Warmia and Masuria Lake District

The Regions History

In the early medieval times the territory of present-day Warmia and Masuria was settled by the Prussians. The Teutonic Order, brought to Poland in 1226 by Konrad Mazowiecki, was supposed to return the lands. The Teutonic Knights obtained the land ofChełmno, where they built their order state. Later they conquered the neighbouring Warmia region, which was annexed to Poland in 1406. Countless tracks of their reign are still visible even today. They founded many towns in these areas and also several castles. The most interesting can be found in Nidzica, Kętrzyn, Barciany, Ryn and ruins can be seen, for innstance, in Ełk, Szczytno, Morąg or Szestno. The expansion of the order and capture of new territories led to war: one of tlle most important battles was tllat of Grunwald, in fact, it was onc of the most important batttles in Polish history. Today, a monument immortalizes this event, together with the Museum of the Battle i.n Grunwald.

The Church had a great intluence here and that is why tile sacred buildings are among the most invaluable sights. Attention is drawn to the marvellous cathedral in Frombork, where Nicholas Copernicus wrote his grand work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. The bishops' seats were at one time very imposing castles. You can visit them in Lidzbark Warminski, Reszel, Olsztyn, or Szymbark (ruins only). Much later, only in the 17th century, a church in Swięta Lipka was built and it is one of the best known sanctuaries devoted to the cult of the Virgin Mary and a pearl of Baroque architecture. Historical landmarks here come from contemporary times: from the Second World War comes Wall's Earthworks (Wilczy Szaniec), where Hitler's headquarters were situated. Even today the reinforced concrete walls, eight-metres thick, and the system of underground tunnels impress all who see them. Anotller attraction is the fortress Boyen in Gizycko, which, in the time of war, was the seat of the intelligence organization where spies were trained. Near Elbląg ruins the Elbląski Canal, which is more than sixty kilometres long. For overcoming the change in height, "vith a diffeence of one-hundred metres, a system of ramps was built of a scale unique in Europe. The ships are placed on platforms that ride on tracks.

The Masurian Lake District

The rich nature of the Masurian Lake District is, to a certain extent, a result of the Baltic Sea formerlybeing ic over, which then carved out tile trougs and basins of the lakes and left gi rocks (there is a collection oflarge roe in tile Fuledzki Rag nature reserve) a unique forms in tile landscape, such kemy - irregular hills with a calm slo drumlins, repeated wavy hills and ou washes - vast plains formed by the sand accumulated by water from the melting glaciers. Among the lakes, which are part of the Masurian Lake District, the Great Lakes Area enjoys the greatest and most deserved popularity. Especially yachtsmen love it: there is no other place in Polal: where you can cross so many kilometres of vast spaces in your yacht - Lake Śniardwy is the biggest in Poland and it is difficult to see from one side to the other. There are also yacht clubs on the shores, which guarantee the right atmosphere. In such places as Mikolajki, Ruciane-Nida, Gizycko and Węgorzewo, which are also important places of tourism, you can listen to the chants and sailor songs at nights in the taverns and a walk on the quaysi gives you the possibility to meet the sailor's world.

Glorious terrains of the glacial landscape, once grown over by a vast primeval forest, are left now with only some forest ecology.

One of the largest is the Piska Primeval Forest. lts tranquillity and wildness enchanted the eminent Polish poet Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski. Towards the end his life, he settled in a gamekeeper's lodge named  Pranie on the shore of Lake Nidzkie, devoting many of his poems to the beauty of this nook.

Among the places of nature which are particularly worth a visit is Łuknajno Lake, with one of the larger colonies of mute swans in Europe. The reserve, which surrounds the lake, was entered into UNESCO and it is now on the list of the world's biosphere reserves.

The Suwalskie region is generally considered to be an extension of Mazury, even though from a geological standpoint it is a part of the Lithuanian Lake Plain, which spreads even further east. A glacier has carved the land: blue lakes are hidden among picturesque moraine hills. Above the largest, Lake Wigry, there is a village of the same name and adjacent to it, on an island, a Camelldolite abbey complex was built; its hermitage has been adapted into an enchanting resort centre. Lake Wigry is also a part of one of the most beautiful kayaking routes in Poland, as one follows the Czarna Hancza River. When traveling along this route you can admire the beauty of the virgin Augustowska Primeval Forest and also visit an extraordinary and very interesting sight of engineering craftsmanship - the Augustowski Canal designed at the beginning of the 19th century by Ignacy Prądzynski, who also supervised its construction.

A Lithuanian minority is quite active in this region and thus, when visiting this region, you can, for example, taste Lithuanian cuisine specialties in many restaurants, among others blinas - tasty fried pancakes similar to flappjacks. The main seat of the Lithuanians is in Sejny. A local Baroque basilica of the Visitation of Our Lady has a beautiful rococo interior, which is regarded as one of the most precious sights of the Suwalskie region.