Lodzkie for nature adventure
A great idea for recreation close to nature is hiking in one of seven landscape parks.
Przedbórz Landscape Park
Despite being located in the centre of Poland, the lodzkie region has its own “mountain”. In the Przedbórz Landscape Park, there is a natural hill — Fajna Ryba (347 m above sea level), which is the highest peak of the Przedborsko-Małogoski Range.
Łódź Heights Landscape Park
The Lodz Heights Landscape Park, the “Parowy Janinowskie" reserve, photograph M. Majda
The youngest, the Łódź Heights Landscape Park, was established in 1996 to protect the varied post-glacial relief. It consists of two reserves: "Parowy Janinowskie", where slender beeches and branching gorges create scenery like from "The Lord of the Rings" and "Struga Dobieszkowska", from where it is only a stone's throw to the medieval stronghold in Stare Skoszewy. Want to wander along forest paths among ponds without leaving the city? Be sure to visit the “green lungs of Lodz” – The Łagiewnicki Forest, which is a part of the Lanscape Park.
Spała Landscape Park
The Spała Landscape Park, the pines „on stilts”, photograph K. Krakowiak
Spała Landscape Park - the remainder of the former Pilicka Forest growing there – two hundred year old oaks, hornbeams and pines – will arouse considerable enthusiasm among every dendrologist. These can be found primarily in the “Spała” reserve, as well as a curiosity of local nature – pines “on stilts”, created as a result of river erosion.
Sulejów Landscape Park
The Sulejów Landscape Park, the "Niebieskie Źródła" ("Blue Springs") reserve, photograph D. Kwapisiewicz
Sulejów Landscape Park - the Park area includes such magical places as the "Niebieskie Źródła" ("Blue Springs") reserve with its famous, azure water or the "Jabłoniowy Forest" reserve, where among the typical forest stands, we will find numerous specimens of wild fruit trees - apple trees, pears and hawthorns. If you prefer fauna more than flora, the Forest Animal Education and Rehabilitation Center in Koło is a must-see on the trip.
The Warta Widawka Landscape Park
The Warta Widawka Landscape Park, photograph D. Kwapisiewicz
In The Warta Widawka Landscape Park the main role is played of course by rivers, especially the Warta, which is the undisputed queen of this area. Anyone who dreams of meeting cranes, marsh sandpipers and other birds associated with water should direct their steps here.
Załęcze Landscape Park
In Załęcze Landscape Park the presence of the Warta has been marked not only in a natural way. In its valley we will find the remains of prehistoric barrows, the oldest of which are dated to the 2nd century AD. The park is an area of the Wieluń Upland. The Warta flows here in a deeply incised valley, creating the so-called Wielki Łuk Warty. The geological reserve "Węże" located on the Zelce mountain hides numerous caves. You also have to look into the quarry in Lisowice - you can clearly see a cross-section with rocks from subsequent geological eras here, you can also easily find various types of fossils.
Bolimów Landscape Park
Bolimów Landscape Park Its biggest secret (apart from the Rawka River) are the large (even up to several dozen hectares) forest clearings, which are the remains of the activities of budniks who cut down the forest in order to obtain potash, tar or charcoal. Today, the clearings are a real storehouse of the forest's biodiversity. Here we can find 1/3 of the plants occurring in this area, as well as animals - wetland birds, amphibians and large mammals. However, for both natural and safety reasons, entry to some of the clearings (such as Siwica) is only possible after prior notification with the Park employees.
