Arboretum in Kórnik

Are you tired of hustle and bustle of city life?  Do you want to spend some time outdoors? If so, you should consider visiting the arboretum in Kórnik. This place will help you relax and take a  break from the city noise. Read the following text to find out more about this mesmerising place!

umbrella mangolia

History
Arboretum in Kórnik is situated in Greater Poland Voivodship, about 20km from Poznań.  This Arboretum is the oldest and the largest in Poland and also one of the biggest in Europe. It covers about 40 hectares. The Arboretum  was created in the middle of 19th century by Count Tytus Działyński, who was also an owner of Kornik Castle. He travelled a lot and he encountered many beautiful gardens during his travels. Tytus was especially inspired by the collection of trees and flowers that he saw in France, England and Germany and he decided to create a similar park in his home town. He modified the formal garden, that was created by Teofila Działyńska, and turned it into a yard that resembled gardens he saw abroad. 

                                                            umbrella magnolia

Vegetation

                               

Currently, there are over 3300 species of trees and flowers, They come mainly from Northern Temperate Zone. Each plant has a label containing the most important information about the species such as origin or florescence. The Arboretum is especially abundant in birches, honeysuckles, poplars, spireaes as well as conifers. There is also a considerable collection of ornamental shrubs, for example magnolias, forsythias, rhododendrons or cherry trees. Blooming magnolias and cherry trees attract a great deal of visitors at the turn of April and May. Rhododendrons delight tourist in May and June.  Another popular tourist attraction are lime trees. It’s hard to believe but some of them are even 300 years old. A huge beech whose age is estimated at 100 years is also worth mentioning. There is also a pond with ducks and swans that mesmerize visitors throughout the year.

                                                        




Institute of Dendrology 
Within the arboretum’s borders, The  Institute of Dendrology carries out research. It was established in 1933 as a  unit of Polish Academy of Sciences.The establishment conducts research on woody plants in a wide range of  fields such as molecular biology, genetics,  biochemistry, physiology.  The Institute of Dendrology owns herbarium which was
 set up in 1952.

The Herbarium consists of 51 thousand showpieces. They include mostly woody and shrubby plants from Central Europe, areas around the Mediterranean Sea and Southwest Asia.  These showpieces are available for visitors on the place.

            

                                                                                         Kórnik Castle 
It is worth mentioning that the Arboretum is situated near Kórnik Castle. Its history dates back to medieval times, however, in the 19^thcentury it was modified in a neo-Gothic style. Currently, there is a museum in which pictures, sculptures, furniture, heirlooms, numismatic collections, militaria of different epochs are exhibited. The famous portrait of Teofila from the house of Działyński-Potulicka deserves special attention. She was the owner of the castle in the considerable  part of the 18^thcentury.  At present, she is known as a  ghost - white lady. The legend has it that every midnight she descents from the portrait (in which she is wearing  a white dress)  and walks around the castle till the morning.  Coach house, that is a part of the museum, exhibits historical carriages e.g. dormeza (sleeping carriage) or Berline de gala(presentable carriage)  Apart from the museum, there is also a library that belongs to after mentioned  Polish Academy of Sciences and is one  of the biggest libraries in Poland.

                                                             
                                                              Kórnik Castle

 Edcucation


Green lessons – The Arboretum organizes green lessons, which are catered to school and kindergarten children. The aim of these lessons is to familiarize children with plants that grow in the arboretum as well as to consolidate and extent their knowledge about broadly defined nature.

Workshops – cater to kindergarten and school children, aim at consolidating and extending children’s knowledge about plants.  During workshops children use microscopes (in the laboratory) as well as spend time outdoor observing plants and having fun.

Senior class – these classes  are intended for the elderly and, similar to above-mentioned programmes, are designed to broaden participants’ knowledge about plants.

Opening hours and tickets
The Arboretum is open every day, throughout the year.

	Working days	Sundays and holidays
May-June	10 a.m. – 7 p.m.	9 a.m. – 19 p.m.
April, July – September	10 a.m. – 6 p.m.	10 a.m. – 18 p.m.
October	10 a.m. – 5 p.m.	10 a.m.  – 17 p.m.
November – March	10 a.m. – 4 p.m.	10 a.m. – 16 p.m.

Tickets:	from 15.04 to 15.06	from 16.06 to 14.04
Full-price ticket	7 PLN	6 PLN
Reduced ticket*	5 PLN	4 PLN
Family ticket *	17 PLN	15 PLN

*Family ticket is indicated for two adults with up to five children.

*Reduced ticket is indicated for schoolchildren, students, invalids, care assistants, seniors, annuitants.

There is also a possibility of hiring a guide or even an English-speaking guide, after prior arrangement. The  guide talks about plants and the history of the park. The walk lasts one or two hours.