The best traffic-free bike rides around gmina Grudziądz

A very pretty little market square in the heart of the small town of Gniew. Almost all the houses have been newly restored in recent years and represent noteworthy architecture. Here and there you'll also discover a few little highlights, and the castle isn't far away either.

Quiet alleys invite you to linger

The castle in Kwidzyn is an impressive Gothic stronghold from the 14th century, the former seat of the Pomesanian chapter. Its massive walls and characteristic sanitary-defense tower, connected to the castle by the longest covered porch in the world, are a symbol of medieval defensive architecture in these areas. The castle was not only a religious and administrative center, but also played an important role in the Polish-Teutonic conflicts and in the Priests' War. Rebuilt and adapted many times over the centuries, today it houses a museum and is one of the most important historical attractions in the region.

The castle in Gniew is one of the most powerful Teutonic strongholds on the left bank of the Vistula, built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. For centuries, it played an important military and administrative role in the Teutonic state, and after being incorporated into Poland, it became the seat of royal starosts. In the 17th century, it was associated with the figure of Jan Sobieski. The castle played an important role during the Polish-Teutonic wars and the so-called War for the Vistula Mouth. Today, the castle is beautifully restored and is a tourist attraction with numerous historical events, such as knight tournaments and battle reenactments. Visitors can see the recreated interiors and spend the night in the castle apartments.

Lake Nebrowo, located near the town of Nebrowo Wielkie, is a peaceful body of water, ideal for a short break during a bike trip around the Lower Vistula Valley. Picturesquely integrated into the agricultural landscape, the lake attracts nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. There are local roads with little traffic around it, so you can easily get there by trekking or cross bike.

The granaries in Grudziądz are a unique complex of medieval grain warehouses built on the Vistula escarpment. Their massive walls served both a defensive function and protected against landslides. The characteristic silhouette of the granaries, visible from the Vistula, has become a symbol of the city. Today, some of the buildings have been adapted for museum and residential purposes. The panorama of the granaries from the river is one of the most recognizable views on the entire Vistula Bike Trail.

The small Gniew Market Square, paved with cobblestones and surrounded by tenement houses, has its own atmosphere, which is easy to fall in love with. The most valuable and largest complex of historic tenement houses in the Pomeranian Voivodeship has been preserved here. The history of some of them dates back to the 14th century, and rebuilt in the 18th century, they still have preserved historical architectural elements and furnishings in some places. On the western frontage of the Market Square, i.e. the main square of the city, stand the so-called "Gniew Leby" - perfectly preserved 15th-century arcade houses, not found in other cities in Pomerania. In the middle of the Market Square stands the City Hall - the seat of the Gniew City Office. The building was built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, it was a quadrangular building with an internal courtyard, a tower and stalls in the ground floor. Today, its oldest elements are the cellars and the ground floor. In the north-eastern corner of the square, you can see a historic well - a pump from 1873. Just a step away from here is the Gothic parish church and the magnificent Gothic, Teutonic castle of Gniew, which now houses a hotel. https://www.polskieszlaki.pl/rynek-w-gniewie.htm

View of the castle in Gniew.