ODER RIVER TRAIL

Poland

Trail presentation

Oder River Trail (Poland) comprises a 700 km network of bicycle routes, water routes, hiking and educational trails, leading through the most interesting landscapes along the Middle Oder river corridor. The backbone of the greenway is the Oder River Bicycle Trail signposted along both sides of the river, from Olawa through Wroclaw to Kostrzyn. The greatest attractions along the trail include numerous old river beds, marshy meadows (Oder River Marshy Meadows proposed as a Natura 2000 site), historic sites and charming landscapes. The Oder River Trail has stimulated numerous local community initiatives related to eco-tourism, environmental education, landscape stewardship, eco-museums and local heritage products. The trail is a good example of how greenways can contribute to using the Natura 2000 nature conservation designation to generate benefits for both nature protection and community development. The greenway links together several protected areas, including the Warta River Mouth National Park, the Krzesinski Landscape Park, the Oder broadleaved forests (proposed as Natura 2000 site) and many other nature reserves and wildlife refuges.The motivation for the greenway is to provide visitors with access to the natural habitats associated with the river and an opportunity to appreciate the importance of cultural differences along the river, which marks the Polish-German border.

The trail developers have sought to use the greenway backbone to promote local attractions, including:

16 educational trails presenting nature of the Oder River valley – old river beds, marshy meadows, river mouths, broadleaved forests, riverside meadows, bird sanctuaries (such as whooper swan, red and black kite, honey buzzard, crane, white-tailed eagle etc.), meadow museum in Owczary, white stork museum in Klopot;
Eco-museums presenting the history of settlement in the Oder River Valley:
ancient times presented at the Iron Village of Tarchalice (ancient smelting settlement) eco-museum;
early medieval settlement of Dziadoszanie tribe presented in the Wietszyce eco-museum;
Middle Ages and baroque heritage presented at the Cistersian eco-museum in Lubiaz and the eco-museum in Sroda Slaska.
Along the bicycle trail, information boards with maps direct visitors to the most interesting attractions in the area, as well as to picnic, camping and rest areas.
Along the kayak route – several small harbours provide picnic areas and camp sites.

Main tourist attractions and towns along this trail (nature and cultural heritage)

Wroclaw – historic buildings, the Town Hall and the main market square, historic island of Ostrow Tumski and the Raclawice Panorama

Sroda Slaska – The Sredzki Treasure (Sredzkie Eco-museum)

Lubiaz – one of the biggest Cistercian monasteries in Europe, St. Hedwig Forest with healing water springs (Cistersian Eco-Museum)

Tarchalice – remains of an ancient smelting settlement (The Iron Village of Tarchalice Eco-museum)

Scinawa – a historic bridge on the Oder River

Chobienia – a renaissance palace.

Nowa Sol – the oldest draw bridge on the Oder River

Klopot – White Stork Museum

Owczary – Meadow Museum

Kostrzyn – Warta River Mouth National Park

Main cultural events along the Greenway:

flower fair and exhibition 'Korso kwiatowe' in Lubiaz – May
Oder river canoeing tour 'Flis Odrzanski' – June/July
Cistersian picnic in Lubiaz – August
archeological picnic in 'The Iron Village of Tarchlice' – September
Scallopini Squash Day in Scinawa (a vegetable similar to a pumpkin, called 'patison' in Polish) – September
Wine Day in the Town of Treasures in Sroda Slaska – September

Main tourist attractions and towns along this trail (nature and cultural heritage etc.):