Rumia

Near the Baltic Sea, nestled among the lakes and hills, Rumia is a very interesting town with Europe’s greatest cactus farm and picturesque tourist trails. The town lies near Rewa, which offers beautiful beaches and watering place. Further, the town serves as an ideal starting base to experience the attractions of the larger seaside cities, namely Gdynia, Sopot, and especially full of monuments, the most popular travel destination – Gdansk.

Rumia TOURISM

Rumia is a town which is full of attractions. Undoubtedly, the most interesting one is Europe’s largest cactus farm. There grow approximately 6.5 thousand species of succulent plants, including 7-metres tall Texas cacti. Moreover, a zoo of desert animals will attract small tourists. Other interesting attractions are: Markowca Mountain, which provides a perfect view on the Kashubian Urstromtal, Bay of Gdansk and Hel, forests with many picturesque trails as well as numerous cyclical events.
Enthusiasts of sea baths will surely love the fact that a beach in Rewa with a watering place, large water equipment rental and a windsurfing school is located only 9 km from Rumia’s centre. On the other hand, approximately 11 km west from the town there are small lakes located in forests.
As far as monuments are concerned, there are just a few ones in Rumia. However, while in here one should visit: ruins of St. Michael Church from the 15th century, a classicist manor from the turn of the 19th century, which is now a seat of a local community centre, a mill from the 19th century at Mlynska Street, which now serves as a production facility as well as a White Manor from the early 20th century (currently being a hotel).

GEOGRAPHY

Rumia is a town in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, in Wejherowo County, by Zagorze Stream and populated by over 47 thousand people. With Wejherowo and Reda it constitutes a complex of three towns called a Little Tritown of Kashubia. Rumia is the largest Polish town that is not a seat of a county.
Gdansk-Rebiechowo Airport with flights to many European countries is located 30 km from Rumia. From Gdynia, on the other hand, one may take a ferry to Scandinavia.

HISTORY

According to archeological research the terrains of present Rumia were inhabited already in the 6th century BC. The first records about Rumia are, however, from the 1220s. The village of Rumina was then given to the Order of Cistercians from Oliwa by Duke of Pomerania Swietopelk. The monastery was in the Order’s hands until 1772.
The toughest time for Rumia was the Second World War. In 1939 2 thousand Polish soldiers were killed here during defence fights. In between 1939 and 1945 Rumia was under German occupation. In the last year of war 4.5 thousand Polish and Soviet soldiers were killed in freedom fights.
In 1954 the place was given town rights. The town was composed of the villages of: Rumia, Zagorze, Biala Rzeka, Szmelta and Janowo.