Szczecin Lagoon Cycle Route - Stage 3 [Wolin - Świnoujście/Ahlbeck]

III: Wolin - Świnoujście / Ahlbeck [40 km]

We will get from Wolin to the sea along a marked bicycle route. Some sections are asphalt bicycle paths, some are made of concrete slabs, there's also a nice gravel section in the forest between Międzyzdroje and Świnoujście.

Marking the trail: placed on the Wolin - Międzyzdroje section. The section in Świnoujście city has not been marked yet.

It's hard to believe how powerful Wolin town used to be. The first traces of settlement in the area come from the Stone Age. The city reached the peak of its power around the 10th century when Polish forces conquered it. According to some sources, at that time Wolin was one of the largest cities in Europe, with twice as many inhabitants as Polish then-capitals like Poznań or Gniezno. It was inhabited by Slavs and Vikings and is mentioned in northern sagas as Jomsborg. Ultimately, however, in 967 it was incorporated into the Polish state and became our first port on the Baltic Sea. The open-air archaeological museum "Center of Slavs and Vikings Jomsborg - Vineta Wolin" on the island of Wolińska Kępa reminds us of the glory of the most wonderful city of the Slavs. Every year, during the summer holidays, the great Festival of Slavs and Vikings is held here with thousands of participants and tens of thousands of tourists.

The landscape behind Wolin becomes a little bit hilly. The fantastic panorama of the Lagoon and the regressive delta of Świna river stretches from the 12th-century stronghold in Lubin.

In the neighboring Wapnica you can rest by Turquoise Lake, which owes its unusual color to a former chalk excavation. From Wapnica there is only 6 km left to the fancy seaside town of Międzyzdroje. The trail goes mainly on a bicycle path. On the way we pass a mini-museum - the V-3 Weapon Test Site. Hitler's wonder weapon was the longest gun of the Second World War. Its barrel was 130 meters long, weighed 76 tons, was serviced by 157 soldiers, and was nicknamed as "centipede". Soon we reach Międzyzdroje, but the trail quickly turns left in the direction of Świnoujście. If you want to see polish film stars' palm stamps - you should go to the center of the town. If not, there's a beautiful section at the edge of the dunes waiting for you. We cycle through the forest, overlooking the beach and the Baltic Sea. Be careful not to stare as you pass nudists beach in Lubiewo! At the entrance and exit, this section is sandy - you may have to push the bikes for a few meters. A few more kilometers through the forest and we are in Świnoujście. You have to enter the ferry (free of charge) to cross the Świna river.