Lake Powidzkie: paddling the largest and cleanest lake in Greater Poland

Powidzkie – the largest lake in Greater Poland

Lake Powidzkie is the largest lake in the Greater Poland province, and at the same time one of the cleanest in the country - its water is sometimes rated in the first class of cleanliness; in Greater Poland it is also among the deepest, as the depth reaches about 46 m in places. It is a glacial ribbon lake with a strongly branching shape: about 11 km long, a little over 2 km wide, with a surface area of over a thousand hectares. It lies in the Gniezno Lake District, in Słupca county, within the boundaries of the Powidz Landscape Park, and falls within a quiet zone - paddling here is calm, without the noise of motors.

How to paddle a kayak on Lake Powidzkie

There is no channel or set course on the lake - you plan the route yourself. Powidzkie's branching shape makes it easy to "explore" bay by bay: from the beach in Powidz you can paddle up to the historic church visible from the water, set off along the western shore to the wild beaches, or cross the middle of the lake towards the Ostrów Peninsula and on into the quiet north-eastern bays. For a kayaker, the safest thing is to stay within reach of the shore and avoid crossing wide, exposed stretches in the wind.

Safety on big water

Put on your lifejacket and adjust it while still on the bank. A big lake plays by different rules from a narrow river: on open water, a wave builds quickly in the wind. Check the forecast - especially the wind - before you set off, paddle close to the shore, and get off the water when it picks up. You'll find more rules in the guide to safety on the water.

How to paddle a kayak on the lake? However you like, following the safety rules. You paddle whichever way suits you - you choose the route and the destination yourself. Powidzkie is large and deep in places, so stay within reach of the shore and get off the water when the wind gets up.

The Ostrów Peninsula and the lake's branching shape

The most distinctive feature of Powidzkie is the long Ostrów Peninsula, which near the village of Ostrowo cuts deep into the lake and divides it into parts. Paddling round it along the shore, dipping into the bays on both sides, is one of the loveliest ideas for a calm day on the water. The branching shoreline offers plenty of sheltered corners where you can rest from the wave off the open water.

Giewartów: the palace and neo-Gothic church from the water

The southern end of the lake is Giewartów - a former holiday village with monuments best seen precisely from the water. Right on the bank, on an escarpment, stands a palace with a park in which a grand, ancient oak grows; beside it rises the neo-Gothic church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross from 1907-1914. Paddling up to the escarpment and looking up at the palace and the church tower is one of the most "scenic" points on the whole lake.

Powidz and the church of St Nicholas

The main centre is Powidz on the western shore, with the largest and best-equipped beach and a landing - the most convenient start and finish. Right by the beach, from the lake side, you can see the historic church dedicated to St Nicholas. From Powidz it is a short way both to the wild beaches of the western shore and out into the lake.

Beaches and swimming spots

There is plenty to choose from on Powidzkie. The beach in Powidz is the largest and best-equipped swimming spot with full infrastructure; the beach in Giewartów is intimate, with a lovely view over the water; there are also swimming spots in Kosewo and Anastazewo. Anyone looking for quiet will find it on the wild beaches of the western shore. For a kayaker, these are natural stops for a rest and a swim.

The Powidz Landscape Park, birds and diving

The lake lies within the Powidz Landscape Park - one of the more interesting natural corners of Greater Poland. It is a land of glacial lakes: alongside the largest, Powidzkie, there are the lakes Białe, Piłka and Czarne. Around Lake Czarne, low and transitional peat bogs have survived, and the park protects rare plants, among them marshwort, which has only a handful of sites in Poland. In the quiet of Powidzkie's morning bays you can spot waterbirds - herons and a white-tailed eagle turn up here. The local nature is explored by the "Mrówki" and "Adventure with Nature" educational trails, and among the curiosities are a historic water mill, a post windmill in Budzisław Kościelny, an archaeological open-air museum in Mrówki with a motte from the 12th-14th century, and the trace of a former border crossing in Anastazewo, where the border between Prussia and Russia once ran.

When to paddle and how to get there

It is most pleasant to paddle in summer, in sunny and windless weather. Powidz is within reach of Gniezno, Konin and Słupca, so access is convenient from central Greater Poland. Before you set off, check the wind forecast - it is the wind that most affects conditions on such a large body of water.

See the area on the interactive map Click to load the map - routes on the lake, shorelines and weather