Iława. Attractions worth visiting
Iława is a unique city in the Western Masuria, located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, on the huge Jeziorak Lake. It is the longest lake in Poland with a length of about 28 km! This is mainly why Iława is the tourist heart of the Iława Lake District.
The city was located near the main road of international importance, running from Gdańsk through Ostróda, Warsaw, Lublin towards Lviv. If you dream of a holiday in Masuria, but in a place that is not overcrowded, then Iława will be perfect!
Experiences in Iława
The destruction of the war, or rather the presence of Soviet troops in Iława, did not leave many monuments in the city. A few of them, however, can be admired to this day, and when it comes to attractions, Iława has something to boast about🙂 We spent 2 days in Iława and walked through the city both alone and with a guide. We will be happy to show you where to go in this city. Discover the best attractions of Iława!
1. Jeziorak Lake in Iława
The longest lake in Poland is about 28 km long. Plus, it's the 6th largest lake in the country. The deepest point is 12 meters. Mały Jeziorak spills into the city center, which connects further with Wielki Jeziorak. It is a post-glacial, gutter lake. This means that it is long and narrow. Even though it stretches over such a huge length, you can always see the other side.
You can take a cruise on Jeziorak, e.g. with the ship Ilavia from the marina near the amphitheater. You can choose from short cruises, about an hour around the large island of Wielka Żuława or even full-day cruises on this long lake. Jeziorak covers as many as 16 islands and numerous picturesque bays. It is connected to the famous Elbląg Canal in Poland.
2. Wielka Żuława Island in Iława
Wielka Żuława is the largest inland island in Poland within the city limits. It has over 80 hectares. On this island in the 1970s, The film "The Nest" about the beginnings of our state and Mieszko I was made. The film is directed by Jan Rybkowski, starring Wojciech Pszoniak, Franciszek Pieczka and Leonard Pietraszak.
For the purposes of the film, an early medieval castle and a bridge were built here, but they have not survived to this day, but the inhabitants of Iława remember it, who starred in the film as statisticians. Today it is a wild island, with several holiday resorts open during the high season.
3. Ilavia cruise on Jeziorak in Iława
From May to October, the ship Ilavia - a peculiar city water tram - runs on Lake Jeziorak. It takes people on a cruise almost every hour every day. It is moored on the water by the amphitheater, under the Jeziorak Gallery itself.
It sails from Jeziorak Mały and affects the Big Lake. A short, one-hour cruise follows the route around Wielka Żuława Island, but longer, even full-day cruises around Jeziorak are also possible. You can even rent a ship for the whole day and have it with the captain all to yourself 🙂
We sailed the traditional route around Żuławy, it is a pleasant cruise that shows Iława from a different perspective 🙂
4. Iława River in Iława
Iławka begins in Jeziorak, it is the right tributary of Drwęca. At Narutowicza Street in Iława, it creates the so-called Venice of Iława - a very charming corner, pleasant for walks. The river is great for kayaking - it is easy and interesting in terms of nature.
5. The Church of the Transfiguration in Iława
The oldest monument of the city from the 14th century, with a rococo high altar and a bell from 1740. This Gothic temple was built in 1317-25, on the site of an earlier chapel. It was incorporated into the city walls and today it impresses with its immensity. Next to it stands a large oak tree, 150 years old. It is the oldest tree in the city, planted in 1871, after Prussia won the war with France.
It is worth looking inside the church, which is hidden by the historic main altar and organ, as well as two interesting side altars that only resemble historic ones. The most valuable are the vaults with crypts, but these are not available to tourists.
6. Town Hall in Iława
Noteworthy is the restored neo-baroque Town Hall from 1912 located in the city center. Its immensity amazes us, and we also managed to climb the tower, which is not accessible to tourists on a daily basis.
An interesting feature in the Town Hall is the silver chain - one of Iława's most valuable treasures. It was received by the mayor Bruno Grzywacz from the residents of the city on the 600th anniversary of granting city rights. At that time, Iława was called Deutsch Eylau. At that time, the mayor lived in the Town Hall. A silver chain hangs in a building upstairs.
7. Cinema theatre in Iława
An interesting building standing just behind the town hall, built in 1916-22. It was created on the site of a market and therefore was initially a city hall, and then a place of events. Currently, there is a cinema theatre with a preserved Art Nouveau atmosphere, which is unique in Poland.
8. Main Station in Iława
I admit that I do not often pay attention to railway stations, because we also most often travel by car, but the station in Iława is worth paying attention to. From the outside, it is interesting, but only its interior catches the eye. It was once the largest and most beautiful railway station in East Prussia. To this day, you can admire the coats of arms of cities that could be reached directly from Iława before the war.
And today, the station in Iława is unique, only the pendolino train stops here, which makes Iława a good base for exploring this beautiful region. And there is a historic locomotive waiting in front of the station, which at certain hours "shines its eyes" and throws steam 🙂
9. Elbląg Canal
Iława is a dream holiday destination for lovers of active tourism and people who want close contact with nature. The navigable waterway of the Elbląg Canal begins here, connecting Iława through Lake Jeziorak with Ostróda, Elbląg and then the Vistula Lagoon. Cruises through the canal are currently best to start in Buczyniec.
10. Złota Tarka and other events in Iława
Iława's attractions also include events, festivals and sports and recreational games, including regattas and swimming and canoeing competitions. Every July, the Iława Days are held here, in August Shanty, in September the Iława Half Marathon, but the most popular in Poland is the Old Jazz Meeting "Złota Tarka" International Traditional Jazz Festival. It has been attracting a lot of listeners to the Iława amphitheatre for many years!
11. Gallery at the Town Hall
It was established in 2018 and is an interestingly arranged public space where events, concerts and artistic open-air events take place. The place refers to the historical tradition of Iława, when cultural, social and military events took place in front of the town hall before the war.
12. Lake Gauda in the Iława Lake District
Lake Gaudy in the Iława Lake District spills over near the palace in Kamieniec, about 20 km northwest of Iława. In the area of the lake, the Gaudy Lake Nature Reserve was created as a refuge for waterfowl and mudfowl.
13. Baroque sculptures in Iława
At the representative artery of the city, i.e. Niepodległości Street, which passes further into Kościuszki Street, there are today unique sculptures from the 18th century. They depict Roman gods: Hercules, Jupiter, Juno and Medusa. These interesting statues once stood at the palace in nearby Kamieniec Suski, which is now in a state of ruin. It was once called the Prussian Versailles. The sculptures have been standing in today's place since 1976. The photo also shows a historic school, today it is the Nicolaus Copernicus Primary School No. 1.
14. Orthodox Church in Iława
The church as the Greek-Catholic temple of St. John the Theologian was established quite recently, but it is located in the historic building of the former municipal gasworks. The building dates back to 1899.
15. Talent Forge in Iława
The Talents' Forge is located in a historic building in front of the bridge on Iławka, at Dąbrowskiego Street. It is a former pumping station built in 1903 of red brick. The Forge of Talents was opened here by the Iława sculptor Marek Kałuża. It is a kind of gallery, and at the same time a place for sculpture workshops. In front of the building you will see interesting works by the artist.
16. Szymbark Castle
The castle in Szymbark was built in the 14th century for the Pomesanian chapter. At that time, it was so impressive that only the castle in Malbork competed with it. It had a clock tower 24 meters high! Interestingly, it housed a chapel and a prison!
He often changed owners, but from 1699 to the end of World War II he belonged to the Prussian family von Finckenstein. Today, it is also in private hands and there are plans to restore its splendor, because now it lies in total ruin, although very picturesque and mysterious at the same time.
She was chosen by director Schlondorff for the set of the film "The Alder King", which was shot here in 1996 with the outstanding John Malkovich. The actor apparently lived in Iława at that time and even partyed quite well.
17. Palace in Kamieniec Suski
The palace was built in the 18th century for Conrad von Finckenstein. The residence full of splendor was called the Prussian Versailles. Between April and June 1807, the palace in Kamieniec became the heart of Europe, because Napoleon Bonaparte himself ruled it from here, living here with Mrs. Walewska. He came here from the castle in Ostróda, where he complained about the cold, and here he was pleasantly warmed by the fireplaces.
Today, the palace remains in ruins, but quite impressive. It is privately owned, inaccessible to tourists, although there is a phone number on the gate and with a bit of luck you can get to its area. In August, the colourful Kamieniec Napoleonic Picnic takes place here.
tel. 508-964-307
18. Sanctuary of St. Anthony of Padua in Susz
A beautiful Gothic temple from the 14th century, standing near Lake Suskie. Today it is a Roman Catholic church, but in the past it served evangelicals, as evidenced, for example, by beautiful empors in the interior. It's worth taking a look inside, if only for them. In the fragment, they create a special lodge for the former lord of these lands.
19. Kurza Góra Tower in Kurzętnik
The Kurza Góra Tower is another tower in Poland with a walking path. It was built on the highest hill in Kurzętnik. This historic place was to be the arena of the great medieval battle between the Teutonic Knights and the army of King Jagiełło. Ultimately, however, it took place in the fields of Grunwald and fortunately, because the Teutonic Knights in Kurzętnik prepared an ambush for the Polish king. The boards on the path tell about these events, which is worth seeing for yourself while walking there🙂
The tower is about 35 meters high, and the path winds over a length of nearly 2 km. The views from the top may not be overwhelming, but it is a very pleasant place for a walk, accessible to wheelchairs. The tower opened in spring 2022. There is also the largest ski station in northern Poland, with 3illuminated trails and a winter amusement park for the youngest. There is also the largestyear-round tubing complex in Europe with8 tracks. And the delicious Kurza Góra restaurant located on the Western Masuria Culinary Trail from the kitchen.
https://kurzagora.pl/
Attractions of Iława on the map
For better orientation in the area, we have marked the attractions of Iława on the map, as well as accommodation and restaurants, which we recommend in the further part of the guide.
A walk around Iława
We have prepared a route of an unhurried walk around Iława. It is about 4 kilometers long - it should take just over an hour. We will start the walk on the city beach, in the vicinity of the Iława port. On the shore of Jeziorak we will go to the Old Town, through the market square, the oldest church and town hall in the city.
We will walk down the main avenue, passing by the gallery and Baroque sculptures. Next, we will head towards the romantic Iława, passing a nice Orthodox church on the way. Going back towards the town hall and passing by the Art Nouveau cinema, we will reach the boulevard on Mały Jeziorak. If you feel hungry, you can still visit the Old Sawmill. From here it is not far to the port from which we started.
Tourist Information in Iława
Before you visit Iława, it is worth visiting the Tourist Information. In Iława you will find two Tourist Information Points. The first one is located in the Town Hall (13 Niepodległości Street), while the second one in Ekomarin near the port, on Jeziorak. We used Information in the Town Hall. The nice ladies will not only show you leaflets and a map, but also help you handle the interactive city map, where you will already see how beautifully located Iława is, with water in every corner of it🙂 Here you can also buy a magnet. Ours are coming out of the wall, they came out of the fridge a long time ago 😉
Where to eat in Iława
Iława offers a lot of restaurants, pubs and taverns, where you can not only eat, but also sit in a nice atmosphere, among boaters. We really liked the "Pod Omega" Sailing Tavern, we ate tasty zander here, but also a fancy beef burger. There is also wine and local beer on site. Nice atmosphere inside, but there are also tables outside, by the marina on Jeziorak.
The Old Sawmill is definitely more elegant, but also more expensive. Here, in the beautiful scenery of the restaurant, but also Jeziorak, you will eat, among others, delicious local dishes, such as dumplings or potato grandmother. The place is exceptionally atmospheric and tasty, worth recommending, especially since it lies on the Western Mazury Culinary Trail from Kuchnia. It is also worth considering the Kaper Tavern.
Accommodation in Iława
You will find accommodation in Iława in various standards. We slept in Villa Orient apartments, which completely met our needs. Very tastefully furnished, modern, with full facilities in the bathroom and kitchenette, and additionally offer a shared kitchen for guests in the facility. Therefore, there is no food on site. The villa is located practically on the lake itself, from the balcony we had a view of the lake 🙂
We also got to know the Stary Tartak Hotel, which, apart from the rooms, offers rich buffet breakfasts and the aforementioned restaurant of the same name. The hotel garden is very pleasant, again by the lake, like almost everything in Iława 🙂
Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.
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What's worth seeing in the area?
You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.
