In Łeba, like any other seaside town, it's easy to fall into a holiday pattern: beach, waffles, perhaps some popular attractions, and then home again. But just drive a few or a dozen kilometers towards the coast and you'll see something that will stay with you for a long time. Suddenly, forests, empty roads, and the lights of lighthouses that have been guiding the Baltic Sea for years appear. There are three such places near Łeba, each different, and importantly, each with its own character and fascinating history.
Stilo Lighthouse – the wildest lighthouse near Łeba.
If one had to choose one lighthouse that best captures the atmosphere of this part of the coast, many would choose Stilo. It's a structure that looks like something from another era and offers nothing of the typical tourist attraction. Stilo stands on a dune, about a kilometer from the sea, surrounded by forest. There's no promenade or boardwalk leading to it. Therefore, those who want to see it must make a bit of an effort and walk a bit. And perhaps that's why it makes such an impression. The lighthouse was built in the early 20th century and stands out for its unusual structure. It's a steel tower with bolted elements, painted in characteristic black, white, and red stripes. From a distance, it looks like a landmark placed in the middle of the forest, not a classic port lighthouse. Today, it can be visited, and the view from above reveals something hard to find anywhere else. You can see the combination of forest, dunes, and the open Baltic Sea in one frame. An unforgettable experience!
Czołpino - a lighthouse in the middle of Słowiński National Park.
Czołpino is another lighthouse worth seeing while in Łeba. There's no tourist bustle here, and the tower itself is easily accessible. The structure stands in the heart of Słowiński National Park, surrounded by forest and dunes, which look more like a natural boundary than a tourist attraction. The lighthouse itself is over 25 meters high and was built in the 19th century. It stands out as one of the most "isolated" lighthouses on the Polish coast. It doesn't stand next to a town or harbor, but rather stands alone in the landscape. The greatest reward after climbing the mountain is the view: the sea, Lake Łebsko, and shifting dunes, which look like something between a desert and a coastal landscape.
Rozewie – a classic Polish lighthouse
. A little further from Łeba lies the Rozewie Lighthouse. It's the most famous of these. It frequently appears on coastal tours, perhaps because it's one of the oldest lighthouses on the Polish Baltic Sea and a place with a more historical than "wild" character. A small museum surrounds the lighthouse, and the lighthouse itself is linked to the legend of Stefan Żeromski, who is said to have worked there as a coast guard.
Compared to Stilo or Czołpino, Rozewie has a more orderly and "urban" feel, but still has its own unique atmosphere, especially if you visit off-season. There's no doubt that each of the lighthouses discussed offers a slightly different experience. Stilo has something austere and somewhat cut off from the world; before you reach it, you have to walk through the forest and feel like you've truly left the city behind. Czołpino, on the other hand, is a place for those who enjoy combining a walk with a view you can't see from the seaside promenade. Rozewie, on the other hand, is the most classic – more familiar, more historic, but still carries the atmosphere of ancient voyages and stories about the sea. And that's probably why it's worth visiting. Not just for the lighthouse itself or the photos from above. But more to see that the Baltic Sea near Łeba has another, more peaceful side, where instead of windbreaks, there are forest paths, and instead of loud noises, you can hear the wind and the sea.
