Park Krajobrazowy Międzyrzecza Warty i Widawki

The interesting and mostly unchanged landscape of the river valleys of the Warta, the Oleśnica, the Widawka, the Grabia, the Nieciecz and the Wierznica with their numerous meanders and old river beds, which preserved their natural character.

Powierzchnia: 25 500 ha

Description

The park was established on the 14th of September 1989. It covers the area of 25 330 ha. It protects the landscape of the natural river valleys of the Warta and its left-bank tributary, the Oleśnica, which flow through the Wieluń District, as well as the valleys of the Widawka, the Grabia, the Nieciecz and the Wierznica with their numerous meanders and old river beds.

The area of the park is characterized by diverse landscape, especially the picturesque gorges of the River Warta, where the river banks are even 45 m high. The most attractive sightseeing spots in the Wieluń District can be found in the vicinity of Konopnica and Strobin.

The Warta-Widawka Landscape Park, considering its landscape, mostly unchanged by human activity, is a very interesting area from the point of view of botany. In the park there are over 600 species of vascular plants representing many different habitats. Especially abundant are meadow, marsh and water plants. On the steep sunny limestone river banks one can find xerothermic grasslands, which are a great curiosity in central Poland. Natural river channels, streams, old river beds, peat bogs and marshy areas give shelter to numerous, often rare, animal species.

In the part of the park within the borders of the Wieluń District there are the nature reserve Hołda, 17 veteran trees in Konopnica, Rychłocice and Strobin and the environmental use area Szynkielów. In the part of the park outside the borders of the Wieluń District there are three nature reserves: the peat-bog reserve Grabica, the peat-bog and forest reserve Korzeń and the flora reserve Winnica, the last of which protects xerothermic grasslands and undergrowth on the steep bank of the River Warta.

An interesting part of the landscape of the park are also historic manor estates (Rychłocice, Wielgie, Konopnica), the large fortified settlement in Konopnica, which dominates the valley of the Warta, and examples of wooden architecture in Rychłocice and Konopnica.

Form of legal protection

The landscape park is a protected area because of its biological, historical, cultural and landscape values. It was established to preserve those values and provide sustainable conditions for their development (as defined in the Act of 16 April 2004 on the nature protection).