Bydgoszcz Canal (Kanał Bydgoski)

The homely city of Bydgoszcz located on the Vistula and Brda rivers is incredibly romantic. There are plenty of natural sites, rich ancient architecture, and canals: there are so many waterways that locals called a part of the city "a small Venice".

The best-known and most beautiful canal of Poland is the Bydgoszcz Canal, connecting the Vistula and the Oder. Its length is 27 kilometers that are a lot for a relatively small city.

The canal was built in 1774. Then, it was many times modernized and rebuilt using the most non-standard and innovative concepts. It was a kind of testing ground for engineers of different times. The biggest changes happened in 1905 and 1917 when brick gateways appeared on it.

Today, the Bydgoszcz Canal is still a significant sea route for small and large ships. Besides, it received the status of one of the most beautiful sights of the city.

Walking along the canal is a particular pleasure. It starts from the Old Town, opposite the lovely opera building. The first thing guests notice is an old stone bridge, that has been connecting the banks for several centuries. Both sides of the canal impress with black poplars, belonging to natural monuments, as they have lived here for many years and remember how banks of the newly built canal were fortified.

Part of the canal goes near the oldest city cemetery. The most wonderful half of the voyage opens up after the fourth gateway: the island of swans, fountains in the water, picturesque shores please the eye and complements the image of the romantic city.