Around Radziejów, the themes range from Franciscan traditions and medieval sacred buildings to named trails and lakes with diverse landscape features. The wider travel area, Radziejów County, adds further cultural and natural attractions to the picture of the surrounding area.
Churches, a monastery and trails
The history of churches in Radziejów dates back to 1331, when Władysław Łokietek had the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and a Franciscan monastery built. The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was also built at its present site in 1331, funded by Jan Grot, Bishop of Kraków. A Gothic church portal and traces of pointed-arch windows in the south wall of the presbytery have been preserved in the Franciscan complex. The complex is one of the few examples of its kind in the small urban centres of eastern Kuyavia. On 14 September 2014, the Franciscan church was elevated to the status of a Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Two named trails connect different destinations. A section of the Piast Trail runs through the OPPT area and connects the battlefield site near Płowce with the sacred buildings in Radziejów. The “Battle of Płowce” hiking trail also runs through the area, but connects Radziejów with Osięciny. This distinction is useful for orientation: one trail links the battlefield site with the sacred buildings, while the other names two towns as its endpoints. The Piast Trail runs through Radziejów County; it is named after Piast Kołodziej, considered the forefather of Poland’s first dynasty.
For a different kind of leisure activity, the “Plusk” indoor swimming pool is located at 58 Kościuszki Street in Radziejów, by the Mechanical School. The leisure pool features geysers and water massage jets. Facilities also include a children’s pool with an elephant slide and a water mushroom, as well as a 53-metre water slide. Check current access arrangements before planning a visit.
Nearby lakes
Lake Głuszyńskie is a glacial ribbon lake that stretches from north to south and is traversed by the Zgłowiączka River. Its landscape is also home to gulls, ducks and geese. Since 16 June 1983, the lake has been protected as the “Lake Głuszyńskie” Landscape Protection Area; it is also located in a noise protection zone.
Lake Świeskie differs in its small size and shallow depth: it has the character of a natural pond and is intensively used for fish farming. It too is part of the “Lake Głuszyńskie” Landscape Protection Area. The lake is associated with a complex of meadow and marsh vegetation known as the Lake Świeskie channel complex.
The wider travel area of Radziejów County
There is an ornithological reserve on Lake Gopło; the lake extends across several counties. Its eastern shore in Radziejów County lies in Połajewo, Przewóz, Byszewo and Połajewko. Połajewo is considered a popular holiday destination in the region. In the same wider travel area, Nadgoplański Park Tysiąclecia is designated both as a nature reserve and as a landscape park.
Festivals and regional cuisine
A reenactment of the Battle of Płowce takes place every year in Radziejów County. The battle was fought near Radziejów on 27 September 1331 during the Polish–Teutonic War. In August, Radziejów also hosts the “Royal Fair” (Jarmark Królewski), featuring demonstrations of knightly combat and an evening parade of armed retinues.
The “Radziejów Noblemen’s Sejmiks” (Radziejowskie Sejmiki Szlacheckie) take place in Radziejów in June. They hark back to the Kuyavian regional sejmiks, held in Radziejów from 1515 to 1793, including at the Franciscan monastery. One regional delicacy from Radziejów County is kujawiok: a traditional Easter yeast cake that is one of the region’s traditional foods. If your trip is planned around one of these events, check the specific dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Radziejów, Piotrków Kujawski, Świecki, Włocławek, Sępoleński, Mogilno, Brodnicki, Rypin.
See the wider travel guide: Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship.
