Puszczykowo

Puszczykowo is a picturesque town in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, located 12 kilometers south of Poznań, surrounded by the Wielkopolski National Park. Its history dates back to the 14th century when it was first mentioned in documents as "Posczucowo" in 1387. Once the property of the Poznań chapter, Puszczykowo gained popularity after the second half of the 19th century when villa-style development began, and it became an elegant summer resort. The increase in visitors spurred infrastructure development, including a railway that transported tourists to the town every ten minutes in the pre-war period. The architecture of Puszczykowo is dominated by early 20th-century buildings, such as the eclectic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a hunting palace, and numerous villas with distinctive features like mansard roofs and wooden verandas. The town often attracted writers, including Arkady Fiedler, whose museum, located in his studio, is a tourist attraction, featuring replicas of the ship Santa Maria and the Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighter plane. Another interesting fact is the popularity of steamboat excursions in the 1950s. Puszczykowo is also a place of religious worship, with two Roman Catholic parishes and a Jehovah's Witnesses congregation. In terms of education, the town offers two primary schools and a general secondary school, providing youth with education in various fields. In sports, Puszczykowo has rich traditions, with sports clubs in football, volleyball, and athletics, as well as the Angie Tennis Center, where the famous tennis player Angelique Kerber trains. All of this makes Puszczykowo an interesting place on the map of Greater Poland, with a rich history, beautiful architecture, and vibrant culture and traditions.