Lake Zemborzycki, Eastern Poland, Poland

5rybblevalley 5:00 PM Feb 20, 2016

OK, let's do the first proper review of the Zalew!
This is one of my favourite places on Earth - no exaggeration - and I've travelled a heck of a lot. So it pains me to stumble across the TA profile of "The Zalew" as we know it in our family with such weak and potentially misleading and off-putting reviews, including a one-star review given because the reviewer got mixed up between the cities of Lubin and Lublin. Hardly the Zalew's fault, is it? Time to redress the balance, methinks. So what is the Zalew Zemborzycki? It's a huge man-made lake at the southern tip of Lublin. When I first visited the place in the mid-90s, this was a beautiful but rather deserted part of Lublin. There were a few old huts selling fried fish (in breadcrumbs - not the British delicacy!) and small groups of old men drinking beer whilst fishing. Maybe some limited summer-only watersports too. Over the last few years, the city's sports and leisure authority has invested a lot of money in developing the Zalew into a tourist attraction. Although oriented towards summer activities, there is now a water park with big slides and several pools, mini golf and pitch 'n' putt, waterskiing, pedalos, an outdoor gym, rope climbing in the surrounding woodland (which, by the way, is beautiful for walks and bike rides), and plenty of new infrastructure. There are wide, smooth, marked cycle lanes which take you from several parts of Lublin to the Zalew. You now have several car parks dotted around the lake (you have to pay now, which is a bind, but you can't have it all, I guess). And of course many more bars and cafes. Not quite full-on fancy restaurants, but it's worth bearing in mind that this is really a seasonal attraction. It's still there for the walks and bike rides at other times of the year, but you won't find that much open outside of May-October. There's something there for everyone, really - whether you want a family picnic, a walk in the woods, some invigorating watersports, a cold beer (it has to be Perła!) with your mates, a spot of golf, or maybe a leisurely pedalo around the lake. They're all there in the summer - young and old, families, groups of friends - and there's a good, safe, fun atmosphere. Got to love The Zalew!

4Dominik Kiezik 5:00 PM Aug 12, 2022

A lake for relaxation and sailing.
A lake for relaxation and sailing. A large reservoir near Lublin. You can get there by car, bus and even by train. A very popular place to be with the family. Next to many restaurants and hotels. Nice to recommend.