Kępice can be explored through three distinct themes: the Wieprza, a hiking trail running entirely through forest, and the area’s industrial past. The educational trail focuses on the riverbank and information boards; there is also a canoe station and rest areas along a section of the Wieprza route. Those who would rather explore a nature trail can follow the “Dolina Wieprzy i Studnicy” hiking trail, with its sacred monuments and natural features. The area’s former paper and cellulose production, as well as the history of hydropower, also give the town a historical dimension. This offers different themes to consider when planning your trip: outdoor activities and nature, water activities, or industrial history.
By the river: educational trail and canoeing
The “Ścieżka edukacyjna w Kępicach” educational trail runs along the banks of the Wieprza and has information boards. It is also designated as a cycling route. If you are interested in combining landscapes with learning, this is a clear thematic starting point: the path follows the riverbank, while the boards add an educational element. Its cycling designation is another useful point of reference when choosing activities related to cycling.
The Przystań Kępice canoe station has fixed jetties and a walkway for launching and landing kayaks. New canoe rest areas have been created in Kępice along a 9 km section of the Wieprza route. These offer different practical points of reference for exploring the water: the jetties serve launching and landing at the station, while the newly created rest areas are located along the 9 km route section.
Forest trail and natural features
The “Dolina Wieprzy i Studnicy” hiking trail runs entirely through forest. Hikers and cyclists may come across numerous sacred monuments and natural features along the way. This makes its focus different from that of the educational trail by the river: continuous forest landscapes and encounters with cultural and natural features define this trail, while the route in Kępice is characterized by its riverside location, information boards and cycling designation. If you are primarily looking to include forest scenery and sacred monuments in your plans, this trail offers a specific theme to explore.
Industrial history in Kępice
The tannery in Kępice is part of the area’s industrial past. It was formerly a paper and cellulose factory owned by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The tannery thus links an earlier industrial use with a history of ownership. Hydropower offers a second perspective: in 1890, a facility for a paper mill and sawmill was built in Kępice on the Wieprza. In 1918, it was converted into a hydroelectric power station that supplied electricity to the paper operation. The chronology therefore covers first the construction and later the conversion of the same facility. For those interested in history, two perspectives complement one another: the tannery’s history of use and ownership, and the technically dated development of the power facility.
Discover more destinations: Siemianice, Wrzeście, Stojcino, Debnica Kaszubska, Retowo, Poddąbie, Słupsk, Sycewice
For the overview of the wider area: Słupsk.
