World's Longest Plank

The plank that set a Guinness World Record in Szymbark in 2012 measures 46.53 metres. It was cut from a single tree, without joining shorter sections. The record attempt was associated with Daniel Czapiewski and his timber construction company, DANMAR.

Sawing the trunk by hand took several days and involved many people. Lech Wałęsa also helped with the cutting. The finished plank's length was achieved by working together on one trunk, rather than gluing together pieces that would have been easier to transport and process separately.

This was another chapter in Szymbark's record attempts. An earlier plank, measuring 36.83 metres, was made here in 2002. The record subsequently changed hands: before Szymbark's achievement in 2012, it belonged to Germany. The Polish village of Wilkowo also features in this story, having previously lost the record to German competitors. The older and newer Szymbark planks therefore have different lengths and belong to two separate record attempts.