Residents/Population:	153 813
Area:	1121 km2
Expenditure per capita:	1 482,38 zł
Website:	www.kartuskipowiat.com.pl
Rulers/Leaders:
Bogdan ŁapaStarosta	Mieczysław WoźniakPrzewodniczący Rady Powiatu

Kartuzy County is located in the most picturesque part of the Kashubian Lake District, widely known as Kashubian Switzerland. It is a land of hundreds of lakes, including the famous Radunia Circle, forests, landscape parks, and the highest elevation in the Polish lowlands. At the same time, it is one of the strongest cultural centers of the Kashubians, the only ethnic group in Poland whose language holds the status of a recognized regional language. Tourism is gaining increasing economic importance for the county's residents. The area offers numerous accommodation facilities, serving as a permanent base for residents of the metropolis and visitors from further afield. Agritourism, in particular, is becoming an increasingly appreciated opportunity to boost local incomes and enhance the region's appeal. Regional Kashubian culture plays a vital role for the county's inhabitants. Because of this, surrounding towns host numerous traditional cultural events, such as the Kashubian Fair in Kartuzy, the Strawberry Festival at Złota Góra near Kartuzy—the largest outdoor event in Kashubia—as well as folk festivals, organ concerts, and art exhibitions. A major attraction is the Centre of Education and Regional Promotion in Szymbark, where visitors can explore the famous upside-down house, an open-air museum, the Sybirak's House, and even see the longest wooden plank in the world. When visiting the Kartuzy land, one cannot miss the Sanctuary of Our Lady, Queen of Kashubia in Sianowo, which has become the region's main pilgrimage center. Other must-see historical landmarks include the neo-Baroque wooden St. Joseph's Church in Pomieczyno and the historic St. Andrew's Church in Przodkowo, built from hewn fieldstones that serve as valuable remnants of ancient times. In the most diverse part of the landscape, stretching from Kartuzy towards Kościerzyna, lies the highest peak of the South Baltic Lake District: Wieżyca (328.6 meters above sea level), often called the Kashubian Olympus. The highest peak in Kashubia is primarily known for its rich tourist offerings. In winter, it provides comfortable conditions for skiing and snowboarding, featuring ski lifts and floodlit slopes. During the winter season, the site attracts thousands of residents from across the metropolis looking for recreation. Additional attractions include traditional horse-drawn sleigh rides, horseback riding, and ice fishing. In summer, it is highly recommended to climb to the top of the John Paul II Kashubian Observation Tower to admire the beauty of the Szymbark Hills. For aquatic recreation, the bathing area in Ostrzyce is an excellent choice, offering pedal boats, kayaks, and sailboats. The diverse fish species found in the lake, such as roach, eel, perch, bream, vendace, and pike, also attract numerous groups of anglers. The county boasts an impressive 173 lakes exceeding 1 hectare in size, along with hundreds of smaller ones—hence the name of its geographical region: the Kashubian Lake District. These areas undoubtedly encourage outdoor sports. The most popular routes include the blue cycling and hiking trail (Kartuzy – Kosy – Chmielno) and three Nordic walking trails (passing through Bilowo, Smętowo Chmieleńskie, and Kosy) of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The county also contains fascinating traces of prehistoric settlement. Visitors can explore the burial mounds in Węsiory, dating back to the turn of the Bronze and Iron Ages, and see cist graves with flat stone circles from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. All these regional assets make Kartuzy County an increasingly popular place to settle. Over recent years, the area has recorded significant and consistent population growth. This upward demographic trend is expected to continue, particularly given the county's strategic location. It is situated relatively close to the metropolitan center and is intersected by a major transport route to western Poland: National Road No. 20, which connects the metropolis with Szczecin and, further on, Berlin.