Frombork, the pearl of Varmia, is situated by the Vistula Lagoon, at the foot of the Cathedral Hill. Since the 14th century the town was in hands of the Chapter of Varmia. The 14th-century Gothic cathedral erected on the hill is an absolute masterpiece of architecture. Its richly decorated interior is famous for 26 altars, including the main huge Baroque altar, uniquely adorned presbytery stellas and the so-called Polish chapel and the Baroque chapel of Bishop Szembek. The cathedral is also a big necropolis with numerous epitaph plaques commemorating the most renowned inhabitants of Varmia, among them bishops, canons and, of course, Nicholas Copernicus, who spent over 40 years in Varmia. The cathedral organ, constructed in 1684, belongs to the best and the most popular musical instruments in Europe. It attracts crowds of tourists every summer when famous Frombork organ concerts take place.

The former capital of Varmia, however, was Lidzbark Warmiński - the town of bishops and one of the most significant cultural centres of the First Polish Republic. Among numerous historic monuments the one which attracts the greatest deal of attention is the Gothic castle of Varmia bishops from the 14th century, built in bishop Jan of Miśnia’s time. In the course of time the appearance of the mansion was enriched when corner turrets were added to the whole structure by bishop Łukasz Watzenrode, who was the uncle and protector of Nicolas Copernicus, as well as the sponsor of his expensive studies. The castle courtyard is surrounded with an arcade cloister. The first floor of the castle houses so-called representative rooms. The Great Refectory boasts itself on the Gothic painting The Coronation of the Virgin Mary, as well as the collection of portraits of Varmia bishops painted along the walls of the room. The castle was a place of residence of many incredible celebrities of the First Polish Republic, for instance the astronomer Nicolas Copernicus, the poet Jan Dantyszek, the historian Marcin Kromer, who also funded reconstruction works in Varmia after the wars with Sweden, Stanisław August Grabowski, who first discovered Gallus Anonymus’s chronicles in the castle library and had them published, and the prince of Polish poets - bishop Ignacy Krasicki.

The south of Varmia is where the present capital of the region is located – Olsztyn. Founded in 1353 on the order of the Chapter of Varmia, it takes pride in the following monuments – the cathedral, the Old Townhall, the High Gate, and, obviously, the castle in which Nicolas Copernicus resided for 5 years. It is here that the famous astronomer made some of his greatest discoveries, such as marking the movement of the sun rays on an astronomical board drawn by him on one of the castle walls, as well as establishing the pattern of an equinox. Near the Old Town we can admire one of the most splendid townhalls in Poland, built in the beginning of the 20th century. One of the town’s architectonic jewels is also the Sacred Heart Church, with its highest towers of 82,5 m. Olsztyn is the seat of the University of Varmia and Masuria, with Kortowo being the most picturesquely situated university district in Poland. The description of the town would be incomplete without a mention of its 12 beautiful lakes situated within the administrative borders of the town. Additionally, Olsztyn owes its unique charm to its extensive municipal woodland area with marked tourist routes, as well as the lovely river Łyna, which is a popular canoeing route.

Useful addresses
www.olsztyn.kei.pl
www.olsztyn.eu

Worth seeing
Frombork – The Nicolas Copernicus Museum
tel. +48 55 244 00 75, www.frombork.art.pl
Pieniężno – The Missionary and Ethnographic Museum of Verbists
tel.+48 55 243 92 43, www.seminarium.org.pl
Dobre Miasto – the collegiate from the 14th century, ruins of fortifications with the Stork Turret.
Gietrzwałd – a place of revelations of the Virgin Mary from 1877, the Neo-Gothic church with a wooden pieta from 1425.
tel. +48 89 512 31 02, www.gietrzwald.3c.pl
Barczewo – The Feliks Nowowiejski Museum, the Saint Anna and Szczepan parish church from the second half of the 14th century, the Saint Andrew church from the 14th century, the former synagogue.
Smolajny – the Baroque palace from the 18th century (a former summer residence of Varmia bishops; at present the Agricultural Schools Association).
Głotowo – the Baroque church from1726. The Varmia Way of the Cross from the end of the 19th century, situated in the ravine of the river Kwiela.
www.glotowo.webpark.pl
The Forest Arboretum in Kudypy. tel. +48 89 527 90 90, www.olsztyn.lasy.gov.pl/kudypy