Hotels in Wilkasy

Wilkasy combines a local history dating back to 1505 with two green hiking trails. If you are looking for hotels in Wilkasy, these topics can offer different points of reference for planning your trip: the settlement’s beginnings and the routes that pass through the area. Both trails extend far beyond Wilkasy and differ in their total length and direction.

The history of the settlement

Wilkasy was founded in 1505 as a free settlement under Magdeburg law. Three years later, the Grand Commander Szymon von Drahe confirmed that Friedrich, Duke of Saxony and then Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, had sold 15 hides of land between Sobole and Niedźwiedzkie to Jan, Jerzy and Paweł; Wilkasy emerged from this transaction. The founding and the confirmed sale describe two steps in the area’s history: the settlement’s legal status and a specific transaction associated with its origins.

Two green hiking trails through Wilkasy

Green hiking trail No. 6 runs from Ogródek via Stare Juchy, Krzywe and Gąski to Wilkasy. From there, it continues via Szeszki, Kucze and Czarna Wieś to the dam near Rajgród. The total length is 118 kilometres, of which 109 kilometres are within the EGO area. After the section near Wilkasy, the trail heads towards a forest. The places mentioned and the destination put Wilkasy within the context of a longer route.

The green “Szlak Mazur Garbatych” hiking trail also passes through Wilkasy. Its route runs from Jasieniec via Czerwony Dwór, Jabłonowo, Szeszki, Dorsze, Wilkasy, Kamionki, Suczki and Gołdap to Stańczyki. The route is 90.4 kilometres long in total, of which 78.9 kilometres are within the EGO area. Along this trail, the small Lake Wilkasy lies north of the route, which goes around it on the north side. The section passing through Wilkasy is part of the E11 international long-distance hiking trail. PTTK Suwałki manages the trail; it is registered under number SU 2012z.

Comparing total lengths, the “Szlak Mazur Garbatych” is shorter at 90.4 kilometres than trail No. 6 at 118 kilometres. The stated distances within the EGO area are 78.9 kilometres for the first trail and 109 kilometres for the second. In addition to these figures, the trails differ in direction: trail No. 6 continues from Wilkasy towards a forest, while the “Szlak Mazur Garbatych” goes around Lake Wilkasy on the north side, and the section passing through the area is part of the E11.

A historic site nearby

Another connection to the area’s history is the Sobole (Wilkasy) military cemetery from the First World War. It is in the forest north of the Olecko–Raczki road, one kilometre west of the village. This adds a distinct memorial site nearby to the history of the settlement. When planning a trip, you can therefore consider two different points of interest: the historical origins of Wilkasy and the hiking trails that pass through the area.

Discover more destinations: Babki Oleckie, Biała Olecka, Olecko, Nowy Młyn, Dobki, Giże, Guzy, Wronki

For the broader travel overview: Olecki.