Introduction — Fordon Slope
The Fordon Slope is a distinct physical‑geographical microregion in northern Poland, situated in the Kuyavian‑Pomeranian Voivodeship and forming the southern and eastern fringe of the Świecie Upland mesoregion. Administratively it extends across the gminas of Bydgoszcz, Osielsko, Dobrcz, Pruszcz and Świecie, integrating peri‑urban and rural terrain and exerting a direct influence on the landscape and ecological character of Bydgoszcz and its immediate surroundings.
Geomorphologically the slope occupies the northern margin of the Toruń–Eberswalde urstromtal and constitutes the western escarpment of the Lower Vistula Valley. This position places the microregion at the junction of a glacial outwash trough and the fluvial system of the Vistula; its inclusion in the Świecie Upland reflects shared genesis, lithostratigraphic substrate and vegetation complexes even as its flanks descend into the Fordon Valley.
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Ecologically the Fordon Slope is among the most diversified natural units in Bydgoszcz and the voivodeship, containing a compact mosaic of habitats such as oak–hornbeam woodland, xeric slope communities, ravines and valley bottom systems that together support high local biodiversity. The area also comprises a series of named geomorphological and cultural landmarks that exemplify its varied relief and land use: the Forest Park of Culture and Recreation Myślęcinek with its oak‑hornbeam stands and recreational hill (including a ski slope and viewpoints), the historic Zamczysko hillfort, numerous small valley slopes and ravines, and cave and scenic sites such as the Bajka Cave at Gądecz and Prodnia in Jarużyn.
The microregion’s valley and ravine corridors carry significant cultural associations and provide visual links between urban and natural environments. Features such as the ravines used for the Bydgoszcz Passion Play, the locally named Valley of Death, Glider Hill with the Icarus monument, and landmark trees like Napoleon’s Oak frame panoramic views toward the Fordon district and accommodate adjacent estates (e.g., Bohaterów, Tatrzańskie). From the western edge of the Lower Vistula Valley near Starogród the Fordon Slope is visible as a transitional zone between the broad Vistula floodplain and the upland terrains of the Świecie Upland, underscoring its geomorphological and cultural role in the regional landscape.
The Fordon Slope is a narrow, longitudinal microregion running along the northern slope of the Toruń Basin within Bydgoszcz, extending from Rynkowo to Fordon and varying between roughly 600 and 1,500 m in width. Its topographic axis rises at Glider Hill in the Fordon district and trends northeast, where it defines the western margin of the Fordon Valley and creates a distinct transition between the basin and the valley. As a descending flank of the Toruń Basin, the slope functions as a clear morphological boundary that both marks the valley’s western limit and helps control the valley’s orientation and lateral confinement. To the north and west it abuts markedly higher terrain of the Świecie Upland—notably the Osielsko and Strzelce upland plateaus—producing a pronounced contrast between the basin slope and adjacent upland surfaces. Immediately adjacent to the slope’s northern edge, between Fordon and Strzelce Dolne, the Fordon Vistula Gorge forms a deep fluvial incision that constitutes the microregion’s eastern, riverine boundary.
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Geological history
The Fordon Slope developed in a periglacial setting at the close of the Weichselian glaciation (c. 14–12 ka), when vigorous lateral erosion by meltwater and fluvial flows combined with progressive denudation of unconsolidated glacial sediments to carve the slope. It defines the northern margin of the Toruń–Eberswalde urstromtal system — a major westward-oriented meltwater corridor of which the Toruń Basin is an enlarged segment — and its present prominence owes much to the deepening and widening of that urstromtal and to the formation of fluvial terraces during intense meltwater activity.
Hydrographic rearrangements near 12 ka further modified slope evolution: the proto‑Vistula underwent a temporary split, directing discharge both westward and northward along the Lower Vistula for roughly a millennium. Differential incision, with more rapid downcutting in the northern branch, ultimately terminated the westward component and produced spatially variable responses along the slope — arresting erosional lowering between Myślęcinek and Fordon while accelerating incision and slope modification between Fordon and Świecie. Superimposed on these dynamics were changes in Baltic relative sea level: the Baltic Ice Lake lowstand promoted strong river incision that deepened the Lower Vistula, whereas the subsequent Littorina Sea phase (c. 8–4 ka) favored fluvial aggradation and raised valley floors by several metres through enhanced sediment accumulation.
Post‑glacial denudational processes continued to shape the slope in the absence of immediate vegetation cover. Mass‑wasting (landslides and slow creep), surface wash, and subsurface groundwater flow reworked sands and tills, delivering material downslope to form alluvial fans and generating complex, branching denudational valleys with features such as landslide niches and hanging valleys (notably near Zamczysko, Armii Krajowej and Sądecka streets). Between these dissected channels, more resistant substrate persisted as erosional outliers that punctuate the landscape. The measurable relief of the Fordon Slope today — roughly 40 m within the urstromtal sector and up to 60 m where it formed against the Lower Vistula — therefore records the cumulative interplay of periglacial fluvial erosion, post‑glacial mass movements and later stabilization by vegetation. Contemporary erosion remains locally active where groundwater emergence and anthropogenic vegetation removal re‑expose slope materials and reactivate mass movements.
Characteristics
The Fordon Slope forms a clearly bounded transitional zone between the moraine plateau above and the Vistula valley below, delineated by the moraine edge, the slope foot, and the upper reaches of entrenched valleys and gullies. Planimetric width commonly measures 600–800 m and locally broadens to about 1.5 km at Myślęcinek, Czarnówczyn, Mariampol and Strzelce Górne. Superimposed on this slope are narrow fluvial erosion terraces produced by the Vistula system, generally no wider than c. 100 m.
Vertical and angular geometry varies with valley type: relative heights in the glacial urstromtal reach 35–40 m (maximum recorded 44 m), whereas segments adjacent to the Holocene Vistula valley attain greater relief of c. 55–60 m (maximum 68 m). Surface gradients are predominantly steep (roughly 40°–50°), but localized processes—intense erosion, rockfall and landsliding—create near-vertical faces, with slopes locally approaching 90°, signaling active mass-wasting and high geomorphic energy.
Beneath a thin mantle of slope deposits, the subsurface preserves a complex Quaternary succession of 3–4 moraine tills interlayered with stagnant‑water lacustrine sediments (silts, clays, lake chalk) and glaciofluvial sand and gravel. This stratification records alternating direct glacial, lacustrine and meltwater-fluvial depositional regimes and has direct implications for slope porosity, drainage behavior and stability. Taken together, the Fordon Slope is a morphologically intricate, sedimentologically heterogeneous and dynamically active sector of the Vistula valley margin.
Hydrology of the Fordon Slope is dominated by a dense array of springs, seeps and small streams whose groundwater emergence is concentrated at three slope levels: the slope base, an intermediate horizon approximately 20–25 m above the valley floor, and a higher horizon near 40 m. These spatially discrete outflow positions reflect the local hydrostratigraphy, which comprises at least three distinct aquifer units. A middle aquifer supplies the bulk of perennial discharge and is the principal source for springs clustered on the lower slope; an upper, more shallow aquifer is seasonally active and contributes flow only under sufficiently wet conditions on the upland; shallow groundwater and small surface-water bodies additionally participate in episodic recharge to the deeper systems.
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Absolute discharges in the microregion are low. Individual spring yields typically lie between 0.1 and 0.3 L s−1, while flows in the larger small streams reach on the order of 4–5 L s−1. The limited spatial scale of surface catchments — generally extending only a few hundred metres inland from the slope edge — concentrates hydrological processes locally and produces pronounced seasonality; stream and spring flows may vary by as much as 100% between wet and dry periods. Present-day streams largely reutilize and remodel late‑glacial valley forms: many reoccupied valleys are reshaped by contemporary channels, although numerous valley segments no longer sustain continuous surface flow and instead convey water intermittently or subsurface.
Anthropogenic modifications have further altered valley hydrology. Several valleys contain artificial ponds created by damming (notably at Myślęcinek, Czarnówczyn, Fordon and Jarużyn), and portions of the stream network have been straightened or otherwise regulated to control flow and channel morphology. A key regional consequence of the local lithology is strong subsurface loss: much spring and stream water infiltrates into the coarse sandy deposits of the urstromtal floor rather than reaching the major rivers. As a result, direct surface discharge from Fordon Slope watercourses into the Brda or Vistula is uncommon, and the majority of flow is transferred to the regional groundwater system.
Valleys
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The Fordon Slope microregion is characterized by an interconnected network of valleys formed predominantly through denudational processes rather than tectonic uplift or glaciation. These channels are undergoing active vertical incision, which deepens valley floors relative to interfluves and sustains the downstream transfer of sediment. Incision thus maintains and accentuates local relief across the landscape.
Valley-side gradients are consistently steep (approximately 4–5%), a magnitude that increases surface runoff velocities and thereby enhances the mechanical effectiveness of erosive agents in channel cutting and slope stripping. Contemporary slope processes are dominated by mass-wasting and surface denudation—notably rockfall, landsliding and sloughing—which episodically and cumulatively move bedrock and regolith from slopes into the valley system.
Anthropogenic land use has substantially modified slope morphology and surface cover. Intensive ploughing, conversion to pasture and construction of orchard terraces have altered soil structure, reduced continuous vegetative protection and modified infiltration–runoff behavior. These practices, together with natural denudational activity, have produced limited forest cover and a landscape mosaic dominated by agricultural land and exposed, destabilized slopes with reduced root reinforcement and canopy interception.
Taken together, natural and human drivers create a dynamic geomorphological environment in which steep, erosion-prone slopes and diminished forestation elevate mass-wasting susceptibility and accelerate sediment flux through the valley network. These conditions underscore the need to integrate slope-stability assessment and land-use planning into any conservation or management measures for the microregion.
Soils (Fordon Slope)
Across the Fordon Slope landscape, slope-derived deluvial soils dominate, occurring primarily as two pedotypes that reflect variable pedogenesis on inclined terrain. Typical deluvial profiles are found on active hillslopes and footslopes where slopewash and colluvial deposition produce modest horizon development; brown deluvial soils represent a more advanced stage of soil evolution with greater accumulation of organic matter and more pronounced B-horizon formation.
Lower-lying terrain and valley bottoms host humus-rich deluvial soils formed where downslope transport and moister microclimates concentrate fine material and slow organic decomposition. In the most poorly drained basins and troughs, true wetland soils develop under prolonged saturation; these hydromorphic soils exhibit reduction features, gleying and hydric material accumulation that distinguish them from the better-drained deluvial profiles.
Stagnant or low-energy depositional settings within valleys and floodplain-like areas are characterized by peat-mud and silt deposits. Peat-mud indicates substantial anaerobic preservation of plant remains and high soil organic carbon storage, whereas silt-dominated deposits record fine mineral sedimentation from standing or slow-moving water; both types are associated with high water tables, low permeability and important carbon or sediment reservoirs.
Young, weakly developed initial soils occur locally on recently exposed parent material and rock outcrops; these shallow profiles show minimal horizon differentiation and represent early stages of pedogenesis. Human activities have also produced a suite of anthropogenic soils—urban, agricultural or construction-affected deposits that contain fill layers, compacted or chemically altered horizons—whose structure and properties diverge markedly from the natural soil mosaic and carry distinct land-use implications.
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Microclimates
The Fordon Slope in Bydgoszcz supports an exceptionally diverse and spatially intricate suite of topoclimates, arising from the interplay of varied relief, local water dynamics, and contrasting vegetation cover. Aspect-driven differences create systematic contrasts in surface energy and moisture: warm, relatively dry conditions predominate on sun‑facing (southern) exposures, northern faces remain cooler and moister, eastern slopes warm earlier in the diurnal cycle, and western slopes store afternoon heat—each exposure fostering distinct thermal regimes and associated biophysical processes.
Vegetation cover and surface openness further subdivide the slope’s microclimates. Open ground is subject to stronger incoming radiation, larger diurnal temperature swings and higher wind forcing, whereas forested patches buffer radiation, moderate temperatures, increase near‑surface humidity and alter airflow, so adjacent stands often exhibit markedly different microclimatic profiles over short distances. Superimposed on these controls, local hydrology produces a wet–dry mosaic: seepage zones, shallow groundwater and moist soils maintain higher humidity and attenuate temperature extremes, while well‑drained ridges and slopes generate drier, more drought‑prone conditions that influence evapotranspiration rates and vegetation composition.
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Mesoscale and nocturnal processes are especially important: radiative cooling under calm, clear nights drives downslope drainage of cold, dense air that pools in hollows, promoting temperature inversions, localized frost and frequent fog formation in low spots even as nearby higher ground remains warmer. The magnitude and spatial pattern of these topoclimates, however, depend on larger‑scale weather and synoptic context—clear high‑pressure nights, advective air‑mass changes or broader climatic variability determine when contrasts between aspects, open/wooded areas and wet/dry zones are most pronounced. This fine‑scale temporal and spatial variability shapes vegetation distribution, habitat diversity and thermal comfort across the slope, so that short transects commonly encounter sharply different microclimatic niches.
Vegetation
The Fordon Slope exhibits pronounced ecological heterogeneity driven by steep moisture and microhabitat gradients, so that markedly different plant communities occur within short distances. This fine‑scale environmental variation produces a mosaic of biotopes ranging from dry, xeric sites to permanently waterlogged areas, with species composition and structure closely tied to topography and local hydrology.
Well‑preserved stands are dominated by typical slope oak–hornbeam forest communities; in places, planted or regenerating oak stands attain structural and floristic characteristics approaching thermophilous oak woodland, reflecting a mix of natural dynamics and silvicultural influence. Marginal zones, former pastures and very dry microsites support mesophilous shrub assemblages—chiefly hawthorn, rose, blackthorn and barberry—often interspersed with xerothermic grassland elements. Linear valley courses impose strong hydrological control, giving rise in valley bottoms to riparian forests dominated by common alder with intermittent aspen and white willow.
Hydrologically sustained wet habitats form a distinct set of communities: seepage margins and other damp depressions are characterized by dense reed beds and stands of great horsetail, sometimes transitioning into aspen and white willow thickets where woody colonization proceeds. Spring sources create peat‑forming microhabitats with abundant lower plants (algae, mosses, liverworts), indicative of prolonged waterlogging, slow decomposition and acidic/anaerobic conditions favorable to bryophyte accumulation. At the outlets of slope streams, alluvial fans frequently remain waterlogged and support fertile, moisture‑influenced forest types such as alder–ash, elm–ash or low, productive oak–hornbeam assemblages; these communities reflect the interaction of sediment deposition and wetting regimes.
Anthropogenic influence and secondary succession are important components of the present vegetation pattern. Managed plantings of pine occur at Myślęcinek, Czarnówczyn and Jarużyn, and planted beech stands are present at Myślęcinek and Gądecz. Simultaneously, old orchards and former pastures are undergoing progressive natural regeneration, gradually reintegrating native woody and herbaceous species and contributing to the slope’s complex habitat mosaic.
Nature conservation
The Fordon Slope, entirely within the Lower Vistula Landscape Parks Complex near Bydgoszcz, constitutes a concentrated mosaic of steep slope topography, dissected ravines and valleys, and a range of forest and dry‑grassland communities. Its combination of pronounced relief, varied substrates (including Pleistocene conglomerates and sandstones), local groundwater seeps and contrasting exposures produces tightly interwoven microhabitats that support both xerothermic (dry, heat‑adapted) vegetation and mesic to hydrophilic assemblages in valley bottoms. This environmental heterogeneity underpins the area’s high conservation value and motivates multiple formal and proposed protection measures.
Conservation proposals address both biotic and abiotic features. A proposed Kozielec floristic reserve targets the preservation of xerothermic grassland species characteristic of sun‑exposed slopes. The suggested Cieleszyński Ravine Landscape Reserve seeks to protect a deeply incised, branched ravine system whose Quaternary deposits and substrate diversity create distinctive geomorphological and ecological niches. The formally established Gruczno Bromus Ravine Nature Reserve likewise conserves dry grassland communities occurring within ravine settings. Larger valley systems such as the Myślęcinek valleys and the Fordon valleys (near Zofin) are proposed as partial nature reserves to safeguard networks of erosional valleys where oak–hornbeam, oak and riparian forests, valley seepage zones and xerothermic edge communities coexist; these areas also support notable understory floras and successional shrub zones.
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Several smaller sites have been identified for ecological protection because of their combined natural and cultural values. The Botanical Garden in the Forest Park of Culture and Recreation (along the Myślęcinek Stream) maintains ponds and sculpted valley habitats that conserve a suite of protected taxa from peatland, forest, meadow and aquatic environments while serving recreational and educational functions. Zamczysko, which includes a Slavic hillfort on an erosional spur, integrates cultural‑historical elements with alder riparian bottoms and upland oak and pine stands. The Czarnówczyn sector, straddling the Bydgoszcz–Osielsko border, features a small stream valley with groundwater seeps and partially waterlogged soils that create wet microhabitats within an otherwise slope‑dominated landscape.
Together, these designated and proposed sites reflect a conservation strategy aimed at preserving the Fordon Slope’s geomorphological diversity, slope‑dependent plant communities and hydrologically driven habitats through a mix of reserve categories (floristic, landscape, nature and ecological designations) proportionate to the sites’ geological, botanical and cultural significance.
Recreational value
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The Fordon Slope, bordering Bydgoszcz, functions as a principal recreational corridor and a distinctive natural element within the city‑periphery mosaic, valued for its scenic landscapes and high ecological diversity. Its local microclimate—characterised by elevated concentrations of negative ions and phytoaerosols—has been associated with salutary effects on immune, circulatory and respiratory systems, adding an environmental‑health dimension to its recreational appeal. As one of the city’s two main scenic promenades, the slope affords extensive panoramic views of both the urban fabric and the Fordon Vistula Gorge, making it a focal area for landscape appreciation and geomorphological observation; Myślęcinek Hill, in particular, serves as a prominent viewpoint with sightlines extending to the city center some 4 km away. Cultural and geomorphological interest further enrich recreational use: Zamczysko hill combines elevated terrain with archaeological significance (a hillfort), while Glider Hill, situated at the junction of three geomorphological units, produces sharply varied terrain, drainage patterns and short‑scale habitat heterogeneity that enhance opportunities for nature study. The slope’s longitudinal span—from the Forest Park of Culture and Recreation to the Kozielec border—is intensively dissected by ravines, arroyos and valleys, evidencing active slope processes and a complex hydro‑geomorphic structure that shape trail, viewing and educational experiences. Municipal investment in visitor infrastructure, exemplified by the 2018 participatory‑budget–funded proposal for a viewing tower between Tatrzańska and Świętokrzyska streets, underscores local commitment to improving public access and landscape viewing on the Fordon Slope.
Main valleys and ravines
The Fordon Slope is dissected by a dense network of arroyos and valleys that record interactions among fluvial processes, varied substrates and sustained human use. At the interface of the Świecie Upland and the Brda sandur, the anthropogenically altered Rynkowo arroyo—carrying the Chorzów Batory–Tczew railway—serves as a clear geomorphological and infrastructural boundary, illustrating how transport corridors have been superimposed on alluvial–upland transitions.
Within the Forest Park of Culture and Recreation (Myślęcinek) a series of closely spaced forested valleys and hollows host diverse woodland and riparian assemblages. The western Myślęcinek valleys support oak–hornbeam stands with beech and oak elements and a rich riparian understory; many slopes are integrated into a pedestrian path system and have been proposed for partial reserve status to conserve their valley microclimates and forest–river mosaics. The Zacisze clearing at the foot of beech-covered hills functions as a hydrological and interpretive node, centred on a protected groundwater spring, a cascade of ponds fed by the Zacisze Stream and an ecological education centre. Adjacent corridors—such as the Rekreacyjna Street valley with its managed promenade and the Botanical Garden valley drained by the Myślęcinek Stream—combine steep (up to ~30 m) slope relief, pond cascades with abundant aquatic vegetation, and engineered exhibit areas (an alpine garden and stables), and have been identified as sites warranting ecological protection.
East of Armii Krajowej Street the Zamczysko arroyo complex represents one of the most intricate valley systems on the slope. A prominent upland spur crowned by Zamczysko Hill (≈95.6 m) contains a pre‑Slavic hillfort and upland military remnants; valley bottoms sustain alder riparian forests while slopes carry oak and pine stands, making the complex notable for both cultural heritage and forest-community diversity. Similarly, the Czarnówczyn valley combines settlement access, dam‑formed ponds and riparian forest with adjacency to the Jastrzębie Forest and has been proposed as an ecological site. Opposite the Eskulapa neighbourhood, the Czarnówka sequence exemplifies early woody succession on interfluves, with riparian corridors separated by spurs colonized by blackthorn.
Several valleys combine pronounced geomorphology with commemorative value. The Valley of Death is a martyrological landscape where mass executions in 1939 produced graves, devotional routes (Stations of the Cross), memorial monuments and annual liturgical performances; here landscape form and historical memory are tightly interwoven. The broader system of Fordon valleys draining the Lower Vistula slope exhibits steep, incised relief—gullies, arêtes, isolated hills and miniature ridges—with unforested uplands, riparian bottoms, xerothermic edge grasslands and localized seeps (e.g. Mieczysław spring); the area includes solitary landmark trees (Napoleon’s Oak) and is a candidate for partial reserve protection.
Beyond the Fordon core, branched arroyos such as Księży Las (Mariampol) and Jarużyn show contrasts between transport alignment and remote, spring‑fed hydrology. Księży Las carries a road along its valley floor through light oak and mixed stands, while Jarużyn is a deep, secluded valley with a named spring (“Jarużyn’s Eyes”) and confined spring-fed drainage. The Prodnia scenic area above the Fordon Vistula Gorge offers panoramic observation of the narrowest Vistula reach between the Lesser Poland Upland and the Baltic, and is formally protected as an ecological site. Along the Vistula margin, the Strzelce arroyos provide a steep ascent with wide valley views and preserve a dome hill (≈96.3 m) bearing remains of a Slavic defensive fort; Trzęsacz and Kozielec document active river‑margin erosion, where undercutting by the Vistula has produced cliff‑like escarpments comparable to nearby valley‑margin landforms. The Gądecz gorge stands out for its steep beech‑covered slopes, a nineteenth‑century park remnant upslope and an unusual sandy‑conglomerate cave system—including the Bajka Cave—that constitutes a rare speleological monument in northern Poland.
Collectively these valleys and ravines encapsulate the Fordon Slope’s geomorphic diversity, hydrological nodes (springs, cascades, ponds), woodland gradients and a spectrum of human imprints—from transport infrastructure and leisure landscapes to archaeological and commemorative sites—many of which have been identified for ecological or heritage protection.
Vistula trail
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The green-marked pedestrian trail “Vistula” is a continuous walking route of exactly 52 km linking Bydgoszcz Leśna with the town of Świecie. It provides uninterrupted pedestrian access along the left (facing downstream) slope of the Lower Vistula Valley, forming a linear connection between these two localities.
Along its course the trail follows the Fordon Slope, alternating between upland terraces and ridges and the lower valley-bottom environments. By running across both elevated, often wooded terrain and the adjacent floodplain sections of the river’s left bank, the route exposes the corridor’s pronounced geomorphological contrasts and the transitional zones between slope and valley floor.
Functioning as a recreational and interpretive hiking corridor, the Vistula trail facilitates direct observation and study of landscape structure and processes on the left slope of the Lower Vistula Valley, while also linking the settlements established on that slope. It thereby serves both tourism and local landscape appreciation, offering access to natural features and cultural nodes between Bydgoszcz Leśna and Świecie.
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Jeremi Przybora trail
Established in 2010, the Jeremi Przybora trail is a 14.4 km marked pedestrian route along the Bydgoszcz section of the Fordon Slope that formalizes a continuous recreational and interpretive corridor between the Myślęcinek (Forest Park of Culture and Recreation) terminus and the Mariampol bus loop. The trail commemorates Jeremi Przybora—poet and actor, co‑creator of Kabaret Starszych Panów—whose personal connections to the Bydgoszcz–Fordon area include interwar studies at the Mikołaj Kopernik Gymnasium, rowing with the Bydgoszcz Rowing Association, residence at his grandfather’s estate in Miedzyń Wielki adjacent to the slope, and post‑war employment (1945–1948) at the Pomorska Radio Station.
Topographically the route initially follows the base of the Fordon Slope and adopts a characteristic pattern of ascents and descents as it negotiates the slope’s transition zone. At the locality of Zamczysko the trail affords access to an early medieval hillfort and to the vestiges of a Cold War anti‑aircraft radar installation (operational 1965–1987), illustrating the superposition of archaeological and modern military features on the landscape. From there the path runs along the slope edge, skirting the boundary of the Gdańsk Forest and passing through the Jastrzębie Forest, thereby linking contiguous mid‑ to upper‑slope woodland stands.
Proceeding eastward, the trail traverses the Valley of Death and a sequence of ravines and smaller valleys that typify the slope’s dissection and influence trail gradients and sightlines. In its final kilometres it passes notable natural and hydro‑ecological points—Napoleon’s Oak and the Mieczysław spring—before terminating at the Mariampol bus loop. Spatially and functionally the Jeremi Przybora trail integrates geomorphological features (slope base and edge, ravines, valleys), vegetation communities (Gdańsk and Jastrzębie forests), archaeological and historical sites (early medieval hillfort, 1965–1987 radar base) and cultural landmarks, thereby connecting urban park infrastructure with suburban transit and supporting both outdoor recreation and heritage interpretation.
Sequential west→east itinerary: Myślęcinek bus loop → along the base of the Fordon Slope → Zamczysko (early medieval hillfort; former 1965–1987 radar base) → edge of the Gdańsk Forest → through the Jastrzębie Forest → Valley of Death → slope‑edge ravines and valleys → Napoleon’s Oak → Mieczysław spring → Mariampol bus loop.
Zygmunt Trybowski Trail
Opened in 2008, the Zygmunt Trybowski Trail was created to enable pedestrian access and scholarly observation of the Fordon Slope, a distinct sloping landform within the Fordon locality. Named for Zygmunt Trybowski—founder and first parish priest of the Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Bydgoszcz and proponent of the Sanctuary of the Queen of Martyrs—the route embeds commemorative and ecclesiastical associations within the landscape. Trybowski’s documented interest in the Fordon hills and the site known as the Valley of Death links the trail to both local geomorphology and places of memory, producing an intersection of natural and cultural values. As a contemporary intervention, the trail facilitates recreation, interpretation and heritage recognition, and it also structures movement that may be pilgrimage-related toward nearby devotional sites. Physically, the route exposes visitors to slope-related landforms and viewsheds, thereby clarifying spatial relations between the Fordon Slope, surrounding hills and the proximate religious architecture of the parish and sanctuary.