Discover Olsztyński: Pilgrimage, Routes and Museums

Olsztyński brings together a range of travel interests: the Marian pilgrimage site of Gietrzwałd, museums in Olsztynek and Barczewo, routes on foot, by bike and by canoe, and protected natural areas. To plan your trip, you can first decide whether to focus on the spiritual site, history or a particular route.

Gietrzwałd: Pilgrimage and Marian apparitions

Gietrzwałd is the only place in Poland where the Catholic Church has officially recognized Marian apparitions. The Kapliczka Objawień marks the place where they took place from June 27 to September 16, 1877. The Cudowne Źródełko is another specific landmark: water reaches the spring through a stone well surround with marble reliefs. Together, these places offer insight into Gietrzwałd’s religious significance and its history as traditionally recounted.

Museums in Olsztynek and Barczewo

Two different museum subjects take center stage in Olsztynek. The open-air museum was moved there from Królewiec in 1940 and is one of the oldest museums in Poland. The Multimedialne Muzeum Obozu Jenieckiego Stalag IB i Historii Olsztynka presents the history of Olsztynek and of the First and Second World Wars, with particular emphasis on Stalag IB Hohenstein. This offers a perspective ranging from the history of the museum to local and wartime history.

Today, Barczewo is home to the Powiatowe Atelier Kultury SYNAGOGA, located in the former synagogue. The venue complements Olsztynek’s museum subjects with the present-day cultural use of a historic building. Planning your trip around your interests lets you choose between pilgrimage, local history and culture, rather than combining these subjects into a single attraction.

Routes on foot, by bike and on the water

The hiking routes vary in length and course. The 49.9-kilometer Do źródeł Łyny trail runs from Olsztyn or Wysoka Brama via Obrońców Tobruku, Jaroty, Bartążek, Kielary, the Łyna, Ruś, the Lalka Peninsula, Kurki PKS, Brzeźno Łyńskie and Łyna to Dobrzyń. The 40.8-kilometer Napoleonsweg runs from Barkweda via Gutkowo, Mątki, Jonkowo, Łomy, Pupki, Gołogóra, Skolity and Dąbrówka to Konradowo. The 130-kilometer Olsztyn–Lipowiec section of the Way of St. James passes through several places to Lipowiec and then continues to Toruń.

The 21.9-kilometer “Jezioro Kośno” educational nature trail through the forest has a different focus: it starts at the bridge over the Kośna on the eastern shore of Lake Kośno, passes through Łajsy and along the lake’s western shore, and returns to the bridge. For cycling, the 40.7-kilometer Gościniec Niborski runs from Olsztyn (Stary Dwór) via Bartąg, Lake Łańskie and Kurki to Napiwoda. On the water, the 14-kilometer canoe route runs from Słupy via Lake Wadąg and the Wadąg River to the Łyna power plant. The shortest distance among these examples is the 9.7-kilometer horse-riding trail from Bałdy to Lake Gim and back to Bałdy. Details about starting points, destinations, distances and modes of travel can help you choose the route that best suits your travel plans.

Nature and travel orientation

Las Warmiński Nature Reserve lies in the municipalities of Purda and Stawiguda. Established in 1982, it covers 1,798.2 hectares and protects forest and aquatic communities characteristic of Warmia, with diverse plant, animal and bird life. This is a different focus from that of the individual routes: here, the emphasis is on habitats and their protection. National Road 16, Droga Tysiąca Jezior Północy, is also a landmark for orientation around Gietrzwałd.

When looking for hotels, base your choice on the places you want to shape your trip. Gietrzwałd is the spiritual focus, while Olsztynek is known for its museums; the route descriptions give specific starting points and destinations for different activities.

Discover more destinations: Biesal, Klewki, Siła, Tumiany, Dorotowo, Myki, Giławy, Nowe Kawkowo, Wadąg, Łajs, Rzeck, Włodowo, Naterki, Swaderki, Pluski, Klebark Wielki.

For the overview of the wider region: Warmia and Masuria.