Western Masuria. Attractions of the Land of the Elbląg Canal
- Western Masuria is a land of peaceful relaxation, greenery of nature and blue lakes
- Be sure to visit the Elbląg Canal and take a boat ride on the grass!
- Take a cruise in Iława on Jeziorak - the longest lake in Poland
- Walk the picturesque pier in Ostróda at sunset
- Taste the snail in Krasin!
Western Masuria is a beautiful, green land where time passes more slowly. A region of long lakes, tall pines, brick castles and swimming on the grass. This place will enchant you with the landscape of the Iława Lake District with the Dylewskie Hills Landscape Park and the Lubawa Garb. Wavy landscapes of fields and meadows accompanied by picturesque lakes. This area will calm you down with its calm and intimate character, as well as delight your palate with a variety of flavors that draw from nature.
Historically, this region has always been a real cultural melting pot. It was here, in the land of the former Oberland, that Polish, German and Lithuanian influences merged and mixed. This can be seen in history, traditions and temples, but also in the kitchen. Let yourself be carried away on a journey through Western Masuria and the Land of the Elbląg Canal. Check out the best things to do in the region!
Attractions of Western Masuria
This region boasts truly unusual attractions that amaze tourists. Check out the most interesting ones!
The Elbląg Canal - the most valuable treasure of the Western Masuria!
The heart of this region is, of course, the Elbląg Canal - a masterpiece of technology - today the only such active channel in the world. A similar one was once created in North America, but it is destroyed and not used. Ours is doing great to this day, because for years it has been a tourist hit and carries passengers on water and ... grass!
The Elbląg Canal was created in the second half of the 19th century, mainly to improve the transport of Tabor pines to the Baltic Sea. Why? Because these pines are perfectly straight, very tall, reaching up to 40 meters and a similar thickness along the entire length. In this way, they were perfectly suited to the masts of ships. Before the creation of the canal, their transport took several months, they flowed down the canal in just a few days. To this day, they grow in the vicinity of the village of Tabórz, north of Ostróda. It is worth visiting the Pine Tabor Nature Reserve, with a marked path and information boards.
And what brilliant mind invented the Elbląg Canal? This is the engineer Georg Jacob Steenke, who first traveled the world, and later designed and supervised the construction of this miracle of technology. There is a water level difference of nearly 100 meters on the route from Ostróda to Elbląg, so a system of ramps and locks was created, thanks to which this difference is eliminated. That is why ships not only sail on water, but also move on ramps on rails, in special carts, driven by the force of water. The route of the canal is about 150 km. Today, it is best to start in Buczyniec, with the Ostróda-Elbląg Shipping. Through several ramps and back (about 3h) or in a longer and more expensive version to Elbląg. We were on the Penguin ship.
Interestingly, the metal structure of the Elbląg Canal is still original!
www.zegluga.com.pl
Ostróda - the pearl of Western Masuria
The bending day welcomed us wonderfully in Ostróda. We couldn't see. The town is picturesquely located by the lakes. The most significant, because it spills in the center, is Lake Drwęckie with a beautiful pier, the famous amphitheater, water ski lift, city beach and, of course, marinas. At the pier there is the Ostróda Elbląg Shipping Pier, with which you can set off on a cruise. Shortly after Drwęckie Lake or further, even to Elbląg.
It is a pleasant place to walk along the European Boulevard. Yes, yes, the name is quite appropriate, because did you know that the castle of Ostróda was once the center of Europe? It was here that Napoleon Bonaparte once stayed and from this castle he ruled Europe for about 40 days, from February 1807. The castle in Ostróda, a Teutonic trace of the city, stands to this day, although the tower and one of the wings have not survived to our times. There is not much left of Ostróda after the Red Army entered the city in 1945. At that time, Ostróda, not very destroyed during the war, suffered enormous damage, almost the entire old town was burned down along with its monuments. That is why there are not many of them here today. It is definitely worth visiting the castle, the courtyard is available free of charge, you should buy a ticket for exhibitions.
Near the castle you will see the Gothic church of St. Dominic Savio from the 14th century, where in 1410 King Władysław Jagiełło thanked God for the victory over the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of nearby Grunwald.
Later, neo-Gothic temples in Ostróda, with towers visible from afar, are the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Evangelical Methodist Church of God's Grace. The latter is distinguished by its observation tower and extensive panorama. We managed to enter the interior of the temple, but only into the nave, because the tower has only been open since June. The church with great acoustics can be visited as part of free guided walksthat will take place in 2022 in Ostróda every holiday Saturday (at 11:45 and 13:00). The walks will start in the castle courtyard.
mickiewicza 22, Ostróda
www.muzeumwostrodzie.pl
Map of Ostróda with marked attractions
Dylewskie Hills - an idyllic corner of Western Masuria
How beautiful is the landscape of the Dylewskie Hills forming a landscape park south of Ostróda. Here, the post-glacial character of the region was most marked, with waves of fields and erratic boulders brought by a glacier - a quaternary ice sheet from Scandinavia. They came here with him about 15,000 years ago and are still stuck in this land, sometimes creating lapidaries, like here under the Dylewska Mountain. They are a kind of "Stonehenhe" set in 2015, but made of stones as old as the world 😉 They are well described and give an idea of where they came from.
The highest elevation of the area and at the same time WarmiaandMazury is Dylewska Mountain, has a height of 312 m above sea level and additionally a tower to improve views. Sielsko is here, really. On the Dylewska Mountain path, it is also worth finding a nearby reservoir pond in the form of the French Lake. The name comes from a legend that French soldiers were drowned in it after they assaulted a local girl.
A majestic railway bridge has been preserved in small Glaznoty. It dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and was built as one of several dozen such viaducts due to the undulating terrain. The one in Glaznoty was the most magnificent. And while we are here, it is worth seeing a mysterious circle of cultures at the Evangelical church. It consists of erratic boulders brought here by a glacier, but carved in modern times. They tell about the cultures that have existed here for centuries - Celts, Goths and Prussians. If you add to this wavy rapeseed, storks, herds of cows or a lost barrow in the field, we are presented with an amazingly beautiful landscape, full of unusual curiosities! And around zero people!
Iława with the longest lake in Poland
Iława is a charming gem of Western Masuria. We met her from different perspectives. Unfortunately, like Ostróda and other cities of the region, Iława also suffered greatly as a result of the actions of the Red Army. Nevertheless, we enjoyed a guided walk through the historical part of Iława. We managed to climb the tower of the magnificent neo-Baroque town hall from 1912, although it is not open to the public. With its gothic character and noble age, the church of the Transfiguration from the first half of the fourteenth century amazes here. I must admit that the interior of the station is also impressive. It is the only station in the Western Masuria where the pendolino stops.
But what attracts me the most in Iława and at the same time delights me is the lake in the very center of the city. It fills them with its waters from different sides! It is, of course, Jeziorak, which from Mały passes into Duży and forms together the longest lake in Poland, with a length of about 28 km! It is post-glacial, gutter-like, i.e. long, but narrow. You can always see the other side. It is perfect for cruises and we gladly took advantage of it, and we recommend it to you🙂 You can go on a long, even full-day cruise, or an hour cruise around one of the largest inland islands in Poland. The island is called Wielka Żuława, it is wild today, and once the film "The Nest" about the beginnings of the Polish state was shot on it. The port in Iława is located next to the sandy town beach. Although it is only the gateway to Masuria, here you will feel it, yachts enter and leave, sailing courses are underway, you can hear the commands of boaters, it is really atmospheric.
ul. Niepodległości 13, Iława
https://it.miastoilawa.pl/
Map of Iława with marked attractions
Szymbark Castle in the Western Masuria
We also visited several attractions around Iława. We were most impressed by the Teutonic castle in Szymbark. Have you seen the movie "King of the Alder" with the outstanding John Malkovich? It was filmed in the ruins of this Gothic castle. What a castle, it has its own atmosphere and an aura of mystery. She built it in the 1970s. Of the fourteenth century, the Pomezan chapter and the bishops resided here. Then the castle, consumed by the fire of the Thirteen Years' War, was quickly rebuilt, with additional fortifications.
In the 16th century, under Georg von Polentz, the castle acquired the features of the Renaissance. At that time, he presented himself beautifully and invited to numerous balls. That might have been the case to this day, but during the war, Soviet troops came and burned down the residence. This is how the castle remains in ruins to this day. The new private owner wants to rebuild and develop the castle, as well as create a hotel in it. Will it work? Fingers crossed! Unfortunately, the castle is not accessible to tourists, but you can walk around it and admire its immensity. It looks even better from above, see for yourself 🙂
Palace in Kamieniec - a little-known attraction of Western Masuria
Nearby you can also visit the ruins of the palace in Kamieniec, where Napoleon and Mrs. Walewska lived for some time after moving from the castle in Ostróda. We did not manage to enter the fenced area, but the phone number is visible on the gate and with a bit of luck it may succeed.
Churches of Western Masuria
Almost opposite the palace in Kamieniec there is an interesting church, which is worth visiting. We found an even more beautiful Gothic temple in the village of Susz, near the Suski Lake. It is the sanctuary of St. Anthony of Padua, with a unique interior and beautiful galleries.
Morąg - an inconspicuous town with interesting attractions of Western Masuria
This small city hides some really valuable curiosities, captured by the Municipal Tourist Route with information boards. We start the tour from the magnificent palace where the Museum is located. One of the exhibitions presents Johann Herder - a writer and philosopher of history. This great citizen of Morąg also has his monument at the church. The Gothic church attracts attention from afar with its tall and massive tower, which is currently being renovated. You can only look inside the temple through the grille.
There is a castle right next to it, although you could almost write it wobbles. This is private property, but in a rather poor form. Behind the castle spills the so-called Morąskie Watershed. It looks picturesque from above. In Morąg, it is close everywhere, because the center is tiny, so in a few steps we come to the market square, where a quite magnificent gothic town hall from the 15th century rises. It looks very nice, and is guarded by cannons captured by the Prussians during their fights with the French.
Grunwald - eternal encouragement of Poles!
And speaking of fights, I will tell you about one of the greatest battles of the Middle Ages. Actually, Grunwald, because we are talking about it, does not need to be introduced to anyone. Probably every Pole knows the date of July 15, 1410. It was then that the Teutonic and Polish-Lithuanian armies, led by King Władysław Jagiełło, clashed on the fields of Grunwald. The king was experienced and clever, which, combined with his numerical superiority, brought him great success. The decisive victory echoed loudly in Europe and, thanks to Sienkiewicz, strengthened the hearts of Poles even at the time of the partitions. Not everyone knows that heavy troops fought on both sides, the Polish side was supported by the Tatars, whose descendants still live, for example, in Podlasie.
There is a famous monument on the fields of Grunwald, but you will also find a small museum here talking about the battle. It is quite old, but it will soon transform into a gallery, because a large, modern museum with multimedia elements is to open next to the parking lot later this year (2022). This is great news, because this place deserves a magnificent museum from a real event!
Well, in addition to visiting the Museum, it is also worth listening to the words of the guide, because they take us back to those times and reflect the spirit of history. I strongly recommend visiting the Grunwald Fields with a guide. During the holidays, the guiding duties are performed every day, and the exits take place at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00. The page of guides to Masuria and Grunwald can be foundhere, and if you ask me about my favorite guide, I highly recommend Justyna Szostek.
http://muzeumgrunwald.fbrothers.com/
Museum in Lubawa in the Western Masuria
An interesting museum was also created in Lubawa, on the foundations of a Gothic castle. It is the Lubawa Centre for Social Activity, available free of charge. It tells about the past of this place. Interestingly, you will find here a faithful copy of the only Gutenberg Bible preserved in Poland. The original is located in Pelplin.
ul. Biskupów Chełmińskich 1, Lubawa
Page of the Centre
Elbląg - window to the sea
We were in Elbląg for the first time, so what was my surprise when we walked the streets of this wonderful city with a guide. The history is similar to that of the entire region - minor damage during the war and total ruin at the hands of the Red Army. Except that here, in addition to a few rebuilt monuments, it also delights the rebuilt old town, stylized.
Failing monuments, not a block of flats, but beautiful buildings that can charm and make you want to walk here... But I will write more about Elbląg in a separate article, here just for encouragement I will show you some photos 🙂
https://turystyka.elblag.eu/
Map of Western Masuria attractions
For better orientation in the field, we have marked the places we visited on the map 🙂
Western Masuria actively
Western Masuria is a perfect place for an active holiday. In nature, away from cities, with clean air and no crowds.
Kayaking in the Western Masuria
This region is perfect for an active holiday. Of course, kayaks fit here, because there are plenty of lakes and rivers. This year, you can even swim for free on Drwęcki Lake in Ostróda, in the Family Activity Zone at Słowackiego Street, behind the Tavern at Zdzich. In Iława, the river Iławka is recommended for kayaking, with the so-called Iława Venice.
Cycling in Western Masuria
And bicycles? These are always a good solution, and here there are many opportunities and cycling routes, for example along Jeziorak in Iława or Drwęckie Lake in Ostróda. The Green Trail of the Elbląg Canal offers a longer route, with a length of over 40 km. It leads from Iława to the Lagoon. It begins in Iława at the roundabout, at the intersection of roads No. 16 and 521. It is about 2 km from the centre of Iława. You can also see the Elbląg Canal from the saddle position. A well-marked cycling trail along the canal leads from Ostróda to Elbląg (85 km).
We cycled about 12 km from Stare Jabłonki to the small Masurian village of Parwółka. As if forgotten, and thus so beautiful. Quiet, a bit mysterious, lost in the forest. Tourists rarely visit here.
When we left the forest, along a paved road, we saw lilacs, an old hut with colorful shutters and a magic pond. Parwółki Małe. It's wonderful here! We also went a little further, to the second lake - Wielkie Parwółki. The romantic scenery encouraged us to celebrate this time 🙂 We rented bicycles at the Anders Hotel.
Kurza Góra - A walk in the clouds
How about a walk uphill? In the historic town of Kurzętnik, the Kurza Góra observation tower with a path in the clouds opened this spring. The tower itself is not very high, it is about 35 meters high, but there is a long path built of acacia wood. It is nearly 2 km long. During the walk, you will learn about the medieval realities of the inhabitants of Kurzętnik. It dates back to 1410, i.e. the famous Battle of Grunwald. And why? Not everyone knows, but it was here that the great battle between the Teutonic Knights and Jagiello's troops was supposed to take place. It is good that this did not happen, because the Polish king would have fallen into a good ambush. Fortunately, he figured it out in time, but you can learn more about these events at Kurża Góra 🙂 The tower is open all year round, as is the restaurant, and in winter the ski slopes open.
ul. Kurza 1, Kurzętnik
https://kurzagora.pl/wieza-widokowa-kurza-gora/
Western Masurian cuisine
The local dishes are largely based on fresh fish, herbs or forest fruits. The local goose and handmade cheeses are also significant. You will probably be surprised by snails in the kitchen of Western Masuria! These are returning to the local tables after years, and we know that in the past they were hosted here both on bishop's, refined tables and in poor peasant huts.
Such an interesting cuisine to look forward to its trail and so in 2021 the Western Mazury Culinary Trail from Kuchnia was created. It focuses restaurants and places on the map of Western Masuria, where you will discover often forgotten flavors. You will experience the joys of tasting specialties of old Polish, Masurian, Prussian, Warmia, German, Lithuanian, Ukrainian and even Dutch cuisine.
We tasted many of them, including Warmian dinners, i.e. regional dumplings or Masurian dumplings. These are potatochops with meat filling in chicken sauce. These delicacies were served to us by the Inn near Kłobuk in Małdydy. Tasty zander was served to us in the Pod Omega Sailing Tavern in Iława. We ate the whole rich plate of homely, local specialties with a potato grandmother at the forefront in Stary Sawmill in Iława.
On the other hand, we experienced vegetable
Accommodation in the Western Masuria
We can recommend some really interesting proposals. In Ostróda, we slept in the Ostróda Apartments, which have a hotel standard, with breakfast buffet. Guests can use the aquapark in Ostróda, connected to the hotel by an underground passage. In Iława, we spent the night in a much smaller facility - Villa Orient apartments, by the Mały Jeziorak lake itself. The property is very nice and clean, but offers no food. In the room there was a kitchenette, and in the corridor there was a communal kitchen for guests.
We spent two nights at the 4-star Anders Hotel in Stare Jabłonki. It is a large complex lost in the forest, on Lake Szeląg Mały. It offers not only buffet breakfasts, but also dinners. In addition, the historic palace houses a restaurant with a sophisticated menu, also regional. The hotel also has many additional attractions, such as a swimming pool, several saunas, jacuzzi, spa offer, bowling alley, billiards, gym or bicycle rental, which I have already mentioned.
In the complex you will also find Masurian Chalets and a field with motorhomes. A great solution is "PomySłownik" - a newspaper that tells you what to do in the Anders Hotel, in Stare Jabłonki and the surrounding area. This is how we discovered Parwółki on bicycles 🙂 And when we stopped at Lake Szeląg Wielki, we found a nice campsite Zakątek. Such for families, quiet, no parties. But in the season with grilled trout every week and every day with soup of the day. We really liked the place🙂
https://apartamenty-ostroda.pl/
Aqua Ostróda
https://www.aquaostroda.pl/
Villa Orient in Iława
https://www.facebook.com/Villa-Orient-798998370276939
Anders Hotel in Stare Jabłonki
www.hotelanders.pl
The entry was made in cooperation with the Warmia and Mazury Regional Tourist Organization, at whose invitation we visited this beautiful region.
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What's worth seeing in the area?
If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.
- Ostróda, distance: 0.1 km
- Iława, distance: 28.8 km
- Warmia, distance: 34.9 km
- Olsztyn, distance: 34.9 km
- Elbląg, distance: 62.7 km
- Kwidzyn, distance: 68.4 km
- Malbork, distance: 71.7 km
- Malbork Castle, distance: 71.7 km
- Frombork, distance: 75.2 km
- Grudziądz, distance: 83.3 km
Hi! My name is Anna Piernikarczyk. We have been blogging and wandering around Poland since 2005. We bring back a lot of wonderful memories and experiences from family trips, which I am happy to share with you. Today it is more than just a passion, Our mission is to debunk the myth "You praise other people's things, but you don't know your own"!
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