters around the world. The engines include examples from the interwar period. The collection offers different perspectives on the sport: the engines illustrate its technical side, while the photographs, posters and programmes show its connection to events.

The town hall tower in Żnin’s market square was built in the 15th century. It houses an exhibition by the Muzeum Ziemi Pałuckiej on the town’s history. The “Dzieje Żnina” exhibition includes a reconstructed armoury, a town councillors’ meeting room and a treasury. Check the current access arrangements for the exhibition before your visit.

The Muzeum Ziemi Pałuckiej also presents the permanent exhibition “Etnografia”. It features collections about everyday life in Pałuki around the turn of the 20th century. This gives it a different focus from “Dzieje Żnina”: here, the subject is everyday life and living conditions in Pałuki; there, reconstructed rooms and the town’s history.

The development of the press is another aspect of the town’s history. In the 1930s, Poland’s colour press and women’s press emerged in Żnin, first through a small German printing house and later through the nationwide publishing group founded by Anna and Alfred Krzycki. This development links a small printing business in its early days with a publisher that later operated nationwide.

Motorboat Racing, Lakes and the Narrow-Gauge Railway

Żnin is known as Poland’s motorboat racing capital. World and European championships in the sport are regularly held on Jezioro Żnińskie Małe. If you are travelling for a championship, check the specific event dates in advance. Jezioro Żnińskie Duże is suitable for windsurfing and sailing. The two lakes therefore have distinct uses to keep in mind when planning: motorboat racing championships take place on the smaller lake, while windsurfing and sailing are associated with the larger lake. Before taking part in water sports, check the current local access and operating conditions.

Żnin is the starting station of the tourist narrow-gauge railway. Its 12-kilometre route runs from Żnin through Wenecja and Biskupin to Gąsawa. The railway offers a different focus from activities on the lakes: its main feature is a clearly defined route between these places. The service is seasonal, and timetables may change. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Astronomy as Another Local Attraction

Astrobaza Żnin is an astronomical observatory at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Braci Śniadeckich in Żnin. It complements the historical and sports-related themes with an astronomy connection. If you are considering a visit, check the visiting arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Rogowo, Rozalinowo, Biskupin, Januszkowo, Młodocin, Sarbinowo, Gąsawa

Return to the regional travel overview: Żniński.