A pleasant 30km drive west from Gdańsk, Kartuzy is a sleepy little town of 16,000 people built around three lakes. First mentioned in 1391, Kartuzy takes its name from the Carthusian monks who were invited to set up a monastery here in the 14th century. Currently reinventing itself as the region’s tourism hub, Kartuzy’s good-looking Rynek, peaceful parks and lakeside walks offer a brief diversion before delving into your first Kashubian adventure.