The Red Salt Trail in Kołobrzeg
The Red Salt Trail in Kołobrzeg is a historical route that originated from a medieval trade path. This path led merchants from the seaside town of Kołobrzeg deep into the country. In medieval times, these merchants transported precious salt, purchased in Kołobrzeg, to central regions of Poland. The trail is marked in red, and its total length is 152 km, with only 4 km passing through Kołobrzeg.
Trail Route
- Gunpowder Tower (Baszta Lontowa)
- Dubois Street
- Pathway between Giełdowa Street and Budowlana Street (sidewalk, between houses)
- Słowińców Street
- Koszalińska Street
- Grochowska Street
- Bolesław Krzywousty Street (along the road no. 163 towards Białogard)
- Bolesław Chrobry Street (towards Budzistowo)
- Budzistowo
- Kołobrzeska Street
- St. John the Baptist Church
Attractions and Points of Interest on the Trail
- Gunpowder Tower (Baszta Lontowa): This is the only surviving structure from Kołobrzeg’s medieval defensive system. The tower has four stories and numerous decorations on the front walls. The embrasures in the façade facing the park remind of its original defensive purpose.
- Budzistowo: Known as Altstadt before the war, Budzistowo is considered the cradle of the city of Kołobrzeg. A settlement was established here in the middle of the 9th century, which marked the beginning of the city. In the 13th century, after the granting of city rights, Kołobrzeg moved closer to the sea, leading to the depopulation and decline of the original settlement.
- St. John the Baptist Church: This is the oldest monument of early medieval Kołobrzeg and simultaneously the oldest brick sacral architecture in the Central Pomeranian region. The first mentions of the church date back to 1222. Despite numerous damages, the church was always rebuilt to remind of Kołobrzeg’s pre-location glory.
Summary
The Red Salt Trail in Kołobrzeg offers tourists the opportunity to visit historical sites related to medieval salt trade and to discover important city landmarks. The Kołobrzeg section of the trail is short but rich in attractions, transporting visitors back to the times when salt was one of the most valuable commodities, and Kołobrzeg was an important trading center.
