Old Railway Trail - Stage I [Kołobrzeg- Białogard]

Stage I: Kołobrzeg – Białogard [48.5 km]

The Kołobrzeg-Bezpraw section has not yet been completed. The rest of the route has been built and marked.

We start in Kołobrzeg, at the 220-meter pier, which boasts the title of the longest reinforced concrete structure in Poland. Another interesting piece of concrete in the area is the monument commemorating Poland's wedding to the sea, which took place here after the bloody battle of Kołobrzeg in 1945. As a result, 95% of the city was destroyed, which is clearly visible in the buildings today. However, this does not mean that the city lacks attractions. The imposing co-cathedral basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary gives an idea of its former glory. Kołobrzeg was a member of the Hanseatic League, a merchant association of Baltic cities, along with Toruń, Gdańsk, Lübeck, and Stargard. Today, elements of the Hanseatic style can be found on the European Brick Gothic Route, which connects about 30 cities. Three buildings best represent Brick Gothic in the city: the aforementioned cathedral, the Schliffen merchant's house on Gierczak Street (also known as the oldest house in Kołobrzeg) and the Lontowa Tower with the remains of a 14th-century defensive wall. Also worth seeing are the remains of the Kołobrzeg fortress, the neo-Gothic town hall, and the water tower, which houses an original restaurant and microbrewery. Near the lighthouse, rebuilt after the war, there is a spa park, which proves that the city has the status of a health resort. Patients come here to treat respiratory diseases, among other things.

Kołobrzeg is also a hub for cycling routes – the Old Railway Trail intersects with the European routes EV10 and EV13, known as the Baltic Sea Trail and the Iron Curtain Trail. The West Pomeranian section of both routes is called Velo Baltica, is 245 km long, and one of its most interesting sections runs between Kołobrzeg and Mielno, from where you can also start the Old Railway Trail.

The route, which mainly runs along bicycle paths, leads to Zieleniew. Here, a bicycle path begins on the former railway track, and we begin to understand where the name of the trail comes from. In Zieleniew, younger cyclists can enjoy the "Wild West" Amusement Park. An asphalt section takes us through Gościno to Karlino. Before the next rest stop in Lubiechowo, it is worth turning left to feast your eyes on the neoclassical palace, which has been restored from ruins. From here, it is only a stone's throw to Karlino, which is adorned with a railway bridge over the Radwia River. This complex engineering structure was built in 1859, and the opening ceremony was attended by Wilhelm I himself, later the German emperor.

In Karlino, the confluence of the Parsęta and Radew rivers forms the Bishop's Island, which is currently undergoing renovation. It is home to the ground floor of the Kamień bishops' castle and the Fryderyk Wilhelm Manor, which will soon become a hotel and, hopefully, will be open to visitors along with the entire island.

Between Karlino and Białogard, there is a bicycle path along provincial road No. 163. If you have more time, the section between Karlino and Białogard can also be covered by a pleasant, albeit longer, alternative route - a gravel forest road, followed by a little-used asphalt road. This will allow you to see the unfinished German hydroelectric power plant on the Parsęta River. It was supposed to be the second underwater hydroelectric power plant in the world – the first was located in nearby Rościn, but it was decommissioned as a result of modernization in the 21st century.

Transport: PKP railway stations are located in Kołobrzeg, Karlino, and Białogard (on the Kołobrzeg-Szczecinek line). For those traveling to the Kołobrzeg station with unusual bicycles (e.g., cargo bikes, tandems, trailers with children) or heavy bicycles with panniers, we recommend getting off the train at the Kołobrzeg Stadion station to ensure a smooth departure from the station. Connections are operated by POLREGIO and Intercity. The timetable can be found at https://portalpasazera.pl

Surface: asphalt 79%, aggregate 1%, cobblestones 19%, concrete slabs 1%.

Type of traffic: bicycle paths 93%, general traffic 6%, forest/field roads 1%.