Edward Island

Edward Island, located on Lake Raczyńskie in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, covers an area of 3 hectares and is associated with Count Edward Raczyński, who managed it from 1815 to 1845. The tragic story of the count, who dramatically committed suicide by shooting himself in the head with a cannon, lends the island a dark character. Between 1817 and 1819, a Swiss-style larch house was built on the island, distinguished by its two-story log structure with brick interior finishes. Its roofs are thatched and supported by pillars. A plaque commemorating Mieczysław Orłowicz, who frequently visited Zaniemyśl, is mounted on the building's wall. The island's flora includes around 60 oak trees, 50 of which have been recognized as natural monuments. The island was once a popular recreational center, with a ferry service operating during the summer season, making it an attractive destination for tourists. The manor complex on the island, including the Swiss house and the park, is listed in the register of historical monuments of the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Since March 2011, the island has belonged to the Zaniemyśl municipality, which carried out infrastructure renovations between 2011 and 2016. It is currently managed by the Powiatowe Centrum Rozwoju in Środa Wielkopolska, and the island was reopened to visitors in July 2016.