What deserves a great deal of tourists’ attention is the eastern border of Masuria. In the village of Prostki, by the river Ełk, we can spot a frontier post, erected in the king Sigmund August’s time, exactly at the junction of three borders – the Polish Crown, Lithuania and Prussia. The eastern part of Masuria, also referred to as Mazury Garbate (Humped Masuria) offers tourists numerous opportunities of active recreation. Two picturesque rivers: the Ełk (which has its springs in the Borecka Forest) and the Lega (flowing from Olecko ) together with the local lakes, beautifully located among hills, make an irresistible lure for sailors and water lovers. The town of Ełk invites tourists to go for an unforgettable ride across the region in the historic narrow-gauge railway.
Near the railway (PKP) and the bus (PKS) station in Ełk you will find the station of the Ełk Narrow-Gauge Railway. This magnificent monument of old technology was created between 1910 - 1917. The steam engine with its funny whistling and puffing sounds is still in operation – it pulls retro-style carriages packed mainly with tourists. At the station you will also find the Railway Museum with many intriguing exhibits and an old locomotive workshop. The narrow-gauge railway will take you to the lake Nieciecz, 21 km away from Ełk, and then to the village of Sypitki.
This enjoyable ride can further be followed by a lovely stroll, a cycling or canoeing expedition.
One of the highest peaks in the range of Szeskie Hills is Tatarska Góra (293 m above the sea level). This is where you can admire the highest located lake in Masuria. Szeskie Hills stretch up to the town of Gołdap and the peak called Piękna Góra, which is a popular ski resort in northern Poland, the only one in the region equipped with a chair ski lift (total length – 763 m).
The lift consists of two distances: the first leads to the peak Piękna Góra (270 m above the sea level), overlooking the picturesque vicinity of Gołdap, the Romincka Forest and Szeskie Hills; the second leads from Piękna Góra to the peak of Góra Zamkowa, where ruins of an old Prussian stronghold were discovered.
The lift is in operation all year long, it is popular with skiers and bikers alike (in the summer bike lovers can ride down along a special sleigh-bike trail of total length 1150 m).
Gołdap is a popular health resort, situated on the verge of the Romincka Forest. The health centre itself is picturesquely located in the forest Kumiecie by the lake Gołdapskie, in the neighbourhood of a complex of concrete bunkers dating back to the World War II – the place veiled in the mysterious history of V 2 rocket engines.
In the Romincka Forest you can follow the hunting route of the German emperor Wilhelm II. The places of his successful hunting attempts were marked by commemorative boulders which can still be spotted in the forest.
Wandering across the Romincka Forest we are bound to get to Stańczyki, famous for the highest railway bridges in the region (36 m). The bridges are no longer open for trains.
Near the railway bridges in Stańczyki you will find a mysterious lake Tubellus. In 1926 during a strong thunderstorm accompanied by baric depression the methane gathered under the lake bottom suddenly exploded, making the lake disappear for a couple of weeks. Another interesting landmark in the vicinity is the matching point of the three borders – the Polish, Lithuanian and Russian.
Worth seeing
Ełk – the old narrow-gauge railway, the water tower from 1895 (at present the Water Drop Museum) tel. +48 87 621 32 00, tel.+ 48 87 610 00 00, www.mosir.elk.com.pl/ekw/index.htm
Olecko – the Neo-Gothic church from the 19th century, a big market with a modern church in the centre.
Rapa – the pyramid
Wieliczki – the 19th-century wooden church.
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