Barlinek is a charmingly located town in southern part of Zachodniopomorskie Province, in the outskirts of Barlinecka Wild among numerous lakes, forests and hills. Fishful lakes are anglers’ paradise. Town location makes good conditions for individual and organized tourism, by car or on foot.
 

Roads going through Barlinek are connected with provincial roads 151 and 156 that provide easy and quick communication access to larger municipal agglomerations. Barlinek Community takes up 258 square kilometres area, including town itself ( 17 square kilometres). Population : ca. 20,000, in town ca.15,000.

Almost 50% of the area are forests, 3% are the lakes. The greatest and most beautiful lake is Barlineckie Lake (areage 272 ha). Diversified bankline, 4 islands and numerous gulfs and peninsulas as well as contrasting with
mirror - smooth water surface steep hills in some places surrounding  the lake decide about lake and its neighbourhood attractiveness. There is a small but very deep Chmielowe Lake in the crossroads to Pełczyce and Żydowo. A linden standing by the lake and located there Rusałka stone mark 53rd latitude.

Chmielowe Lake - small but very deep glacial lake, located in the crossroads to Pełczyce and Żydowo. There is a legend connected with it, the legend of sunken nuner, cruel knight and enchanted Rusałka ( Undine). There is a linden, marking 53rd latitiude and below it the a commemorative milestone.

The Main Square is a town centre since the investiture of municipal rights in Middle Ages and Markgraves Otto V and Albrecht III of Ascanian dynasty. The Markgraves in the foundation privilede issued on 25th of January 1278 ordered to Knight Henry Toyte ( their millholder ) the town erection on the basis of Magdeburg Law. The town was called Nova Berlin. The main square was the heart of Middle Ages Barlinek both economical (market) and political (The Town Hall and Town Council). The oldest XVIII and XIXth century burghers’ houses are in eastern part of it. There stands typical for New Mark house. In the western side there is ‘ Eagle Pharmacy House’established there in 1818. During last great fire in 1852 the Town Hall was burned never rebuilt. In this place we can see the fountain topped with statue presenting the girl attacked by gander made by Munich sculptor Akermann. ‘The girl with gander’ became the symbol of town. In January 1945 most of houses in the main square that has not its northern and southern part were destroyed by Red Army taking the town. Until today the main square is a centre of town with its culture and entertainment facilities.

The China House -  in Middle Ages the Big Water Gate made the access to the lake possible.It was located in the end of Wylotowa Street. It was pulled down in XIXth century together with the town walls. Next to place where it had stood there is an interesting architectonically house called ‘ China House’ ( 3 Jeziorna Street). In the corner bay we can see the copy of Big Water Gate and in the facade years of its construction and pulling down.

The Town Walls - They were built in first half of XIV century what is confirmed by documents from 1362 and 1363 about conflict between Barlinek and Markgrave Louis of Rome. The fortification system consisted of moat, ground ramparts, seven-metres-high walls and towers and dungeons. There were two opposite gates: Młyńska from Pełczyce and Mysliborska form Gorzów. Moreover, there was Big Water Gate and since 1800 Small Water Gate constructed in Wodna Street. Fortifications were reinforced by towers and dungeons thet were higher than walls and advanced what made front and side defence possible. The distance between towers and dungeons was not farther than double cross-bow range. Since beginning of XIXth century the fortifiactions were gradually pulled down. Both town gates and water gates were destroyed. Today we can see the longest piece of walls and last dungeon in the junction of Żabia, Chmielna and Górna Street.

We invite You to visit Barlinek webpages:
www.barlinek.pl - The official webpage of Town and Commune Office
www.echo.barlinek.biz.pl - "Echo Barlinka" monthly
www.sztorm.org - Sailors Club "Sztorm"
www.bgpk.republika.pl  - Barlinecko-Gorzowski Landscape Park