Nidzica – the Procurator’s Castle
This well-preserved Teutonic stronghold is at present a culture, business and entertainment centre. The castle walls have given a seat to many other institutions, such as the local knights’ brotherhood, a museum, an art gallery, a sculpture workshop, a library, a hotel and a restaurant. The castle is surrounded with a 19th century park.
Tourist information, tel. +48 89 625 54 68, www.nidzica.com.pl , www.zamkipolskie.com
You must see
The Tatar stone – 2 km south-west of Nidzica; the largest boulder in Masuria
Łyna – the nature reserve “The Springs of the Łyna River” www.jezioro.com.pl
Ostróda – the Commander’s residence
Before the battle of Grunwald the castle in Ostróda could boast an impressive military and economical potential. During the Napoleonic Wars it was used as military headquarters for German and Russian soldiers, then also the French army. In 1945 the castle burnt down, just like the rest of the town. The towerless Teutonic castle resembles a Prussian fort, actually. At present it houses a culture centre, a museum, a gallery and a library. This is also where meetings of the Morning Star Knights’ Brotherhood take place.
Tourist information tel.+48 89 642 30 00
www.szlak.zamkigotyckie.org.pl , www.ostroda.pl , www.orgh.pl
You must see
Karnity – a Neo-Gothic castle from the 19th century;
Olsztynek
Not much of the local Teutonic castle has been preserved till the modern times – the only remains are parts of the original facade in the northern wing and the Gothic cellars with a rib vault. Today the structure is a seat of a number of schools. Due to its present function, the building is only available for tourist on weekdays, when the schools are open.
Tourist information tel./fax +48 89 519 27 56 , www.olsztynek.com.pl
You must see
The Open-air Folk Buildings Museum in Olsztynek, the Gallery of Glass Paintings www.muzeumolsztynek.com.pl , www.waldemarmajcher.art.pl
Grunwald – the field of the greatest battle of medieval Europe, historical reconstructions of the battle in July
Kętrzyn
The castle was built in the second half of the 14th century. The most representative wing of the structure was inhabited by the procurator. In the course of time the castle changed its appearance as it was rebuilt several times. In 1945 it burnt down. The rebuilding works, undertaken in the 1990s, have given the castle its original Gothic character anew. At present the castle walls house a library, a museum and a culture centre.
Tourist information tel./fax + 48 89 751 47 65 , www.ketrzyn.com.pl
You must see
Reszel – a historic town with the 14th century bishops’ castle
Tourist information, tel./fax + 48 89 755 00 97 www.reszel.pl
Owczarnia near Kętrzyna, the Masurian Museum www.owczarnia.com
Ryn – with a visit to Wallenrod
The greatest Teutonic castle in whole Masuria was built in the second half of the 14th century in the site of a former stronghold of the Galinds. The castle was a seat of the Teutonic commander, who was the head of the whole territory east of the Łyna and Pregoła rivers. The castle changed owners several times, before it was transformed into a prison in the 19th century. After the WW II it became a seat of the commune authorities, a library and a culture centre. There is a considerable divergence between the present appearance of the castle and its original form. Today the castle walls house a conference centre as well as a 4-star hotel.
Tourist information, tel./fax + 48 87 421 80 61 www.rck.ryn.pl
You must see
Sądry – “The Masurian Cottage”, a genuine interior of an old Masurian household with traditional agriculture equipment tel./ fax + 48 89 742 36 11
Nakomiady – a palace from the 18th century www.nakomiady.pl
Węgorzewo
In the 14th century another Teutonic castle was built by the Węgorapa river. The five-side structure with a tower and an inner courtyard was a seat of the Teutonic administrator. In the 18th century the castle in Węgorzewo was rebuilt as a Baroque mansion; later on, it was transformed into a prison. In 1945 the castle burnt down. The only remaining parts are the main walls. At present the castle is waiting for new owners.
Tourist information tel. + 48 87 427 40 09 www.wegorzewo.pl
You must see
The Ethnographic Park and the Folk Culture Museum with a pottery, weaving, lace making, basket weaving and thatching workshop. tel. + 48 427 50 80
Sztynort – the Palace of the Lehndorffs family from the 17th century www.mazury.info.pl , The Zęza Inn – seamen’s tales, shanties.
Giżycko – a seat of the Teutonic procurator
The castle in Giżycko, a seat of the Teutonic procurator, was built in the 14th century over the Łuczański Canal, linking two lakes - Kisajno i Niegocin. In the middle of the 16th century the castle was rebuilt as a Renaissance mansion. After the secularization of the Teutonic Order, the castle was inhabited by the starost of the Prussian duke. What has been preserved to our times is only the residential wing.
Tourist information, tel. + 48 87 428 52 65 www.gizycko.turystyka.pl
You must see
Wolisko in the forest Puszcza Borecka – an enclosure of wisents; a possibility of observing the animals from a viewing platform. The clearing near the local forester’s lodge is a site of Native Americans’ camp. Visitors are welcome from May to September.
Ruins of the bridge over the Sapina river, blown up in September 1945.
Barciany- a seat of the Teutonic procurator
At the end of the 14th century Teutonic Knights built a castle in the site of a former Prussian wooden stronghold. The bricked, four-sided structure with two turrets was originally meant to be the commander’s residence; finally, however, it became a seat of the Teutonic procurator. The castle was rebuilt several times and in the course of time it lost some of its previous importance. The only remaining parts are the eastern wing, the walls and fragments of the northern wing. The castle is currently being rebuilt and reconstructed n order to be converted into a conference centre and a hotel.
Bezławki – a church or a castle ?
At the end of the 14th century Teutonic Knights built a small castle, which consisted of a residential part , turrets, a courtyard and castle walls. In 1513 the residential wing was converted into a church. What is worth seeing inside is the wooden construction of a tower added to the main structure in 1728. This unique building astonishes with its genuineness, the more so because of the well-preserved defensive walls with fragments of the corner turrets.
Tourist information in Kętrzyn, tel./fax + 48 89 751 47 65
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