Discover Pölitz: Culture, History and Nature

When planning a stay in Pölitz, you can make the cultural history and nature destinations of the Municipality of Police part of your itinerary. The town of Police is home to, among other things, a neo-Gothic church and a lapidarium; the municipality also has historic sites, routes and forest landscapes. Nearby, an environmental education centre in Zalesie offers further options. You can tailor your plans to architecture, history, trails or nature.

Cultural Sites in Police and Jasienica

The neo-Gothic Church of St Mary in Police was built in the late 19th century. Its tower is more than 60 metres high, and the church is one of the town’s significant architectural monuments and unofficial symbols. The Polickie Lapidarium, a museum of funerary sculpture and a place of remembrance, is located in Staromiejski Park. It was established around the turn of 1997/98. The lapidarium contains more than 120 restored cemetery features from 24 pre-war German cemeteries.

The ruins of a medieval Augustinian monastery lie in Police-Jasienica. The monastery was founded in the 14th century on the banks of the Gunica. The surviving remains include Gothic perimeter walls of the east and south wings, standing up to the level of the first floor, as well as cellars. Conservation work may affect access; before visiting, check whether any work is affecting access.

Industrial History and Trails

The ruins of Hydrierwerke Politz AG offer a glimpse into the municipality’s industrial history. The plant grew out of the smaller Norddeutsche Mineralölwerke GmbH, which reprocessed some unused marine fuel. Between 1939 and 1944, eight camps were established near the plant, where prisoners of war from across Europe were held. The plant was bombed repeatedly; the last air raid took place in February 1945. Only ruins remained afterwards.

An educational hiking trail runs through the ruins, with a shorter and a longer option. The Stowarzyszenie Przyjaciół Ziemi Polickiej „SKARB” association leads visitors through the site and introduces them to its history, myths and legends. If you plan to join a tour, check the current date in advance.

Compare Forest Landscapes and Routes

Puszcza Wkrzańska is a large forest complex in the Municipality of Police, crossed by numerous hiking trails. Over a period of more than a dozen years, 205 bird species were observed there. Breeding birds include lesser spotted eagles and white-tailed eagles; red kites are often seen. The ornithological reserve at Lake Świdwie was included in the Ramsar Convention in 1984 and is one of the world’s significant wetlands.

The routes vary considerably in their stated lengths. The yellow hiking trail “Szlak Policki” starts at Police Rynek and is 11.6 kilometres long. It passes through Trzeszczyn, the monument in Trzeszczyn, Stare Leśno, the Szczecin–Tanowo road and Bartoszewo. The longer municipal routes are about 40 kilometres for “Szlakiem budownictwa ryglowego,” about 48 kilometres for “Dookoła gminy Police” and about 58 kilometres for “Nad brzegi śródleśnych jezior.” The last route runs from Police through several places and lakes, including Bartoszewo, Świdwie, Piaski and Karpino, before returning to Police. The approximately 40-kilometre route passes through Tanowo, Tatynia, Jasienica, Niekłończyca and Trzebież before returning to Police; the 48-kilometre route goes via, among other places, Siedlice, Pilchowo and Jasienica to Trzebież and back. Check current route conditions and trail markers before setting out.

A nature-friendly recreational area with access to the water has been created on the Łarpia waterfront in the town of Police. It is connected by walking and cycling paths and adds another landscape destination to the municipality’s routes.

Environmental Education near Zalesie

The Transboundary Centre for Environmental Education in Zalesie is located near Pölitz. It lies in the buffer zone of the Świdwie reserve, in Puszcza Wkrzańska and next to the Trzebież Forest District. On Saturdays, the centre is open to individual visitors, including families, adults accompanying children and adults. Visitors can see the ecosystem room, the atmospheric phenomena room, the observation terrace and exhibits in the corridors. The grounds also include a sensory garden and a playground.

The centre offers activities on educational trails in nearby forests for hikers and cyclists; participants are provided with basic field equipment. Check visitor arrangements and opening hours before travelling; current booking procedures may vary.

Discover more destinations: Nowe Warpno, Tanowo, Police, Wołczkowo, Kurów, Trzebież, Mierzyn, Bezrzecze, Dobra, Dołuje, Pilchowo, Kołbaskowo, Brzózki, Przęsocin.

For the broader travel overview: West Pomerania.