The dynamics of modern life often does not leave a person time to come to his senses, to make a "reset". Then, picturesque calm places such as the Masurian Lakes come to the rescue. There you can enjoy both solitude and full-fledged human communication, smell the forest, not hot asphalt. In addition, it is a great place for families with children or for sailing, with affordable prices for all categories of travelers.
To the origins
The whole collection of lakes with an area of 310 km2, which is located in the north-east of Poland and is rightfully called the "green lungs of the country", is the Masurian Lake District. Small towns located on this territory have a developed infrastructure and are popular with tourists. But there is almost no industry there, so the ecology is excellent, there are a lot of fish in the lakes and animals in the forests.
The tumultuous history of the region has given rise to many legends: from ghosts in city castles to restless souls of Napoleonic soldiers who wander among the lakes. Old-timers will tell legends, and any tourist can admire medieval architecture, as well as follow the Grunwald Trail from Olsztyn to the battlefield near Grunwald.
Currently Mazury is a large tourist complex. There is well-developed shipping, mainly domestic Polish, including yachting and kayaking. There are unlimited opportunities for recreational fishing, as well as many sanatoriums and tourist centers. The biosphere reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is also located here.
Main lakes
The Masurian Lakes receive a sufficient amount of precipitation, so they are full-flowing and create whole chains of connecting water bodies that flow into the large rivers Vistula and Pregolya.
To facilitate navigation and economic purposes, 2 canals were built:
- Mazursky - 50.8 km long, built in the 18th century. Not recovered after World War II.
- Elblgski - built in 1960, still works.
The pearl of the region is not at all man-made reservoirs, but natural ones. Among them are the largest and most famous lakes:
- Snirdvy - depth 23 m, 113.8 sq. km;
- Mamry - depth 40 m, 104.5 sq. km, on which the city of Vengorzewo is located;
- Ezyorak - depth 37.6 m, 30.3 sq. km. Nearby is the ancient town of Ilawa;
- Niegocin - depth 39.7 m, 26.04 sq. km, on which stands the town of Gizycko, famous for its delicious bream and 200-year-old forest;
- Talts - depth 44 m, 18.36 sq. Nearby is the famous tourist center of Mikolajki.
However, the exact number of lakes is unlikely to be named with certainty. Numbers of 3000 and even 4000 are sounded. One thing is certain - the water is crystal clear in each of them, local authorities and ordinary residents are closely watching this.
Wave Runners: Water Transport
Water covers more than 15% of the lake area. And the most popular transport in this part of Poland is boats, yachts and boats of all kinds.
Fans of active (and inexpensive) recreation will appreciate all kinds of kayaking routes. One of the most popular is the 100-meter Krutynia River, which flows in the Masurian National Park among carefully protected virgin nature.
However, there are hotels and restaurants along the banks of the river that are ready to shelter travelers. You can learn more about kayaking and find like-minded people here, here, here and here, and, if you wish, order a rafting on the Krutyn River. On the websites you can find out the addresses of companies, order a boat - and even with delivery - or join a group of ecotourists. Equipment is also rented.
On average, renting a single kayak will cost PLN 28 / day and a couple of PLN cheaper if you take it for a period of 3 days or more. Double room - in the range of 22-30 zlotys, triple - about 33 zlotys.
Canoe rentals start at PLN 33 / day. Rafting for an adult with a guide will cost about PLN 25, for children and teenagers it will be 2 times cheaper. If you want not to depend on civilization at all, you can rent a boat from local residents.
For lovers of comfort: yachting
If kayaking is not interesting, you can always order a yacht or boat. There are rental points in every town. And the summer parking in Mikołajki is generally considered the “yacht capital”. In the cities there are yacht clubs and special schools - Gizycko is especially distinguished. The following rental options are provided:
- for 1-2 hours - just go for a ride or get from point A to point B. Large companies do not offer such services, but locals will give a ride with a breeze for 10 euros;
- for 1-3 days - mostly small vessels, besides, in the high season it is unlikely to work. However, almost everywhere there is a charter service for the weekend;
- for a week or longer - the case when it is better to find a ship and plot a route in advance.
Life hack: in the high season, prices jump almost doubled, so it's better to book a boat in advance.
Almost everywhere, owners require a refundable deposit - especially for comfortable yachts. Online you can choose vessels from different ports and owners, find them in the port of Ruciane-Nida, on Lake Rynskoe Mikołajki, all over the world. The list is, of course, incomplete - it all depends on your locality.
For a rental day, you can pay from 1000 zlotys for a yacht, although prices are even lower - depending on the class of the boat and the season.
In autumn and winter, prices simply collapse, and there are an order of magnitude more free ships.
In addition, you will have to pay for the captain's services - from 200 to 500 zlotys. Careless handling of the yacht also costs a pretty penny - the slightest breakdowns are taken into account when the yacht is handed over. Although in general yachting in the area of the islands is very inexpensive, especially when you consider the accompanying expenses: food, accommodation and travel.
What to see
Masuria offers not only active recreation, but also cultural, introducing tourists to its rich history. Museums, beautiful architecture, many parks and landmark buildings, steeped in legends - Poland's controversial history is intriguing and enchanting.
Stinort - Mecca for yachtsmen, tourist health resort Augustów, terrifying "Wolf's Lair" - a dilapidated refuge of the Nazis near the town of Kentrzyn and even a planetarium in Olsztyn - the land of a thousand lakes will surprise you again.
Gizycko
The city is called “the summer capital of Poland”, because in summer life here is in full swing. There are equestrian sports, bike paths, and beautiful views of the ancient city, founded in the Middle Ages.
The main architectural attraction of the city is a swing bridge on the Luchansky Canal, built in 1860, and it is raised to the side. It is striking that one person did it.
The more ancient Teutonic castle is also located nearby. Gizycko is also famous for music festivals and a huge old park.
Finding accommodation in the town is easy: you can book a hotel room or use the best guidebook - the city's official website. On the site you can find not only the schedule of various festivals, but also pleasant places to dine, relax and have fun.
Olsztyn
Another beautiful medieval town with many tourist attractions is Olsztyn. The city's official website invites you to visit:
- Castle of the Warmia Chapter. Since 1945, the Museum of Warmia and Mazury has been located here. The museum organizes knights' tournaments, chamber ensemble concerts and the famous "Thursdays with Copernicus".
- An exposition about Nicolaus Copernicus. The astronomer worked as an administrator in the castle, and now he has a permanent exhibition in the Museum. There is also a Copernicus Bench on Zamkova Street.
- Planetarium.
- The Cathedral of St. Jacob is ancient and majestic. It hosts organ concerts.
- The Aquasfera entertainment center is fun, and not only for children.
- Student holidays "Kortovyada" and Artistic Summer - a 3-month festival.
Ryn and Pish
Small towns that are ideal for camping and tourism are Pisz and Ryn. Their charm lies in the small number of tourists and the atmosphere of uncluttered living antiquity. Ryn is also famous for the castle of the Teutonic Order of the 16th century, which was used by the Germans as a torture chamber during the Second World War. The hotel is now located here.
Both towns are similar in architecture, and even more attention to the protection of the environment. They will appeal to those who want to be in the bosom of nature and find peace of mind - this is exactly what the surrounding landscapes contribute to. By the way, knightly tournaments and historical reconstructions are regularly held here.
Mikolajki
Mikolajki has always been a fishing center, and now it is also a haven for yachtsmen (the country's main yacht club is located here), surfers and sailing enthusiasts. You can get there by bus from Warsaw or Olsztyn - as it is convenient. For lovers of antiquity, buildings have survived mainly from the 18th-19th centuries.
The picturesque Piskaya Pushcha also attracts tourists - another carefully protected corner of wild nature.
The city regularly hosts various festivals, bicycle, motorcycle and auto races, the announcements of which can be seen on the official website. Guests of Mikolajki must visit the Tropikana Aquapark at the Golembievsky hotel.
Where to stay
The indisputable advantage of the Mazury Region is the variety of hotels, tourist centers and just camping sites. You can search for them already upon arrival, but if you want to compare the conditions and not miscalculate the price, it is better to use the services of an online service.
The minimum price per night for 1 person is PLN 61, but at the peak of the season the price for accommodation rises, as well as for yacht rental.
At such affordable prices, you can find good cottages, boarding houses, tourist hospitality or summer houses - many provide free cancellation of the reservation.
In reputable hotels, you will have to pay from 100 zlotys per night for an acceptable, but not the best room.
The hotels of the Masurian Lakes are distinguished by good cuisine and offers for leisure activities - the cultural program includes concerts, tours and excursions. It is worth considering that in the height of summer most of the hotels are busy, so it is worth booking a place at least a week in advance, if you are not used to being content with little.
Features of the road
There are several ways to get to the Masurian Lakes:
- Airplane. The only Masurian international airport is located in Olsztyn. From there you can fly to London, Oslo and Warsaw. If you fly with transfers, it is convenient to get there from Warsaw, Krakow or Wroclaw.
- Train. By train you can reach Olsztyn, Elblag and Gizycko. It is more convenient from Warsaw - to Olsztyn it will cost about 40 zlotys. You can also buy tickets in all directions online.
- Bus. Longer than the train, not much cheaper, but there are more directions. The routes are offered by Mobilis and Flixbus. Tickets can be ordered in advance directly on the websites.
- Transfer. Expensive, but comfortable. A trip from Warsaw to Olsztyn will cost about PLN 1,000.
Another option is to use your own transport, but there may be problems at the border. In addition, fuel is very expensive. Do not forget about toll roads.
Conclusion
The Masurian Lakes attract with ecologically clean rivers, forests and parks. There are rich opportunities for outdoor activities, especially water sports, because kayaks, canoes, yachts are more common than cars. Romantic places are not lagging behind in terms of festivals, cultural events, historical sights - it's a common thing to spend a night in a medieval castle here. At the same time, the price of such a holiday is quite acceptable, and the quality is above average.
