Kalisz Pomorski: Lakes, City History and the Jarmark Ogórkowy

Kalisz Pomorski can be explored from several perspectives: its lake district, buildings from different centuries, public art and the annual Jarmark Ogórkowy. When choosing a hotel for your stay, you can first consider which of these themes suits your reason for travelling. The following highlights offer some concrete points of reference.

Lakes and the history of the waters

Kalisz Pomorski lies between four lakes, which formed a single large lake around two centuries ago. There is also a direct connection between Bobrowo Wielkie and Bobrowo Małe: a canal links the two lakes, which were once a single lake. The municipal bathing beach is on Bobrowo Wielkie. The waters of this lake are fed exclusively by underground springs. Alongside the history of a larger lake district, two named bodies of water and their connection are also in focus. The spring-fed waters add another notable feature of Bobrowo Wielkie to this picture.

Buildings from different centuries

The Neoclassical Church of Matki Bożej Królowej Polski was built between 1772 and 1781, after a major fire and the demolition of the medieval church. The water tower by the railway station offers a different chapter in the town’s architectural history. It was built towards the end of the 19th century, probably around 1888. The oval tower belongs to the “Grzybek” type and has a wide-overhanging tank and a conical roof with a raised lantern.

Another point of reference in local history dates back to the 13th century: during Piast rule, the Kenstelowie built the first castle in Kalisz. The historical themes therefore span a broad period—from the castle to the 18th-century church and the 19th-century water tower. The church represents a building constructed after a fire and demolition, while the water tower is distinguished by its oval shape and distinctive roof structure.

Art and notable places

The “Ogórek Beczuś” sculpture stands by the town hall. At the beach in Kalisz Pomorski, a mural dedicated to Beczuś was created on a wall almost 100 metres long. The motif appears here in two different forms: as a sculpture by the town hall and as a large-scale mural at the beach.

Another restored object is the Kamień szlifierski. It was returned to its former location in the grove by Młyńskie Lake and is situated on the Leśna Ścieżka Edukacyjna. The restoration and return to its former location are part of the stone’s story; its precise location by the lake and the named educational trail add further points of interest. This distinguishes it from the Beczuś representations, whose defining forms are the sculpture and mural.

The Jarmark Ogórkowy as a reason to travel

The Jarmark Ogórkowy takes place every year and has been a local tradition since 2005. The festival includes cooking demonstrations and craft workshops; the programme may vary from one edition to the next. Unlike the buildings and landscape features described above, the market is a recurring event with a date set for each edition. If you would like to combine your trip with the festival, check the specific dates before booking your hotel. This will help you plan your stay for the right period.

Discover more destinations: Łabędzie, Drawsko Pomorskie, Lubieszewo, Warniłęg, Bobrowo, Zabin, Stare Kaleńsko, Wierzchowo.

For the overview of the wider area: Dramburg.