Puszczykowo 2025-03-28

Puszczykowo City

Puszczykowo is a city located in the Wielkopolska Province, approximately 15 km south of Poznań. The city lies on the Warta River and borders the Wielkopolska National Park, making it an attractive place to live and relax. Puszczykowo is known for its beautiful green areas, bicycle routes and historical villas. The city is also home to the Arkady Fiedler Museum, a famous traveler and writer. For such a small city, there are two train stops here. Puszczykówko, a station almost in the center of the town, and Puszczykowo, a passenger stop located closer to Poznań, which is mainly intended for summer visitors.

The city of Puszczykowo received city rights in 1962. The city’s area is 16.39 km2. Forests make up 46% of the city’s area. The population is 9,778 in 2016. The town is surrounded by forests that belong to the Wielkopolska National Park. The town developed as a summer resort at the beginning of the 20th century. Historically, the settlement was owned by the church; the Poznań Chapter. The first written mentions of the settlement date back to the 14th century. In 1613, the cathedral in Poznań burned down. The wood for its reconstruction was brought from the forests of Puszczykowo. The first villas and summer houses were built here in the second half of the 19th century. They were built by wealthy residents of Poznań. This area became attractive when the Warta River was partially regulated (1870–1880) and the risk of flooding decreased. Additionally, medical researchers found a microclimate beneficial to health here. The influx of settlers and summer visitors was facilitated by the railway line and the construction of two railway stations. Despite Prussian rule, the town developed strongly in a Polish climate. Germans did not come to Puszczykowo. Especially in the period 1919–1939, tourism developed. Trains from Poznań to Puszczykowo ran every 10-15 minutes. A marina was built on the Warta River and steamboat cruises were launched, which were extremely popular. Boat cruises continued in the times of the Polish People’s Republic. On 25 January 1945, the Soviets entered Puszczykowo. Red Army officers were quartered in villas. One of the headquarters was set up here, as well as a field hospital, which was transformed into a civilian hospital years later. On 18 July 1962, the town gained city status. At that time, several municipal administration buildings were built, as well as schools, pharmacies and medical rooms.

In the 1970s, a hospital for the railway health service was built on an area of ​​15 hectares. Currently, the hospital belongs to the Poznań District; Hospital in Puszczykowo named after Prof. S. T. Dąbrowski S.A. A landing pad for helicopters of the Polish Medical Air Rescue was organized next to the hospital. In 2011, the landing pad was modernized to current aviation standards.

Another attraction of the town of Puszczykowo is the Arkady Fiedler Museum. It is located in the literary studio of the writer and traveler on Juliusz Słowacki Street. The artist lived here from his return from emigration in 1946 until his death in 1985. The museum houses an exhibition of books and memorabilia of the writer, as well as trophies from expeditions to various corners of the world. The museum houses a replica of the Hawker Hurricane Mk I aircraft, which Polish pilots fought on during the Battle of Britain.

Puszczykowo Station.

Puszczykowo station was launched in 1899, on the Wrocław – Poznań railway line that had existed since 1856. At that time, it was the Prussian partition and the station was called Unterberg. The current name has been in use since 1919, with a break during World War II. 

Currently, it is a passenger stop. There are two single-edge platforms here. Access to the platforms is provided by a tunnel, which was thoroughly rebuilt a few years ago. The work was carried out as part of the renovation of Railway Line No. 271 Wrocław – Poznań. The passenger stop is remotely controlled from LCS Poznań II at Poznań Główny station, equipped with Ebilock 950 computer traffic control devices. The passenger stop is operated by PolRegio and Koleje Wielkopolskie carriers. In March 2025, 66 trains departed from Puszczykowo and Puszczykówko stations per day to the following towns: Czempiń, Gniezno, Koło, Konin, Kościan, Leszno, Poznań Główny, Rawicz, Szamotuły, Wągrowiec, Wrocław Główny.

The former station building currently houses a restaurant called Lokomotywa. The building is very well maintained. It has a small clock tower. Opposite the Puszczykowo railway station stands a monument dedicated to “All those who gave their lives for the Fatherland”. The Warta River flows 100 m from the stop.

A guarded rail-road crossing along Wodziczki Street is located in the southern head of the stop.

Puszczykówko station.

Puszczykówko station was launched on October 1, 1910 and at that time bore the Germanic name Puschkau. The current name has been in force since 1919, when Wielkopolska was incorporated into the reborn Republic of Poland. Of course, except for the period of World War II.

A small, single-storey station in the Prussian style was built at the station. Part of the building was made of Prussian brickwork, and part was made of wood. It houses ticket offices, railway service rooms and a guardhouse. Part of the station is in the form of a passenger shelter. On the front of the building, on the platform side, there is a historical analog clock with Roman numerals. There are two dials. On the platforms, however, there are standard railway clocks. The building is being systematically renovated. There is a loading bay and a storage yard at the station. Part of the storage yard is intended for a fuel storage (hard coal). The station serves as a passing loop. There are two platforms and three platform edges at the station. The entrance to the platforms is from the street level, through the tracks. On the southern side of the station, there is a guarded rail-road crossing along Dworcowa Street. There are electric barriers. Railway traffic was controlled from the “Puk” signal box. The “Puk” signal box was demolished during the modernization of line No. 271 Wrocław – Poznań.

In the period 2016-2017, the platforms were renovated and at the same time raised. Shelters with benches, lighting and railway information were installed on both platforms. The platforms were lit. Since the platforms are higher, access to the station is via stairs (3 steps), ramps and balustrades. During these works, a new building for the crossing keeper was also built. New crossing barriers, manufactured by Bombardier, were installed. The station building is open from 5:30 to 17:00. The building has a ticket office and a public toilet. The passenger stop is operated by PolRegio and Koleje Wielkopolskie carriers.

The former railway line to Osowa Góra currently serves as a siding within the station, at the storage yard. The siding is terminated with a stop trestle with a rail-road crossing. The station, or rather a passenger stop with a loading bay, is remotely controlled from LCS Poznań II at Poznań Główny station, equipped with Ebilock 950 computer traffic control devices. There is a stop of the Poznań ZTM, called Dworzec Puszczykowo, at the railway station. Line No. 651 Dębiec – Mosina/Dworzec Kolejowy is here.

Written by Karol Placha Hetman