Wolsztyn is the county town of Wolsztyn County. It straddles the banks of two lakes, Barzyńskie and Wolsztyńskie. These lakes are connected to each other by the River Dolca. An ideal setting for lovers of nature for which the town is becoming famous. Shedding its industrial past as a centre for trading in wool and cloth-making. But one important aspect of industrialisation, the steam train has also brought fame to the town as one of the few towns in the world that still runs a mainline service powered by steam locomotives.
The Steam Trains of Wolsztyn
Wolsztyn is known as Poland's Steam Train Capital as it one of the few towns that runs steam locomotives on its main line. The first line to be established here was the connection between Wolsztyn and Zbąszyń was established in 1886. Ten years later a line to Leszno was added. In 1907, the steam locomotive depot, for which the town is now famous, was built. Initially, it was built to house four locomotives and was later expanded to make room for eight. This roundhouse has the distinction of being the last operational steam roundhouse in Europe. And it still operates regular timetabled services on the national railway network.
Post Second World War steam power continued to be viable due its low cost and ability to operate on non-electrified lines. Until the 1990s large shipments of steel and other raw materials were hauled across Poland from the Baltic Coast. Although the other depots were shut down in the post-communist era the depot at Wolsztyn continued to operate. And it still operates today thanks to a group of fanatic English steam devotees and the co-operation of Polish Railways. The depot is home to 30 locomotives and at least twelve of these are in working order and running daily passenger and freight services mainly to Poznan, Zbąszyń or Leszno.
The steam locomotive depot (Parowozownia Wolsztyn) close to the mainline station has evolved into an open-air museum which is open to the public. Attractions here include functioning workshops and the machinery and technical facilities for the maintenance and repair of the locomotives and their carriages and freight vans. There is also a turntable and a snow plough and the Victorian signal box in the extensive yard. Exhibits in the small museum here include old railway kerosene lamps, tickets and signalling devices. An annual "Parade of Steam Locomotives" here does not only attract visitors from all over the world but also locomotives from elsewhere. This event take place over the three days of the May Bank Holiday. The Steam Depot is close to the mainline station and beyond that is the Town Square.
The Town Square in Wolsztyn
Wolsztyn’s Town Square features several interesting buildings. The Town Hall occupies a central position. This three-storey building was built in 1835 and extended during the twentieth and twenty-first century. A fountain plays in front of this building and trees are a source of natural shade here.
There are also two churches on the perimeter of this square. The more austere of the two is the post Evangelical Ascension Church, It was built between 1830 and 1832 and displays the characteristics of late-classicist and neo-Romanesque architecture. The classical style main altar is filled with the painting of Lord’s Ascension by Edward Gillem. South-west of the market square is the more ornate late-baroque Church of Our Lady the Immaculate. It was built towards the end of the eighteenth century and the tower was added in 1831. A late-baroque belfry, built in 18th century, stands near the church. The vaults are decorated with biblical polychromes painted by Jakub Byszkowski. These works of art gave the church a name of “the temple covered with sky”. Other interesting buildings in the town include its three museums.
The Museums of Wolsztyn
Three museums all come under the Regional Museum of Wolsztyn. They are the Marcin Rożek Museum, the Robert Koch Museum and the West-Wielkopolska Folk Buildings Heritage Park. The Heritage Park includes an open-air display of buildings typical of the region. The Robert Koch Museum commemorates Robert Koch, a microbiologist who discovered causative agents of tuberculosis and anthrax. Koch was a general practitioner and lived in the house that is now the museum. The interior of this nineteenth century building has been decorated and furnished to re-create the era when Koch lived and worked here. The Nobel Prize Diploma he won in 1905 is one of the exhibits on display here. The Marcin Rożek Museum celebrates the life of the sculptor, Marcin Rożek, a professor of the Decorative Arts School (Szkoła Sztuk Zdobniczych) in Poznań. The exhibits in this museum include a section of a tree trunk decorated with original reliefs of Faun and Medusa created by Rozek on an oak tree in the Municipal Park of Poznan. Rozek died in Auswitz here he was imprisoned after refusing to create a bust of Adolf Hitler. The two lakes that surround Wolsztyn, Barzyńskie and Wolsztyńskie, offer endless opportunities for outside activities from walks to water sports.
Wolsztyńskie Lake in Wolsztyn
Lake Wolsztyńskie (Jezioro Wolsztyńskie) is located in the northern part of the city and features the Wolsztyn Pier, Wolsztyn Promenade and Wolsztyn Beach. there are some marshy areas beside the lake but boardwalks have been built across them to allow access to the lake shore. Wolsztyn Beach is easy to reach by following the footpath beside the lake. This popular summer spot features restaurants and water sports. Close to the beach is the Municipal Park also known as the Palace Park.
Municipal Park in Wolsztyn
The Municipal Park incorporates the landscaped park surrounding the palace in Wolsztyn. Hornbeam and lime alleys are part of the original layout established by the Gajewscy family the first owners of the manor. New plantings have not disturbed this layout and the park now features, among others Ginko biloba (with the girth of 155 cm), the Canadian poplar (510 cm), oak trees, beeches, elms, pines, fir trees and larches. One of the oaks was adorned with the heads of Faun and Medusa by Marcin Rożek. The originals have now been removed and are on display in the Marcin Rożek Museum. They have been replaced by copies so visitors can appreciate them in situ.
The palace dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century, It incorporates part of the original palace built in 1857 for Apolinary Gajewski, an important family in Wolsztyn. The original palace was built in neo-renaissance style but was replaced by a new palace in 1911 in the so-called national style by the new owners. This building burnt down in 1945 and was reconstructed in its original style during the 1960s and became a hotel. The Gajewski family were also responsible for two other buildings close to the palace. The old orphanage was built in 1855 amongst the trees in the park. Today it houses some specialist medical centres. Close to this building is the social care centre based in the old convent building the family donated to the town for this purpose in 1897. The centre is run by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul. The complex also features the neo-gothic chapel of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Vincent de Paul, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The building was built with donations collected from the Polish American community by Father Benedykt Tomiak, a native of the Wolsztyn region and consecrated in 1913.
After exploring the town there are some good places to relax and enjoy some local cuisine or, if coffee and cake is your go to, try the popular Café de Paris in the Town Square.
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Valery Collins is the Experienced Traveller.
An excellent raconteur, Valery has been writing about her experiences on the road since she started travelling 30 years ago. After publishing four books she turned to online travel writing.