Magiczne Miasta: Waltzing Through Wałcz, Western Pomerania

“Walking through this changing season, sorrow spreads its wings. We can’t keep a hold on time, just receive what it will bring” – Tim Wheeler.

The little town of Wałcz is not a place I’d ever planned to backpack through. It’s relatively obscure and unknown to foreign tourists. However, after my adult life record gap of 17 months without visiting a new settlement, suddenly Wałcz would become the first NEW town I would visit since the first Lockdown in March 2020. It was now late June 2021, my last new settlement was in mid February 2020. It was high time.

Back then, I hadn’t heard of Wałcz, nor of Łowicz Wałecki, the second new settlement I’d visit in the last 17 months. Both were new and unknown. I was in Wałcz on route to the Siedem Stron Świata Festival, which was held in tranquil nearby Łowicz Wałecki. The beauty of that brace are unlikely to ever pass me by.

This trip served up tasty reminders of my early backpacking days in Poland. On those days, I visited and wrote about the following Polish places.
Tourist in Starogard Gdański
Tourist in Radymno
Tourist in Holy Pelplin
Tourist in Tczew
Tourist in Malbork
Tourist in Płock

I arrived in Wałcz after a train from Warszawa with a stopover in Piła. I had been to Piła before, a few times as it featured on the Blues Express Festival. Move over Piła, Wałcz time to shine.

From the main train station (Wałcz Główny) , I focused on just a few main things to do in Wałcz. I had a short time in this town and selfishly just did a few simple things. The town dates back to 1303, this is no new town on the block. Jurassic Park.

1.Relax By The Lakes

Although Poland ‘s Mazury province takes all the merit for its lakes, there are many other beautiful parts of Poland with lakes. This spot included. There are two main gorgeous lakes here in Wałcz, which sits in the Zachodniopomorskie (Western Pomerania) province.

One of the lakes has a fountain ⛲ in it. The lakes are known as Zamkowe and Raduń.

2.St. Nicholas Church (Kościół pw. św. Mikołaja)

Of course there is a church here. And more than one. The main one I focused on was the centrally located church, which sits opposite the main square – St. Nicholas Church (Kościół pw. św. Mikołaja).

3.Old Town Square / Freedom Square (Plac Wolności)

Most Polish towns have some kind of town square. Wałcz is a more open plan one rather than your textbook Starogard Gdański style one, here it is actually known as Freedom Square (Plac Wolności), but as Walcz dates back to 1303, it seemed more like an old town square to me, but perhaps this wasn’t the original one.

I still enjoyed the vibe here. Families out walking, a church in the background and of course some bars for me to drink in. Speaking of which…

4.On the Rip – Piwiarnia

There were a few bars open in central Wałcz but I had three things in mind. Football on the telly, cheap beer and free Wi-Fi. It was no surprise that I ended up in Piwiarnia. It has the hattrick.

Piwiarnia is a Polish pub chain brand that has venues in a few different cities. In the past I have visited Piwiarnia in Zamość and Opole. They have cheap beer, bar snacks and pizza.

This one was central in Wałcz, in the main square. I was served by the pretty perky Klaudia in here. She worked behind the bar. Sadly I rarely keep touch with these girls who come in and out of our lives. If you’re out there Klaudia, drop me a line. Our hair is the same.

“Suppose it’s just a point of view but they tell me I’m doing fine” – Robbie Williams.

After a few beers, I headed to Łowicz Walecki for the Siedem Stron Świata Festival. It was Klaudia who helped organise my taxi home. The magic of Wałcz faded into the night sky. Another time, another place. Some more photos from my short jaunt in Wałcz…

Here are some videos I made while backpacking in Wałcz :