Discover Skorcz: Town History and Hiking

Hiking trails from Skórcz

The green PTTK trail “Wzdłuż Jeziora Czarnego” starts at Skórcz’s former railway station on ul. Dworcowa and runs from Skórcz to Osiek. Within the town, it passes the parish cemetery and the Kościół pw. Wszystkich Świętych before continuing along ul. Główna. After leaving Skórcz, it follows forest paths through the Bory Tucholskie around Jezioro Czarne. The route described therefore includes both sections through the town and the continuation through the surrounding woodland.

A 25-kilometre suburban hiking route also begins and ends in Skórcz. It passes through forests and along numerous large lakes. Its stops include the Czarne and Kałębnica foresters’ lodges, the lakes Tuszynek, Słone and Głuche, as well as Skrzynia, Skorzenno and Osiek. The route length and the places listed give you specific reference points when adding this loop to your day’s plans.

Another route, approximately 18 kilometres long, starts and ends in Skórcz and runs through Barłożno, the Janka River, Kościelna Jania, Stara Jania and Mirotki. Its focus is the early settlement of the Jania estates. The life of the knight Jan z Jani and his anti-Teutonic Order policies are also among the route’s themes. For anyone wishing to consider historical context alongside the route itself, this offers a different focus from the 25-kilometre route, which is characterised by forests and lakes.

The three routes differ in their stated destinations and distances: the green PTTK trail connects Skórcz with Osiek and later runs around Jezioro Czarne, while the other two routes return to Skórcz. Their listed distances are 25 kilometres and approximately 18 kilometres. The shorter route’s approximate distance remains an estimate.

Medieval townscape and Gothic church

Skórcz’s medieval urban layout is listed in the register of monuments and has remained unchanged since the mid-14th century. The Kościół pw. Wszystkich Świętych dates from the 14th century and is Gothic. Its furnishings include late Gothic and Baroque pieces. The church and the town plan thus point to different aspects of the town’s history: a preserved medieval urban fabric and a church building with furnishings from two periods.

The church’s construction history also includes several clearly dated changes. The gable between the nave and the chancel was built around 1500. In 1927, side aisles were added to the church. Its tower was destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt in 1957. These stages belong to the history of the same building; they describe additions and changes over a long period, not a single, uniform phase of construction.

West of the urban layout is an area containing a settlement from the Early Iron Age. It is under full archaeological protection. The town’s historical significance therefore extends beyond its medieval townscape. Visitors interested in different periods can consider the information about early settlement, the preserved town plan and the church as separate aspects of the town’s history.

More town pages in the same overview: Krąg, Godziszewo, Wilcze Błota, Osiek K Skórcza, Osiek, Czarna Woda, Białachowo, Skarszewy.

For the main travel overview: Preußisch Stargard.