Czołpino Lighthouse

Czołpino Lighthouse is a lighthouse of 1875 in the village of Czołpino, near Smołdzino, on the western edge of Słowiński National Park in Poland's Pomeranian region. It stands in a landscape of coastal pine forest and moving dunes, a few kilometres from the sea, and it is one of the best-known landmarks of the park. The tower is climbed by an internal staircase, and from the gallery at the top visitors have a view over the park's dunes, the surrounding forest, the Baltic Sea and, in good conditions, the lakes inland. The lighthouse is a short stop in a longer excursion on the Polish coast. The surrounding Słowiński National Park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve, known for its shifting sand dunes, including the Łącka Dune, for its lakes and for its coastal ecosystems. Walking trails lead from the lighthouse through pine forest toward the shore and the dunes, and trails link the area with the villages of Rowy and Łeba. Visitors normally spend about an hour at the lighthouse, including the climb and a short walk in the grounds. Tickets cost about 10 PLN for adults and about 7 PLN reduced. The lighthouse typically opens from 10AM to 6PM in summer, with limited access outside the season, so the current hours should be checked locally. Afternoon is a good time for the view, when the sun lights the dunes; the quietest times are weekday mornings and the shoulder season, while July and August bring tourists on bicycles and coach excursions. The village is reached by car or bike from Smołdzino, and public transport is limited, so planning is needed. Mosquitoes can be bothersome in the forest in summer, and visitors should bring water, since facilities are few. The best photographs are taken from the gallery looking toward the dunes and from the forest path looking up at the tower.