See on map City break in Olsztyn
Discovering the capital of Warmia and Masuria is extremely interesting at any time of year. It is a city with a soul, where history intertwines with modernity. Here you will feel like pulling out your camera at every tenement house you pass, lying on a bridge by the lake, admiring the clean air, or sailing through the city by canoe.
While in Olsztyn, it would be pity not to visit… Nicolaus Copernicus. It was in the Olsztyn castle that the astronomer wrote the first two chapters “On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres”. The Gothic castle dates back to the 14th century and now houses the Museum of Warmia and Masuria. In its courtyard there is one of the symbols of Olsztyn – Baba Pruska (“Prussian woman”).
Right next to the castle, in place of the former moat, the Czesław Niemen amphitheatre was built, where concerts and other cultural events take place in summer. A photo with Copernicus is a must. Near the entrance to the castle there is an astronomer’s monument in the form of a bench
Narrow streets, atmospheric cafés, stylish tenement houses and greenery all around invite you to stroll and explore. The Old Town of Olsztyn can grab the heart of many tourists. Walking along the cobbled streets, you will reach its central point – the Old Town Hall, built after 1500, which used to be the seat of the town authorities. Nowadays, it houses the Provincial Public Library.
Where else to stop for a while? Certainly at the High Gate, built in the fourteenth century, which was originally called the Upper Gate and is the only surviving gate that is part of the fortifications surrounding the city in the past. In the second half of the 19th century it housed a prison and nowadays you can find a hotel there.
At the Fish Market, in a reconstructed tenement house which housed the editorial office of the newspaper “Gazeta Olsztyńska“, published in 1886-1939, we can now visit a museum devoted to the Polish movement in Warmia. Next to the building there is a monument to St. Jacob – the town’s patron saint.
It is worth mentioning that the trail of St Jacob – the famous Camino de Santiago – runs through Olsztyn. The trail has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and leads through Poland, Germany, France and Spain, among others.
St. Jacob’s Co-cathedral Basilica was erected in the 14th century in the Gothic style, and in the 16th century its tower was added to the height of 70 m. Entering it, we can admire the 16th century vaults. In the cathedral there are relics of St. Wojciech, the patron saint of the Warmia Archdiocese. In the entrance chapel we can see a candlestick with deer horns. According to the legend, the animal escaping from hunters ran into the church and ended its life here.
Being in Olsztyn, it is impossible not to be impressed by the lakes and ubiquitous nature. There are as many as 15 bodies of water within the administrative borders of the city. The Ukiel Lake is bustling with life in the summer, there is a city beach (praised as the best inland beach in Europe), there are water equipment rentals, marinas and restaurants and hotels.
In autumn and winter, the lake shore is an ideal place for romantic walks. There is a picturesque hiking and cycling route running along Długie Lake. From here it is close to the Municipal Forest, the largest forest in Europe within the city limits.
Some may also be interested in the possibility of jumping into a kayak in the city centre and sailing along the Łyna River, from the castle of the Warmia Chapter to the hydroelectric power plant at the mouth of the Wadąg River.
Of course, this is not all that Olsztyn offers. To discover new inspiring places, it is worth coming back here for a longer time and enjoy the Warmian cuisine, local kindness and ubiquitous greenery.
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