Soldau: Teutonic history, Old Town and cycling routes

Old Town and Teutonic history

In Soldau (Działdowo), the square-shaped market square lies at the heart of the Old Town. Its original medieval street layout has been preserved; the town hall on the market square dates from 1796. The townscape and history meet here: on 13 August 2013, the Interactive Museum of the State of the Teutonic Order opened in the town hall. Its exhibition spans two floors. The first comprises five chronologically arranged rooms, presenting historical topics in sequence.

The Muzeum Pogranicza offers another historical focus. This municipal cultural institution is housed in the reconstructed Dom Duży, adapted for cultural purposes. Its permanent exhibition, titled “Działdowo – miasto i ludzie dawnego pogranicza,” explores the history of the Działdowszczyzna region from antiquity to the mid-20th century. While the Interactive Museum focuses on the State of the Teutonic Order, this exhibition turns its attention to the town and people of the former borderland.

Religious and difficult historical subjects are also part of the local landscape. The Sanctuary of the Blessed Martyrs of Działdowo is located in the Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. It commemorates Archbishop Antoni Julian Nowowiejski and Bishop Leon Wetmański, who were martyrs at the camp in Działdowo. The former barracks building is considered a place of particular historical significance and a testament to the martyrdom of the Polish nation. The Teutonic castle is part of the Szlak Zamków Gotyckich, the Route of Gothic Castles.

Meetings, park and routes

The Działdowo Fair of antiques, crafts and healthy food is a recurring gathering celebrating culture, craftsmanship and local creativity. For a different perspective on the town, visit Park Honorowych Dawców Krwi, whose facilities include walking paths, a climbing park, outdoor trampolines and a stage. These different destinations each offer a distinct focus—from town history and crafts to outdoor activities.

There are four signposted cycling routes around Działdowo, each marked with a different colour. The routes are connected; roughly halfway along them are rest areas with shelters, sports fields and stone barbecue grills. One cycling loop passes through the protected ecological sites of Ptasie Bagno and Torfianki Działdowskie. Wet meadows and peat cuttings characterise this wetland. A 2.421-kilometre shared walking and cycling path was built along the county road between Działdowo and Księży Dwór.

Getting oriented and exploring the wider region

Działdowo lies on the Warsaw–Gdańsk national railway line, with connections to Olsztyn. For road travel, the junction of provincial roads 544, 545 and 542 is an important landmark: road 544 runs between Mława and Lidzbark, road 545 to Nidzica, and road 542 to Ostróda. Check the current timetable for your specific trip. This lets you plan your journey around the experiences you want to shape your stay—such as the Old Town and its exhibitions or the routes around Działdowo.

The wider Powiat Działdowski also offers a broader landscape to explore. The Wel, a left-bank tributary of the Drwęca, flows through the county; the Wkra also crosses the county and flows into the Narew as a tributary. The Welski Landscape Park and Górznieńsko-Lidzbarski Landscape Park lie in its western part. The Ostrów Tarczyński nature reserve lies partly or entirely within the county.

The Piekiełko section of the kayaking route on the Wel is also in Powiat Działdowski. It passes through a deep gorge. Due to the strong current and fallen trees, this section is recommended for experienced kayakers. This distinction matters when planning: the cycling routes around Działdowo and the challenging kayaking route described in Powiat Działdowski are different ways to experience the region.

Discover more destinations: Kopaniarze, Murawki, Naguszewo, Nowa Wies, Działdowo, Grądy, Lidzbark, Uzdowo, Rybno.

Back to the regional travel overview: Warmia-Masuria.