Promno Landscape Park

Promno Landscape Park (Park Krajobrazowy Promno; say "PROM-no") is a pocket of lakes, oak and pine woods and glacial hills just east of Poznań, the capital of the Greater Poland region. At around 13 square miles it is small, yet it holds four nature reserves and eight lakes, all about 25 km (15 miles) from the city center. If you are wondering what to do near Poznań on a free afternoon, this is an easy nature escape by train or bike.

A glacial landscape on Poznań's doorstep

The park was created in 1993 to protect rolling, ice-age terrain and woodland with an unusually rich understory. It covers 3,363.86 hectares plus a buffer zone of about 2,380 hectares. More than 87% lies in the municipality of Pobiedziska, the rest in Kostrzyn, and the whole park is part of the EU's Natura 2000 network. Pine dominates the north and west; the southeast has broadleaf woods of hornbeam, oak, maple and ash.

Eight lakes sit among the hills, including Dębiniec, Brzostek, Drążynek and Dobre. Beavers, fire-bellied toads and great crested newts live here, and lucky visitors may spot a black stork or hear common cranes.

Four nature reserves

• Jezioro Drążynek: a lake turning into bog, with sundews and great fen-sedge.
• Jezioro Dębiniec: about 37 hectares of lake, peat bog and forest, home to sundews and cranberry.
• Las Liściasty w Promnie: roughly 6 hectares of old oak-hornbeam forest with spring wildflowers.
• Okrąglak: part of the Babskie lakes, including the small Okrąglak lake.

Stay on marked paths inside reserves and never walk onto the bogs.

Trails for every pace

• Jezierce nature trail: a loop around Lakes Ósemka and Uli, 2.5 km or 3.7 km (1.6 or 2.3 miles), with 22 stops. Perfect for an hour or so with kids.
• Hiking trails: the blue, green and yellow routes link the lakes for longer walks.
• Cycling: EuroVelo 2 and 9 cross the park, along with the Poznań Ring cycle route and the Piast Cycle Route.
• Nordic walking: three marked routes of different lengths.

Information boards are in Polish, so download an offline map before you go.

How to get there

The easiest option is a regional train (Koleje Wielkopolskie) on the Poznań–Gniezno line to Promno station on the northern edge of the park, where marked trails begin. Check current timetables before travel. By car, head from Poznań toward Pobiedziska; Poznań's Ławica airport is the nearest international gateway.

• Admission: free; open year-round.
• Managing body: Greater Poland Landscape Parks (ZPKWW), ul. Piekary 17, Poznań, tel. +48 61 65 54 650 (as of October 2026).
• Time needed: 1.5 hours for the Jezierce loop; 4–6 hours for a longer hike.
• Dogs: keep them leashed, especially in reserves.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you want quiet woods and lakes without a long drive. Spring brings wildflowers, summer offers shade, and fall turns the oak, maple and hornbeam woods gold. Not every lake is a swimming spot; swim only where it is permitted. Trails can be muddy after heavy rain.