Strange and interesting places in northeast Poland near the border with Lithuania



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Lithuania borders the “Polish lungs” due to its vegetation, the so-called Podlaskie Voivodeship (Podlaskie) and very close to the border is the land of beautiful lakes, the Varmia and Masuria Voivodeship (Warminsko-Mazurskie)

Most people know the most popular objects of these voivodships: Augustów Canals, the Wigry National Park with a monastery, the Białowieża forest, the bunker town “Wolf Bed” or beautiful cities like Giżycko or Goldap.

And what other not so eye-catching but really visiting objects can be found here? By the way, when you visit them, you can also participate in a photography contest, whose prize is a trip to Gdansk. The rules can be found here.

VARMIA VOICE OF MOZURIA

Stanchik bridges (Mosty w Stańczykach)

This structure, unusual for Poland, looks like aqueducts left by the ancient Romans. But at the beginning of the last century, really impressive viaducts were built (length 180m, height 36.5m), when these places were still East Prussia. German engineers designed them according to the ancient Roman aqueduct. Pont du Gard example.

For military purposes in the 20th century. The Goldapas railway line was designed in earlyGołdap) – Jewish courtyard (Żytkiejmy) – Tuber (Gumbin) Civil traffic after the opening of the line in 1926. It was not intense here, which became even richer in these places with the establishment of the Third Reich. This railway even transported construction materials for Adolf Hitler’s “Wolf’s Bed” hideout. Train traffic stopped here in 1945, when the rails were dismantled by the Red Army.

Although it seems abandoned, the Stančikai bridges are a tourist attraction: you will often meet people on them and there is also a visiting fee (4 zlotys).

Rapeseed pyramid

From ancient Rome to ancient Egypt. In the Varmia and Masuria Voivodeship, a building reminiscent of the Nile civilization can be found. A pyramid rises in the rape forests, which is a mausoleum of the Fahrenheid family. Building 16 meters high in 1811. Created by the sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.

Friedrich Heinrich Fahrenheid was a noble and important civil servant in East Prussia who collected works of art and was an active traveler. He was especially fascinated by ancient Egypt, and Fahrenheid was very interested in mummification and the afterlife, so he chose that idea as an eternal resting place for himself and his family. They were all mummified.

The place was desecrated by the Red Army when in 1945. furious in these neighborhoods. The Soviets blew up the wall of the mausoleum, opened the coffins, cut off the heads of the mummified bodies.

For years, the place of eternal rest was open to vandals, and the unusual building was shrouded in legends. Over time, the mausoleum was fixed, but it still left mummified bodies that survived surprisingly well in a humid place. Visitors cannot enter, but it is interesting to walk through the mausoleum.

Zabrost Wielki

“Historic town” may sound boring, but Zabrost Wielki However, it is worth noting. 16th century The village, which began to develop during the First World War, was almost completely destroyed. Formerly called Gross sobrost under its name, it was rebuilt according to the plan of the Berlin architect.

The town has remained practically unchanged for a hundred years. Walking under it, you can admire the big red brick arches, the interesting architectural buildings – take time for the people, because the interest usually lies in the details.

You can also visit the World War I cemetery with valuable old trees and exclusive iron crosses.

Bunker complex in Mamerkai

The secret city of A. Hitler’s bunkers “Wolf’s Bed” (by the way, recently updated) receives countless visitors. But not everyone knows that there is another well-preserved Wehrmacht complex near the border with Lithuania, where a WWII museum was established.

1940-1944 In the forests of Mamerkai, the Germans built almost 250 objects, including 30 solid concrete bunkers, which have survived to this day. Along with the “Wolf’s Bed”, it was the most important place from which the invasion of ground forces into the Soviet Union was coordinated. At the complex, the instructions were distributed by several dozen generals, and almost 1,500 people worked. Wehrmacht officials and soldiers. Some bunkers were designed by A. Hitler himself.

One of the most important orders of the Third Reich forces during the war was delivered in Mamerkai, and here a plan for the assassination of A. Hitler was drawn up, tried to implement in “Wolf’s Bearing”. It was also decided in Mamerk to put down the Warsaw Uprising.

Photo of the Wikimedia Commons / Bunker complex in Mamerkai

Photo of the Wikimedia Commons / Bunker complex in Mamerkai

The Nazis are believed to have been able to build submarines at the complex, which were then transported to the Baltic Sea through the Masurian Canal. The Amber room was suspected to have been hidden here, but no evidence was found after the search.

Masked bunkers with grass and tree bark can be seen in the area, there is a large network of corridors and underground tunnels, and the interior of the full-size submarine has been restored. There is a 38-meter-high observation tower overlooking the bunkers and on the edge of the lake. The observation deck is also installed in one of the bunkers.

Rešlius (Proceedings)

The charming city of Warmia attracts tourists with its beautiful architecture, its quiet life and its tragic story about the last burned “witch” in Europe.

Rešlius belongs to the international network “cittaslow” – “slow cities”. Only those cities that are small and pay close attention to local gastronomic traditions, ecology, and the environment can join. Here you can walk slowly from the historic Gothic bridge to the city park in the gorge, down to the Gothic Bishop’s castle. Finally, have a coffee in one of the cozy streets of the old town.

The idyllic view of the city can only be obscured by the story that it was here that the last woman in Europe to be called a witch was burned. August 21, 1811 Barbara Zdunk, who had been awaiting trial for four years, died in the flames. Since then, no more death sentences have been imposed on anyone on the continent. The woman was accused of causing a fire in the city, and her verdict was signed by King Frederick William III of Prussia himself.

Podlachian Voivodeship

Understanding (Supraśl)

Białystok, which is well known to Lithuanians (Białystok), on the river bank, is a small Supraslė village. For two decades, due to the extremely clean air, it has the status of a spa town, and here Poles from all over the country bring a quiet rest.

Although small, it is rich in tourist attractions and attractions. Only these are also calm. For example, one can visit the Icon Museum with a rich collection of Orthodox paintings and holy crosses.

The most important place is the Renaissance-style Orthodox monastery, which gave rise to the entire city. It was founded in the XV century. In the end, it still contains the icon of the Mother of God, which the Orthodox consider miraculous.

The city harmoniously combines culture, history and nature, and this creates a unique atmosphere. In the cozy streets of the city you can walk among the examples of interesting architecture: houses of prayer, wooden buildings, palace buildings.

Open blind edge (Kraina Otwartych Okiennic)

The place called Open Shutter Edge is a route that connects three towns: Puchlius (Puchły), Socę (Soce) and Tzeszky (Trześcianka). The most charming objects here are old houses decorated with beautiful designs.

The wooden ornaments are decorated on the ceilings, the corners of the buildings and the shutters stand out for their bright colors. It seems as if you are entering the old days, where a quiet life flows slowly in its own grooves, unhindered by the misfortunes of the modern world.

Most of the buildings are of a similar style: wooden, surrounded by a small fence, with two windows facing the main street. But each of them is decorated differently, the eyes are dazzled by the colors and flowers planted near the house.

There is also an impressive wooden orthodox church in bright blue in Puchli and green in Tžešcianka.

The villages are only a few minutes away by car, so it would take a few hours to visit them all.

Krušynian (Kruszyniany)

A trip here is a trip to another culture. In Krušyniana the route of Tartarus in Poland begins (or ends, as you saw it), during which you can discover oriental culture, relax and enjoy peace. The trail can be traveled on foot or by bicycle.

In Krušynian, you can get to know the Tatar culture at least in part: visit the cemetery (Mizary), Eighteenth c. a wooden mosque, the oldest Muslim house of worship in all of Poland, to sample Tatar dishes, even to spend the night in a yurt.

A few years ago, he traveled the Tatar route in Poland. 15 minutes Małgorzata Mozyr, author of the travel pocket “World in Your Pocket”, wrote that In Krušynian, a local imam talks about tartar customs. For example, he explained why inscriptions on Muslim graves are on the other side than on the Christian side. This is because “so that the angels can better see the records.” It is in this area where the Tatar Festival of Culture and Customs is held in August.

Tycocin (Tykocin)

This city is for those who want to travel not only to another country, but also to another period. Tykocin as a magnet attracts fans of the Baroque.

Cobblestone streets meander among white buildings with red roofs, as well as the Baroque synagogue, one of the most beautiful Jewish shrines in Europe. Even the old military hospital, one of the oldest surviving on the continent, has a beautiful Baroque style. It now houses a hotel.

The 600-year-old city was also loved by the kings and dukes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, none of whom spent time here. Sigismund Augustus has built a brick one here in place of the old wooden castle, which has survived to this day.

Tykocin is also called the European stork village. The Podlaskie Stork Trail runs through it and stretches from Białowieża to Narevo National Park.

Beaver National Park (Biebrzański Narodowy Park)

1993 The Bebra National Park, founded in 2006, is the largest in Poland. Occupying around 59 thousand. hectares is a refuge for countless water birds (there are up to 270 species), forest animals. The most important of them is the elk. They can be found here everywhere.

As the territory of the park is large, it is easier to get acquainted with nature by following the marked educational trails. They can be hit on foot, by bicycle or even by kayak. There are also observation towers in the park, from which it is convenient to observe the surroundings.

This year, a large fire broke out in the park and burned about 50 square meters. km of meadows and forests. As a result, a campaign was launched urging all visitors to be very careful not to accidentally relight a new fire.

If you still have ideas on what to see in Poland and beyond the border, you can find them here: 10 places you may not have known in Poland



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