Elbląg is the oldest town in the province of Varmia and Masuria (civic rights granted in 1246) and the second in the region as to the population (about 126,000 inhabitants); it is also a sea port with a marina for tourist ships to Ostróda (along the Elbląg Canal, famous for a system of unique shipways), Krynica Morska, Frombork and Kaliningrad. The settlement which started to develop near the castle received civic rights in 1246. Great natural conditions stimulated the development of the sea port, which was a significant war-time harbour in king Sigmund August’s time.
In 1945 Elbląg was almost completely destroyed in the World War II. The results of this destruction are still visible. Intensive archaeological works prior to the retroversion of the Old Town are being carried out on an unusually extensive scale. The history of the town and the results of the excavation works are best presented in the castle museum. Among sites which date back to the town’s oldest times are the Gothic Saint Nicolas Cathedral with a 95-metre high tower, the Market Gate, the Our Lady Church (at present a seat of the El Gallery), the former church and hospital of the Holy Spirit (at present a library). The place where you can take a break is the picturesque large park Bażantarnia, situated on a hilly area in the north-east part of the town. Several kilometres south of the town in Raczki Elbląskie you will encounter the lowest situated point in Poland (1,8 m below the sea level). What is going to leave you speechless is definitely a ship cruise along the Elbląg Canal from Elbląg to Ostróda. The unique and ingenius solution was an idea of a German engineer from Konnigsberg (mid 19th century) and it consisted in building two sluices on this scenic route, as well as five ramps which level the difference of waters by 100 m. Ships are lifted up or down the ramps on rails powered by water. Strangely enough, between stations Całuny Nowe and Buczynie ships move across the land for over 2 km! The Elbląg Canal is a part of a network of shipways of the Iława Lake District. The oldest navigation canal in the region is also a part of this network. It was created at the beginning of the 14th century and linked the lake Ewingi with the lake Jeziorak.
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