What’s worth seeing?

There are places in Poland that defy simple definitions. Places where history isn’t just a date in a textbook, but a tactile experience, and nature has regained what was once brutally taken from it. We invite you to Borne Sulinowo – the most mysterious town in Poland, for decades the most closely guarded secret of the Warsaw Pact, erased from official maps and surrounded by barbed wire.

Today, paradoxically, this dark past has become the foundation of a unique tourist microclimate. Borne Sulinowo is not just another repetitive resort. It is a space for explorers, history buffs, seekers of peace, and lovers of the unspoiled nature of the Drawsko Lake District.

🍃 A Microclimate of Silence and Clean Air

The first thing you’ll notice when you get out of the car is the air. Crystal clear, saturated with the scent of resin from the vast forests surrounding the city. There’s no smog, industry, or city bustle here. Instead, it’s an impenetrable silence, interrupted only by the rustle of pine trees and the chirping of birds. It’s the perfect place for a “digital detox” and nervous system regeneration. Here, sleep is deeper and rest is more complete.

⚓ The Blue Heart of the Region: Lake Pile

The city picturesquely reflects in the waters of Lake Pile – a vast (over 1,000 hectares) channel body of water, a paradise for water enthusiasts. Sandy, uncrowded beaches and lifeguarded swimming areas await you here.

For active people: Excellent conditions for sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking. This is where one of the most beautiful kayaking trails in the region begins – the Piława River.

For anglers: The Pile is renowned for its clear waters and abundant fish. It’s a challenge for anglers fishing for pike, perch, and whitefish.

Underwater Mystery: The lake’s greatest attraction is the “sunken forest” – part of an island that has sunk underwater, creating an incredible underwater landscape that is a mecca for divers.

🏯 Ghost Architecture and Traces of Two Armies

Walking along the wide avenues of Borne Sulinowo, you’re transported back in time. The town, built by the Germans in the 1930s as Gross Born (a Wehrmacht base) and taken over by the Soviet Army after the war, still bears traces of both eras.

You can see the monumental, though weathered, ruins of the Officer’s Mess – a former cultural center, Soviet apartment blocks (“Leningrads”), unique garrison architecture, and numerous mementos of the Soviet Army scattered throughout the forest (bunkers, unloading ramps).

🪖 On the History Trail: From the Pomeranian Wall to Kłomino

The area around Borne is a living military open-air museum. History buffs must visit:

Pepesha War Cemetery: A symbolic Soviet cemetery, dominated by a monument with the distinctive silhouette of a submachine gun, the resting place of thousands of soldiers.

Lapidarium and International Cemeteries: A testament to the tragic history of the POW camps (Oflag II B Gross Born and Stalag 302/II H Barkniewko), where Polish, French, Yugoslav, and Soviet prisoners rest. The educational POW Trail runs through these areas.

Pomeranian Wall: In the surrounding forests, you’ll find remnants of German fortifications, bunkers, and fortifications of the Pomeranian Wall, which still command respect with their construction.

Kłomino Ghost Town (Westfalenhof): Just a few kilometers from Borne Sulinowo lies Kłomino. Once a bustling Soviet garrison town, today the ruins are abandoned, decaying, and fascinating in their rawness – a true treat for fans of urbex (urban exploration).

Brzeźnica-Kolonia Nuclear Bases: Hidden deep in the forests near Brzeźnica-Kolonia are the remains of secret Soviet bases where (according to all indications) nuclear warheads were stored. Exploring these massive concrete silos is a chilling experience.

💜 Natural Phenomenon: Kłomińskie Heaths

When we leave the military trail, nature strikes us with its beauty with redoubled force. The Kłomińskie Heaths were created on the grounds of a former artillery training ground – one of the largest and most beautiful heathland complexes in Europe. At the turn of August and September, thousands of hectares transform into an endless, purple-pink carpet. It’s a breathtaking view and the perfect backdrop for photographers. Educational trails with observation towers lead through the heaths.

🚴‍♂️ A Paradise for Active People in the Okonek Heath

The entire region is crisscrossed by a dense network of perfectly prepared and marked trails:

Cycling Routes: Kilometers of paths of varying difficulty, leading through forests, along lakes, and along historical landmarks (including the route around Lake Pile).

Hiking and Nordic Walking Trails: Ideal conditions for long, invigorating walks surrounded by untouched nature.

Mushroom Picking: The local forests are a legendary place for mushroom pickers. An abundance of boletus, bay boletes, and saffron milk caps is commonplace here, not uncommon.

🎉 City Life: Events and Infrastructure

Despite its mysteriousness, Borne Sulinowo is now a modern commune that cares for tourists.

Events: The city is famous for hosting incredible events, the most important of which is the annual International Military Vehicle Rally (in August). This multi-day show attracts tens of thousands of enthusiasts, heavy military equipment, and reenactors from all over Europe.

Resources: The city offers a full shopping infrastructure (markets, smaller shops), pharmacies, a health center, and numerous eateries serving local specialties.

Come to Borne Sulinowo to feel the thrill of history and immerse yourself in a silence forgotten by the modern world. Your adventure begins in the HEATHR PATHS Apartment.