Dziewicza Góra Observation Tower

On the summit of Dziewicza Góra, the highest point of the Puszcza Zielonka forest and of the whole Poznań district (144.9 m above sea level), stands a white reinforced-concrete tower whose everyday job is watching the forest for fires. Climb 171 steps and you reach a terrace 30 metres above the ground, well above the treetops. On a clear day you can see Poznań, and according to the forest district even Gniezno Cathedral, some 40 km away.

A tower born from a forest fire

The trigger for building it was a major fire in 1992 that destroyed 250 hectares of Puszcza Zielonka. The Łopuchówko forest district decided to strengthen fire surveillance and in 2005 put up a fire lookout tower on the summit. It opened to visitors in 2006 and has served two purposes ever since: lookout post and viewpoint.

The circular structure is 40 metres tall, about the height of a 13-storey block of flats. The foresters' observation cabin sits at 33 m, with the visitors' terrace three metres below it. The tower was built by the MCP Kopuły company from Bielsko-Biała to a design by Joanna Giczala-Ochodek and Andrzej Czech.

The nuns' hill

The hill's old name was Dziewcza Góra, roughly "Maidens' Hill". It refers to the Cistercian nuns of Owińska, who were granted the land by Duke Przemysł I in 1242. The educational trail that climbs to the summit from the car park still carries the old name.

The hill itself is part of a terminal moraine left by the ice sheet, covered in mixed forest with patches of old oaks. Its slopes are protected as part of the "Uroczyska Puszczy Zielonki" Natura 2000 site, as some 700 species of vascular plants grow here. The relative height is about 90 m, so the climb is noticeable, if short.

Forest education centre and trail

At the foot of the hill is the "Dziewicza Góra" forest education centre, with an indoor classroom, the "Fotonatura" nature photography gallery and parking for more than 30 cars. Around it runs an educational trail with 17 stops, created in 1992. You can choose a shorter loop (3 km, about 2 hours) or a longer one (5.5 km, about 3 hours), both free of charge.

Tripto tip

• Opening times: the tower follows a schedule published by the Łopuchówko forest district. In October 2026 it was open Tuesday to Thursday 11:00–15:00 and Friday to Sunday 10:00–17:00. Check the current schedule before you go.
• Admission: climbing the tower is free.
• Getting there: from Poznań take regional road 196 to Czerwonak, turn right after the primary school and follow ulica Leśna to the forest car park. By train, get off in Czerwonak and walk about 3 km to the car park.
• For families: a treasure-hunt style game with Sówka Wędrowniczka the owl starts at the car park, about 1 km and an hour long.
• Note: 171 steps are a real effort, and the terrace is not accessible to anyone who cannot manage stairs. The forest walk is worthwhile even when the tower is closed.