Poland in summer Masurian lakes on the map. Masurian lakes. The best photos of the Masurian Lakes

For the Germans they are Poles, for the Poles they are Germans, for themselves they are Masurians - the indigenous Indians of these places, who gave their name to our region.

It is believed that it is impossible to accurately determine their ethnicity.

One part of them originated from the Slavs who moved here from Mazovia (lands a little to the south), for example, Warsaw is located in the Mazovia region. Everything is nearby.


in the picture: wooden art of Mazury
Thus, these Slavs and maybe even Poles (Poles) came here in the 14th-15th century, later believed in Luther’s religion, learned to speak German and thus became Germanized in this Prussian kingdom.

Another part of their genes migrated from Western Europe. In the 13th century, the appanage Masovian prince invited the Teutons here to kill the Prussians (Baltic tribal union). In those days, killing and robbing without ideology was no longer a camilleaux, so there was a theme (the Pope blessed) that it was necessary to Catholicize the Prussians, who until the 14th century did not surrender the faith of their fathers. The Vikings had already betrayed Odin and sang psalms to the “warm” god of Western Asia, but the local people persisted. They killed 2 bishops sent to reason with them: Saint Bruno, the patron saint of our town, was beheaded somewhere nearby, and Saint Wojciech (aka Adalbert), now the patron saint of all of Poland, was also killed. Something came over them.

And so, in order to conquer the Prussians, together with the Teutons, over time, the Germans and others arrived here, from the mixture of the Slavs with whom Masuria gradually emerged.

In short, the historical truth is vague and hidden, but by the 19th century the name Masuria was firmly established, its own ethnic group was formed, with its own language dialect (Masurian dialect of the Polish language with High German), with its own culture, which did not consider itself either Germans or Poles, but only to ourselves.

The war ruined everything. The Red Army met the first “fascists” in them, with all the ensuing consequences. It was hard for the women. Then the Polish communist regime also decided that they were rather Germans and there was forced deportation, loss of property and homeland.

So in less than ten years, an entire ethnic group that was not involved in anything bad was persecuted. Now there remain some fragments of this nationality and the memory enshrined in the name of the region.

Masuria can be called the land of a thousand lakes. Or rather, there are more than 2000 lakes, connected by 12 canals, 3 locks and 8 rivers. All this high water is located on the territory of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscaped parks and wonderful nature reserves. These places can be called islands of unique virgin nature, which are ideal for fans of a calm and secluded holiday.

For many centuries, Masuria was subject to a variety of rulers - Tatars, Swedes, Russians, Prussians, etc. At one time, Masuria was part of the German Empire. Masuria is now often called the “green lungs of Poland”, and back in the last century it was declared a recreation area.

Regardless of which side of the world tourists come here from, they still have to pass through the ancient city of Thorn. This real medieval city has still preserved its narrow streets and ancient buildings, which are now under restoration.

On the Masurian Islands, in small coves, you can often see many private moorings for yachts. There are also equipped campsites for recreation. Those who like yachting are offered rentals for a week, for one day, in general, for any period of time. Yachts are available in a variety of types - from the simplest to the most luxurious, equipped with everything necessary.

Here you can choose a variety of recreational activities - kayaking, canoeing, swimming, diving and, of course, fishing. You can take a boat or yacht along all the banks, visiting ancient castles, ruins of ancient cities and cultural monuments along the way.

Masurian lakes are considered a paradise for lovers of pristine nature. Here you can find fauna such as deer, lynx, bison, wolves, wild boars, and many birds, the most typical of which are cormorants and gray herons. And in the Masurian lakes themselves there are over 60 species of different fish - pike, pike perch, carp, eel, trout and salmon. However, amateur fishermen must first obtain permission from the Polish Fishing Association.

If you come to Poland to relax on the Masurian Lakes, then you will not have problems finding accommodation. You will even have different options. Either you can stay in a modern mansion, in some luxury apartments, or on the lake in a summer fishing house. There is no need to worry about the purity of the water - thanks to the recently built large number of treatment facilities, the water here is very clean and clear everywhere.

The so-called “floating houses” are especially popular here. These are very comfortable and quite safe boats in which you can relax with the whole family. They have everything you need - rest cabins, showers, kitchen and heating. On such boats you are guaranteed comfort and a lot of fun during your trip. And you already choose the one that is most suitable for your needs.

The most popular and comfortable resorts in the Masurian Lake District are the cities of Pisz, Mikołajki, Wegonzewo, Giżyczko, Iława and Ryn. These are cozy towns with a large number of hotels, large recreation centers, children's entertainment and shops with everything you need. You can book a hotel room, campsite or apartment in the Masurian Lakes region through any of the booking sites. Here you will find a lot of different offers. In addition to the fact that each of these towns is an ideal place for water tourism, they also have a lot of different attractions.

In the town of Grzyczko you can see a unique swing bridge, the only one in the entire territory of Poland. It was erected back in 1889, and it is a huge multi-ton colossus that opens the canal for shipping. In the same town you can visit the Boyen Fortress, built in 1856 and intended to protect the borders with Russia. This grandiose structure, which is of undoubted historical value, will certainly amaze you with its reliability and power, since it has retained its formidable appearance to this day.

In Mikolajki, the most interesting thing for you will be to visit the large Tropicana water park. A child's entrance ticket costs 15 zlotys, and an adult ticket costs 30 zlotys. For this amount you can spend 1.5 hours in the water park, but if desired, the time can always be extended.

If you drive a little away from the towns located along the shores of the lakes, you will find yourself in the city of Kenshtin - the very heart of Lakeland. There is an interesting castle-museum in the Gothic style. And not far from the castle you will see the Church of St. George, towering above the city. It is surrounded by a very ancient high stone fence and built on the steepest and highest slope.

Not far from the city you can visit the remains of Hitler’s headquarters – the “Wolf’s Lair”. Today there is a museum here where you can see the old railway, the Bormann bunker, the Wehrmacht command headquarters, an air defense bunker, a guest bunker and more. A ticket to this unique museum costs 2 euros, and for parking a personal (or rented) car you will have to pay 3 euros.

In the town of Reszel, located 14 kilometers from Kętrzyn, you can also see the ancient Ressel Castle, built by the crusaders. This castle is over 650 years old. From the river side, a Gothic bridge miraculously preserved to this day is connected to the castle. And literally next to it, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, decorated with a clock, rushes into the sky.

Very close to this city there is a very legendary and highly revered place throughout Poland - St. Lipka. In fact, it is a whole complex consisting of an ancient Jesuit monastery and a church. Once upon a time, the Virgin Mary herself appeared to young shepherds in these places. The church truly amazes with its splendor and grandeur, beautiful organ music sounds in it, here you can see figures of saints and, in general, everything here is imbued with absolute calm and shines with gold. You can also go for a snack in the monastery dining room - there you will be treated to delicious dumplings, kvass and berry pies.

Masuria is an amazingly beautiful and vibrant region. This is not just a historical land, but a special part of Poland. The northeastern part of the country, which borders the Kaliningrad region and Lithuania, is poetically called the land of a thousand lakes (although this is not entirely true, because there are much more lakes in these places - about 4 thousand), the green lungs of Poland. Here are the largest lakes in Poland - Sniardwy and Mamry, as well as many picturesque reservoirs connected by rivers. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscaped parks and nature reserves. The Masurian lake region in Poland has become one of the candidates for the title of the seventh wonder of the world.

The Masurian Lakes region is one of the few corners of Europe where nature is preserved almost in its original form. The lakes in this area are connected to each other by small rivers and artificially created canals, the most famous of which are the Elblag Canal and the Augustow Canal. The Elbląg Canal is one of the most important facilities for Poland; its well-thought-out design allows for the possibility of overland movement of ships.

Tourists very often choose the route called the “Great Masurian Lakes”; its length is about 88 kilometers.

To the east of Mazury, having common borders with Belarus and Lithuania, is the Suwałki region, which attracts guests to the region with amazingly beautiful places and the presence of rare fauna.

Those who are partial to water sports, kayaks and sailboats love to come here. And also those who, instead of vacationing in a bustling metropolis, would rather take a walk through calm, centuries-old forests, enjoy the pristine silence and fresh air, saturated with the aromas of pine needles. You can also choose to go cycling or horseback riding, and admire the ancient Gothic-style castles.

Masuria is a place of forests. Here you can go to Pisskaya Pushcha to fully appreciate the beauty and natural splendor of this area. There are many tourist centers and boarding houses at your disposal, as well as various opportunities for pleasant pastime, such as kayaking, walking or cycling. The forests of the Pisskaya Pushcha are home to various representatives of the animal world. Here you can find wild boars, roe deer, wolves, hares, foxes, otters, raccoons, as well as wolves, lynxes and even American minks, and the rare black stork, scarecrow eagle owl and dumb swan and many others live here.

Here you have the opportunity to see the largest flock of swans you have ever seen; it is located on Lake Lukaino. The number of swan couples on the lake and in its environs is about a thousand! This place is carefully protected by the staff of the reserve, and has also been under the protection of UNESCO since 1977. In the same area there is a reserve with numerous and varied wild inhabitants, including bison, wild boars, beavers, storks, wood grouse, moose and many others.

The lakes of Pisskaya Pushcha are an amazing and fascinating sight. Those who like sailing and water skiing come to Lake Baldany, while Lake Nidzke is practically deserted, since motor boats are prohibited from entering many of its areas. This is a calm and very quiet place where you can be alone with yourself and magnificent nature.

The lakes of the forest amaze with their beauty. Beldany and Nidzkie are considered the most beautiful. These lakes, connected by small reservoirs, form a ribbon with a total length of more than 37 kilometers. The bays for swimming, the charm of the panorama, all this has a unique charm.

The huge lake Sijärwy is called the Masurian Sea. Its dimensions are 22 by 13.4 kilometers, and from one bank it is almost impossible to distinguish the outlines of the opposite. It is on this lake that the largest sailing center is located, where both amateurs and professionals come. On the coast of the “Masurian Sea” there is also a livestock research station where “Polish horses”, whose height reaches 140 centimeters, are raised, as well as beavers and deer.

Augustovskaya Pushcha is an area where pine and spruce trees grow, whose age has exceeded one hundred and twenty years. The main river of the area, the Czarna Hancza, flows here, as well as small lakes called “eyes” and the large Wigra Lake, where people come to kayak. The forests of the Augustów Forest are home to martens, deer, moose, beavers, roe deer and many other species of wild animals, as well as birds, including dunlin, white-tailed eagle, gray heron, thick-billed eagle and short-eared owl. And rare species of butterflies live on the peat bogs of the Pushcha.

In the first half of the 19th century, the Augustow Canal was built, which many travelers come to see. Its length is 102 kilometers and it connects the basins of the Niemen and Vistula rivers. You can take a boat or kayak ride along this canal, and along its banks there are villages and towns.

The Czarna Hancza River and Lake Wigry are part of the Wiger National Park and are protected natural sites, and in the park itself there are rare plants, for example, the royal myne, rare archids, dwarf birches and many others, as well as 46 species of animals, including predators (wolves, raccoons, otters and foxes).

Don't miss the Landscape Park if you happen to visit these fabulous places. Here you can enjoy the amazing beauty of the mountain landscapes, as well as the stone beaches of Lake Hancza, where more than two dozen species of fish live.

A unique symbol of the Suwałki region is Cisova Mountain, which is also called the Polish Fuji. Its shape is an amazing shape of an almost regular cone, and it can be seen from anywhere in the Suwalki region.

You can go on an excursion to the city of Mikolajki, which is a major tourist center where various festivals and competitions take place. The length of the local pier is more than 1.5 kilometers.

You can also choose an excursion to the towns of Gizycko or Rucyane, where you will be deliciously fed and drunk in local colorful taverns. And in Gizycko, in addition, every summer there is a large influx of tourists who are attracted here by the opportunity to take part in the legendary Masurian feasts, have fun at night discos and attend concerts held here.

Visit the village of Sztynort, which is located on a peninsula 30 kilometers from Gizycko. Here you will find dense, beautiful forests, as well as a park, a 17th-century manor and a farmyard preserved from the 18th century to the present day. The port of this place is especially popular among tourists, in particular, the Zenza tavern, famous among yachtsmen.

Masuria is distinguished by its excellent developed infrastructure, as well as excellent service and comfortable living conditions. Fans of silence and solitude, as well as lovers of active and sports recreation, come here with pleasure, since this region is able to satisfy the needs of everyone.

You can tell something beautiful and amazing about every lake in this region, each of them is a miracle. Therefore, the best way to get acquainted with real magic is to go to Masuria and Suwalki, to the Polish region of a thousand lakes.

The Land of Masurian Lakes (or Masurian Lake District) is more than 2 thousand lakes connected by 12 canals, 8 rivers and three locks. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscaped parks and nature reserves. This is a land of unique virgin nature, an ideal place for adherents of a secluded and relaxing holiday. Fans of active sports will also have something to do here.

The region of the Masurian Lakes is centered around the largest lake in Poland, Lake Śniardwy and Lake Mamry with their adjacent reservoirs. More than 15% of the area of ​​this fertile region is covered with water, and another 30% is covered with forest.

On the territory of the Masurian Lake District there is the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park - a biosphere reserve of relict forest and habitat of the world's largest population of bison.

The largest lakes: Snyardwy, Mamry, Niegocin. The largest canals: Masurian Canal, Elbląg Canal. Popular resorts: Gizycko, Mikolajki, Wegorzewo, Ryn, Pish and Ilawa.

How to get there

The Masurian Lake District can be reached by train, bus or car. The nearest international airports are located in Warsaw , Gdańsk And Vilnius. The main transport hub of the region is the city of Elk.

The railway stations of Warsaw, Gdansk and Vilnius are connected to the Elka station, which in turn is connected by the railway network. roads with Gizycko and Mikołajki. An extensive network of bus routes connects the lake region with many Polish cities: Olsztyn, Suwalki and Warsaw (50-60 PLN, journey time 5 hours). Prices on the page are for April 2019.

Search for air tickets to Warsaw (the nearest airport to the Masurian Lakes)

Transport

Yachtsmen will be able to reach the largest interconnected lakes, which form the central system of the Masurian Lake District and are located all the way from Węgorzewo to Ruciane-Nida.

Kayakers may prefer a more intimate setting by rafting on smaller lakes and rivers. One of the best and most popular routes for kayakers starts in Sorkvity and runs along the Krutynya River and Lake Beldany.

Those who “stayed” out of work will have to enjoy the surrounding beauty from the comfortable deck of one of the pleasure boats operated by Żegluga Mazurska, based in Giżycko. The boats of this company are equipped with an open deck and a cafeteria and can accommodate hiking backpacks and bicycles. In theory, all boats operate between Giżycko, Mikolajki and Ruciane-Nida daily from May to September. But, in practice, some trips may be canceled if the number of passengers is low. The least chance of cancellation is from the end of June to the end of August.

Popular hotels in Masurian Lakes

Entertainment and attractions of the Masurian Lakes

In the cities of Giżycko, Węgorzewo and Mikolajki There are well-known water tourism centers with marinas and bays, well-developed infrastructure, hotels, recreation centers and water sports equipment stores. In addition, the cities have many attractions that are definitely worth visiting.

Gizycko

Among the attractions of Giżycko, it is worth especially noting the swing bridge, built in 1889 and the only one of its kind in the country; Boyen fortress and water tower. Named after the then Prussian Minister of War, General Hermann von Boyen, the fortress was built in 1844-1856. to protect the kingdom's border with Russia. And since the border ran from north to south and stretched for 90 km along the shore of the lake, the fortress was located in a strategic location, on the isthmus between lakes Niegocin and Kisajno, thereby blocking the passage between them.

Built in 1900 in a neo-Gothic style, the seven-story water tower provided the city with running water until 1997. Today the red brick tower houses a café, but the big attraction is the stunning view of the city and lakes.

Masurian lakes

Aquapark

In summer, the Tropicana water park in Mikołajki, located in the Golembiewski Hotel and part of a large recreational complex, is in great demand. The Tropicana has several swimming pools, water slides, a mountain river, a jacuzzi, dry and steam saunas, snow and salt caves. The water park is open to visitors daily from 08:00 to 21:00; a 1.5-hour pass costs PLN 35/20 per adult/child. And in winter, ice fishing is especially popular in Mikołajki.

Olsztyn

The largest city in the region and the capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship Olsztyn known not only for its attractions, but also as one of the most popular ski resorts in Poland, where thousands of lovers of endless snowy expanses come every year. Well, among the architectural monuments of the city it is worth mentioning the Gothic castle of the Warmia Chapter, and now the Museum of Warmia and Mazury; high gate - the main entrance to the Old Town; the old Baroque town hall and the Gothic Cathedral of St. James.

Ryn

Tourists go to Ryn to visit the majestic Teutonic castle, originally built in the 14th century and later reconstructed in the English neo-Gothic style. Currently, the castle houses the collection of a local history museum with more than 700 exhibits in the fields of ethnography, geology, archeology, art and literature. In addition to the castle, there are other historical monuments in Ryn - an evangelical chapel from the 19th century, a granary from the 19th-20th centuries, a water mill, multi-storey buildings from the 19th century. (you can find them on Swierczewskiego and Kosciuszki streets), as well as a Dutch mill built in 1873.

Pish

But Pish more than makes up for the lack of significant historical monuments with its picturesque meadows and fields, dense forests full of berries and mushrooms, and the crystal clear water of Lake Ros. And yet, while walking around the city, it is worth paying attention to the Church of St. John, the ruins of the Crusader castle, and numerous one-story houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. and a Protestant bishopric.

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Yachting on the Masurian Lakes

Gizycko, for example, is home to the largest number of operators offering yacht charter services. At the same time, the city is a recognized sports center for people with disabilities, who can take part in national regattas organized here on a regular basis. Many companies provide special equipment, advice and training for people with disabilities.

Due to the huge demand for yacht charter services, operators often change from one another. Up-to-date information, recommendations and a list of current operators can be obtained from your local tourism office.

Chartering a yacht in July-August without prior booking can be difficult, while getting a boat in early June or late September is much easier, but you should look hard to ensure you get the best conditions.

In July-August you will have to pay about 180-400 PLN per day to rent a yacht large enough to accommodate 4-5 people. Yacht prices often depend on the size of the cabin, the presence of a toilet, kitchen and other conditions. Lower prices are set in June and September - they are often half the cost of chartering a yacht in the high season. Gasoline, as a rule, is paid for independently, but it happens that operators provide several liters for free. Skipper services on a yacht are paid additionally and average about 250 PLN per day.

You should check the condition of the vessel in advance and report the damage immediately to avoid trouble when returning it. You should come prepared and with your own equipment: a sleeping bag, a raincoat and a lamp.