Stare Wierzchowo

Stare Wierzchowo can be explored for travel planning through three specific themes: the Gwda, named routes, and a church with distinctive half-timbered details. The town is situated on the Gwda. The “Gwda” kayak route passes through Stare Wierzchowo between Jezioro Wierzchowo and Jezioro Smolęsko; the red-marked “Szczecineckie Jeziora” cycle route also runs through the town. This lets you weigh up whether paddling, cycling, or local history should be the main focus of your travel plans.

Paddling on the Gwda

The “Gwda” kayak route passes through the town and, along its route, connects Jezioro Wierzchowo with Jezioro Smolęsko. Stare Wierzchowo is also on the 61.4 km “Pętla Szczecinecka” kayak route. The two routes have different names and details: for the “Gwda,” the two lakes along the route are named; for the “Pętla Szczecinecka,” the length is given.

Another local landmark is the stone-and-brick bridge over the Gwda. On both sides of the bridge are suitable places for a short stop or as a starting point for a paddling trip. This means that, in addition to the routes themselves, a specific place for a break or for setting out on the water is described. The bridge and the Gwda are part of the town; the details given do not state how long a trip takes or which route is suitable for individual travellers.

Exploring by bicycle

The red-marked “Szczecineckie Jeziora” cycle route is 65.1 km long and passes through Stare Wierzchowo. Its length is a useful reference when considering cycling as the main focus of your trip and planning your route. If you want to choose a destination based on a specific cycle route, you can consider Stare Wierzchowo as one of the towns that this route passes through.

The cycle route and the kayak routes offer different perspectives on the town: here, the route of a cycle path, including its marking colour and length, is described; there, named kayak routes and the Gwda are the key features. You can then decide which activity should shape your trip more. This does not mean that the cycling and water routes share a route; rather, the details give you separate points of reference for your interests.

Church and half-timbered history

The history and architectural style of the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel also give Stare Wierzchowo a distinctive character. The Neo-Baroque church was built in 1928. It replaced a half-timbered church built in 1757 and donated by the local landowner at the time, Jurgen Hans von Zarten. This sequence of events connects the present church building with an older predecessor on the same site.

The tower’s half-timbering continues from the level of the upper storey, and it is topped by an onion dome with a lantern. Inside the church, a wooden ceiling with its original polychromy has been preserved. Several distinct details can thus be identified in the building: its Neo-Baroque design, the half-timbered section of the tower, and the ceiling’s colourful decoration. The church is therefore another point of interest for anyone who wants to consider architecture and history as well as routes when choosing a destination.

Stare Wierzchowo also welcomes visitors with a restored half-timbered cottage. The restored half-timbered cottage is another link to the half-timbering on the church tower.

More town pages: Sępolno Wielkie, Rakowo, Szczecinek, Drezno, Sitno, Krągi, Silnowo and Pilawa.

For the broader travel overview: Neustettin.