Tours around the city To make it easier for all visitors to Bydgoszcz to get to know the highlights and peculiarities of the city on the Brda and Wisła Rivers we prepared a guide – tours in the city.
Old Market Square (Stary Rynek)
The tour starts in the Old Market Square (Stary Rynek) – a place of execution of many Bydgoszcz dwellers during the Nazi occupation which is commemorated by Fight and Martyrdom of the Bydgoszcz Land Monument (Pomnik Walki i Męczeństwa). On the southern side of the square at number 24 you can see Dr Witold Bełza Voivodship and City Public Library (Wojewódzka i Miejska Biblioteka Publiczna im. dr. Witolda Bełzy), and right in front of it a small stone well. Then make your way down ul. Farna (Fara Street) to the late-gothic Co-cathedral of St Martin and Nicolas (konkatedra p.w. św. Marcina i Mikołaja) and proceed down ul. Jezuicka (Jesuit Street) with a building of former Jesuit College which has been housing the City Hall since 1897. Next go along ul. Ku Młynom (To the Mills Street) towards Wyspa Młyńska (Mill Island) with remains of Bydgoszcz Mint which has worked from 1594 to 1688 and Biały Spichlerz (the White Granary) where you can visit a constant exhibition of craft work. On the near-by Brda Młyńska River there is Bydgoszcz Venice situated – a graceful subject for painters and photographers. Now make your way down ul. Długa (Long Street) – the main track in the Old Town back to ul. Jezuicka and head west to Wełniany Rynek (Wool Market Square). If you turn left into ul. Wierzbickiego (Wierzbicki Street), go east through Nowy Rynek (New Market Square) and along ul. Wały Jagiellońskie ( the Jagellons’ Banks Street) where you can see a complex of law court edifices and right opposite it, on the back of ul. Pod Blankami (Under Battlements Street), fragments of town strongholds from 15th cent, you will reach Zbożowy Rynek (Grain Market Square). Turn left into ul. Bernardyńska (Bernardine Street). On your right there is a complex of a former church (now a The Garrison Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace – Kosciół Garnizonowy p.w. NPM Królowej Pokoju) and buildings of Bernardine monastery. Nearby a Grave and Monument of the Unknown Wielkopolska Insurgent.
On your left, in the place of former Bydgoszcz castle, demolished in 1895 you can see the late-Gothic Church of St Andrew Bobola (Kościół p.w. św. Andrzeja Boboli). Now reach ul Mostowa ( Bridge Street) walking down ul Grodzka (Castle Street) near the classical building of PZU Inspectorate, a complex of modern buildings of BRE Bank S.A. and former Grain Granaries from XVIII and XIX cent. which now house a branch of the Leon Wyczółkowski Regional Museum. In front of you, on the square, you may sight the Leon Barciszewski Monument – the last president of Bydgoszcz before the outbreak of the Second World War. Crossing Jerzy Sulima-Kamiński Bridge you enter the city-centre.
In the City Centre
From Pl. Teatralny (Theatre Square) make your way towards north down ul. Gdańska (Gdańsk Street). On your right you will pass by the Gothic-Renaissance Saint Clare’s Order’s Church of Assumption of the Holy Virgin, then former monastic buildings which now are a seat of the Leon Wyczółkowski Regional Museum, further a representative hotel ‘Pod Orłem’ (‘The Eagle’ Hotel) and at pl. Wolności (Freedom Square) the Neo-Gothic Church of Saint Peter and Paul, together with Artistic Exhibitions Bureau on the northern edge of Kazimierz Wielki Park (on the left of the church)and, in the centre of the square, an obelisk commemorating a march in of the Polish Army to Bydgoszcz in 1920 and other events important for the city. At the junction of ul. Gdańska and Slowackiego you can notice the building of the broadcasting station of the Polish Radio of Kujawy and Pomorze (Polskie Radio PiK). Turn right and on the left you will see Feliks Nowowiejski Music University (Akademia Muzyczna) and straight ahead the edifice of the I.J. Paderewski Pomeranian Concert Hall (Filharmonia Pomorska). You will be enchanted by the gallery of sculptures of world-famous composers and virtuosi around the edifice and in the neighbouring Jan Kochanowski Park with the Henryk Sienkiewicz Monumant at the entrance to the park. Turn left into ul. 20 Stycznia 1920 r. (January 20th, , 1920 Street). Near the Polish Theatre you will spot the Statue of Bydgoszcz Archeress. Make your way east down Aleje Adama Mickiewicza (Adam Mickiewicz Avenue) to pl. Weyssenhoffa (Wyssenhoff Square) where you will find a complex of agricultural institutes of the Kazimierz Wielki Bydgoszcz University (Akademia Bydgoska). Walking along Al. Ossolińskich (Ossolińscy Avenue) parallel to the eastern edge of urban and architectual complex ‘Sielanka’ (‘Idyll’) proceed south-east to Rondo Ossolińskich (Ossolińscy Roundabout). On your left you may contemplate the monumental Minor Basilica of saint Wincenty a Paulo of the Assembly of Missionary Priests and visit a nearby villa which homes the Museum of Polish Diplomacy and Exile. Through Wincenty Witos Common Park (Park Ludowy im. Wincentego Witosa) near the open-air concert hall and the bust of its patron reach ul. Jagiellońska ( Jagiellons Street). Turn right and on your right you will pass Youth’s Palace and a branch of Bank Handlowy S.A. (Commerce Bank) and on the left Bydgoszcz House of Technician – a provincial branch of NOT. By the subway cross Rondo Jagiellonów (Jagiellons Roundabout). You will pass the buildings of L. Rydrygier Medical University (Akademia Medyczna), Kazimierz Wielki Bydgoszcz University (Akademia Bydgoska) and the Voivodship Office on your right and on your left – Polish National Bank, the Main Post Office and Bank Gdański S.A. (Gdański Bank S.A.). The finish of your tour is Pl. Teatralny.
At the Bydgoszcz Canal
This part of the tour starts from Pl. Teatralny. Go west down ul. Focha. On the left you will soon pass the Opera Nova House, now under construction, and then cross the bridge over the Brda river and its arm – the Młynówka (the Mill’s River). On your right you can sight the town’s lock – a fragment of the Bydgoszcz Canal dated to 1915. Right behind Rondo Grunwaldzkie (Grunwald Roudabout) you will find a part of the historic Old Bydgoszcz Canal which was filled in with soil in the city centre in the 1970’s in connection with the rebuilding of the city’s traffic system. Go down the park path towards ul. Wrocławska ( Wrocław Street). The most interesting parts of the canal stretch further for about 3 kilometres but you turn right into ul Grunwaldzka and turn right again to reach the Old Parish Cemetery where many Bydgoszcz citizens of merit rest in peace. Soon you will reach Rondo Grunwaldzkie – the end of the tour.
Trip to Forest Culture and Leisure Park
On the tram number 1 or 2 from the city centre you will easily reach the entrance to Forest Culture and Leisure Park. Within its boundaries you can visit Polish Fauna Garden, Botanical Garden, the Equestrian Centre and Ecology Education Centre of the Kujawsko – Pomorskie Voivodship. Walking back down ul. Gdańska to the city centre you will pass by Sports Park and ‘Zawisza’ Stadium, next, on the left the Museum of Pomeranian Army District Tradition and Pomeranian Army District.
Forest Culture and Leisure Park
Forest Culture and Leisure Park covers 830 ha of the most attractive land in terms of landscape and wildlife. The south part of the Park (the lowest terrace) is situated in the great-valley of the Noteć and Warta rivers whereas the north part rises steeply to become a moraine plateau on the level of 42 metres above the level of the lowest terrace. The hill is called Myślęcinek Hill. It is divided by picturesque ravines, valleys and enclaves with three flowing spurts: the Myślęcinek, Rynkowo and Zacisze. These spurts, streams and drips form charming artificial lakes. In the central part, at the bottom of the hill, there is a 15 hectare large park pond.
The variety of vegetation is largely a result of man work. The woodland constitutes 50 per cent of the park area.
Owing to the many years’ process of investments and shaping the park area there were interrelated leisure complexes created in Forest Culture and Leisure Park. These include: Polish Fauna Garden – the only ZOO in Poland that presents the native wildlife; Botanical Garden where a number of slopes of different gradient and height divided by ravines together with walking lanes daintily fitted into the whole composition create an unforgettable charm of the place. Along the Myślęcinek Spurt eleven cascade ponds were formed. The major part of the Park is covered by the terrain exposition of trees, bushes and green plants of park and naturalistic character; the Equestrian Centre, Amusement Park – Fair, Bydgoszcz Ecology Education Centre, recreation and sports area and exhibition and trade area.
In Forest Culture and Leisure we heartily recommend:
– a ride on the park’s narrow-gauge railway
– a tour round Polish Fauna Garden – the only ZOO in Poland that specialises in presenting the native wildlife
– a tour round Botanical Garden with its extraordinary shape of the terrain and eleven cascade ponds
Botanical Garden
Due to the conception of habitat Botanical Garden the base of the flora collection are native species gathered in trees, meadow and water conglomerations according to their origin. This part covers 20 hectare and in all there are 350 species. In the whole area there are bars describing the characteristic plant and trees collections by giving the names of species they consist of together with the conditions of their natural habitat. Since 1999 Botanical Garden in Myślęcinek has been the owner of the one and only in Poland didactic trail for the blind. About 150 plants have been planted along 300 metres’ long handrail on the area of 4,000 square metres. Each of the plants has a ‘certificate’ printed in Braille. Thanks to these bars as well as the senses of touch and smell the blind can discover the charms of the plants world.
Polish Fauna Garden
Within the boundaries of Forest Culture and Leisure Park, in a 14 hectares’ large pine and birch forest the zoological garden was settled down in 1978. Among 11 Polish Zoos it is the only one that specialises in breeding the native animals. The Garden’s collection consists of about 550 animals that represent 105 species of mammals and reptiles, 62 of which are under absolute protection.
Due to an amazing location, interesting exposition of the animals in pens with moats, cages and aviaries fitted in with the natural environment, the zoo is eagerly visited by the citizens of Bydgoszcz and their guests.
The Equestrian Centre
The Equestrian Centre is equipped with stables with boxes for 50 horses, two breaking-in rooms giving possibility to lead the activities even in autumn and spring, paddocks and place for driving carriages, as well as interesting exhibits. In the Centre there is also the Hippotherapy Association that provides the handicapped children, especially those who suffer from brain paralysis, with aid by organising rehabilitation therapy with horses.
Amusement Park
The lunapark provides everyone, no matter what age, with lots of fun and excitement. The entertaining activity of the Park lasts from April 15 to October 15. During the season it is open daily (except Mondays) from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The attractive roundabouts and rides which are settled in the pine forests provide children with remarkable fun. For the youngest there has been a ready-made jumping ‘Castle’ where everybody can bounce as much as they want and a dry ‘Chinese Swimming Pool’ with 50,000 plastic balls where it is possible to swim like in water without taking off your clothes. There is also a 10 metres’ high ‘Giant Slide’ waiting for the brave to slide with incredible speed and mini-cars which bring the children sheer joy.
Wyspa Młyńska (Mill Island)
Wyspa Młyńska in Bydgoszcz makes a secluded green enclave in the city centre additionally ‘adorned’ with historical architecture. At present it is placed in the centre of Bydgoszcz, west from Stary Rynek (the Old Market Square). Even though the island is little-used nowadays, formerly it has been an exceptionally valuable part of the city with a working mint (the one and only in the Polish Kingdom) and then a buoyant miller centre.
