Project description

Project description
project name: Tourist development of Gozdowice,
including a river border crossing
beneficiary: Mieszkowice Commune
region: zachodniopomorskie
fund: European Regional Development Fund
operational programme: INTERREG Mecklenburg-Poland
project value: 303 539.67 zł
EU grant value: 223 860.51 zł
punktor projekt realizowany
w latach 2004-2006
Project description
The Mieszkowice Commune sees a constant growth in cross-border traffic, including hiking and biking for
pleasure. This is due to a new ferry crossing between Gozdowice, Poland and Güstebieser Loose, Germany,
the first such crossing across the Odra River. The Bez Granic (No Borders) ferry started operating thanks to
the well-established co-operation of Mieszkowice with the German municipality of Wriezen (BarnimOderbruch region).
In April, when the ferry season begins, a Polish-German cultural event is held. Another opportunity for
integration is the Honey Festival which promotes local produce, as are Polish-German fêtes along the Odra
or bike rallies. The Germans from the Wriezen Municipality are glad that the Odra has started to join again
the two nations rather than dividing them (before the war, there was a ferry running between the two places).
Now they increasingly come to the Polish side for shopping and sightseeing trips. As the locals say, the
visitors from Germany are interested not only in old churches, fortifications and half-timbered houses, but
also in national monuments. Rather surprisingly, many of them are attracted by the ceremonies on the
anniversary of crossing the Odra by Polish and Soviet soldiers during World War II. Hikers and bikers enjoy
the region's nature and landscapes.
On the opposite bank, Brandenburg has an extensive network of biking trails with Bett&Bike accommodation,
so now German bikers more often come to Poland while Polish bikers explore Germany. And the ferry
makes the region not also more accessible, but also more attractive. On the Polish side, the much needed
infrastructure is being constructed. The project has included the development of the Odra banks in
Gozdowice: building a ferry terminal, lighting, access road, pavements and approach to the ferry. A bike path
connecting Mieszkowice with Gozdowice is planned (its section has already been laid out).
The cross-river traffic is monitored and according to official statistics, in 2008 the ferry was used by 9,230
people, including 2,135 car passengers and 2,000 bikers and motorcyclists. In 2009 the figures grew to
15,637 passengers; 3,319 cars and 8,707 pedestrians. Most importantly, both sides benefis from the
crossing.