Hortulus Spectabilis Gardens
Hortulus Theme Gardens in Dobrzyca was established in 1992. Currently, you can visit 28 different thematic gardens with a total of more than six thousand species and varieties of plants. The establishment and maintenance of the gardens is made possible by Dobrzyca's location in a warm climatic zone. The area of the gardens is more than four hectares. The idea of the gardens is to contact with nature and to provide an aesthetic experience. That's why the plants have been exposed in specially designed compositions and without nameplates. The gardens were divided thematically, into Japanese, French, Mediterranean, stone, rock, water, herb and vegetable gardens. Gardens of the senses have also been created. They are designed to stimulate sight (white, blue-yellow, lilac-pink, purple, fire, sun and shade), smell, sound. The gardens also include a grotto, a cave, a viewing platform and numerous pieces of small architecture: bridges, pergolas, trellises, fountains, sculptures.
A separate exposition is the Hortulus Spectabilis Gardens. Their centerpiece is a hornbeam labyrinth. The labyrinth has an area of 1 hectare and was created with 18,000 seedlings. The total length of the corridors is estimated at more than three kilometers. Walking among the nearly two-meter high walls provides an unforgettable experience. At the heart of the labyrinth rises an observation tower, referring by its design to the double helix of DNA. When the air is very clear, you can see the sea from it. The labyrinth is surrounded by gardens of Magic, Energy, Time and Space occupying another six hectares.
The Bicycle Stop is located in the inner parking lot at the entrance to the Hortulus Spectabilis Gardens in Smolne. Access is via an asphalt road from the village of Dobrzyca. The parking lot has bicycle racks, a bicycle repair station (free of charge), a toilet, benches where you can rest. In addition, the gardens have a Caffebar, Snack Bar Bistro Chamomile and a souvenir store called Heart-Shaped Cottage. The parking lot is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and from June 21 to August 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. When using the Bike Stop, you can visit the 15ha demonstration garden complex with the world's largest hornbeam maze and observation tower. 2km away are the Hortulus Theme Gardens, the Barwinek caffebar, the Garden Center with the Garden Market and Gallery. The Gardens are Poland's largest and northernmost unique collection of plants. A short distance from the Hortulus Gardens are numerous bicycle routes, including: International Bike Route R10 (Velo Baltica), Windmill Trail, Trail of Palaces and others. Nearby are agritourism farms (Dobrzycowka) and numerous accommodation facilities in Sarbinowo, Gaski or Mielno.