Masurian lakes poland. Open the left menu Masurian Lakes

The dynamics of modern life often does not leave a person time to come to his senses, to make a "reset". Then, picturesque calm places such as the Masurian Lakes come to the rescue. There you can enjoy both solitude and full-fledged human communication, smell the forest, not hot asphalt. In addition, it is a great place for families with children or for sailing, with affordable prices for all categories of travelers.

To the origins

A whole collection of lakes with an area of ​​310 km2, which is located in the north-east of Poland and is rightfully called "green lungs of the country”- this is the Masurian Lake District. Small towns located on this territory have a developed infrastructure and are popular with tourists. But there is almost no industry there, so the ecology is excellent, there are a lot of fish in the lakes and animals in the forests.

The tumultuous history of the region has given rise to many legends: from ghosts in city castles to restless souls of Napoleonic soldiers who wander among the lakes. Old-timers will tell legends, and any tourist can admire medieval architecture, as well as follow the Grunwald Trail from Olsztyn to the battlefield near Grunwald.

Currently Mazury is a large tourist complex. There is well-developed shipping, mainly domestic Polish, including yachting and kayaking. There are unlimited opportunities for recreational fishing, as well as many sanatoriums and tourist bases... The biosphere reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is also located here.

Main lakes

The Masurian Lakes receive a sufficient amount of precipitation, so they are full-flowing and create whole chains of connecting reservoirs that drain into the large rivers Vistula and Pregolya.

To facilitate navigation and economic purposes, 2 canals were built:

• Mazursky - 50.8 km long, built in the 18th century. Not recovered after World War II.
• Elblgski - built in 1960, still works.

The pearl of the region is not at all man-made reservoirs, but natural ones. Among them are the largest and most famous lakes:

• Snirdvy - depth 23 m, 113.8 sq. km;
• Mamry - depth 40 m, 104.5 sq. km, on which the town of Vengorzewo is located;
• Ezyorak - depth 37.6 m, 30.3 sq. km. Nearby is old City Ilava;
• Niegocin - depth 39.7 m, 26.04 sq. km, on which stands the town of Gizycko, famous for its delicious bream and 200-year-old forest;
• Talts - depth 44 m, 18.36 sq. km. Nearby - famous tourist centre Mikolajki.

However, the exact number of lakes is unlikely to be named with certainty. Numbers of 3000 and even 4000 are sounded. One thing is certain - the water is crystal clear in each of them, local authorities and ordinary residents closely monitor this.

Wave Runners: Water Transport

Water covers more than 15% of the lake area. And the most popular transport in this part of Poland is boats, yachts and boats of all kinds.

Fans of active (and inexpensive) rest will appreciate all kinds of kayaking routes. One of the most popular is the 100-meter Krutynia river flowing in the Mazury national park among carefully protected virgin nature.

However, there are hotels and restaurants along the banks of the river that are ready to shelter travelers. You can learn more about kayaking and find like-minded people, and more, and if you wish, you can order a rafting on the Krutyn River. On the websites you can find out the addresses of companies, order a boat - and even with delivery - or join a group of ecotourists. Equipment is also rented.

On average, renting a single kayak will cost PLN 28 / day and a couple of PLN less if you take it for a period of 3 days or more. Double room - in the range of 22-30 zlotys, triple - about 33 zlotys.

Canoe rentals start at PLN 33 / day. Rafting for an adult with a guide will cost about PLN 25, for children and teenagers it will be 2 times cheaper. If you want not to depend on civilization at all, you can rent a boat from local residents.

For lovers of comfort: yachting

If kayaking is not interesting, you can always order a yacht or boat. There are rental points in every town. And the summer parking in Mikołajki is generally considered the “yacht capital”. In the cities there are yacht clubs and special schools - Gizycko is especially distinguished. The following rental options are provided:

• for 1-2 hours - just go for a ride or get from point A to point B. Large companies do not offer such services, but locals a ride with a breeze for 10 euros;
• for 1-3 days - mostly small vessels, besides, in the high season it is unlikely to work out. However, almost everywhere there is a charter service for the weekend;
• for a week or more - the case when it is better to find a ship and plot a route in advance.

Life hack: in the high season, prices jump almost doubled, so it's better to book a boat in advance.

Almost everywhere, owners require a refundable deposit - especially for comfortable yachts. Online you can choose vessels from different ports and owners, find them in the port of Ruciane-Nida, on Lake Rynskoe Mikołajki, all over the world. The list is, of course, incomplete - it all depends on your locality.

For a rental day, you can pay from 1000 zlotys for a yacht, although prices are even lower - depending on the class of the boat and the season.

In autumn and winter, prices simply collapse, and there are an order of magnitude more free ships.

In addition, you will have to pay for the captain's services - from 200 to 500 zlotys. Careless handling of the yacht also costs a pretty penny - the slightest breakdowns are taken into account when the yacht is handed over. Although in general yachting in the area of ​​the islands is very inexpensive, especially when you consider the accompanying expenses: food, accommodation and travel.

What to see

Masuria offers not only active recreation, but also cultural, introducing tourists to its rich history... Museums, beautiful architecture, many parks and landmark buildings, steeped in legends - the controversial history of Poland is intriguing and enchanting.

Stinorth - Mecca for yachtsmen, tourist health resort Augustów, the terrifying Wolf's Lair - a dilapidated Nazi refuge near the town of Kentrzyn and even a planetarium in Olsztyn - the land of a thousand lakes will surprise you again.

Gizycko

The city is called "the summer capital of Poland", because in summer life is in full swing here. There are equestrian sports, bike paths, and wonderful views an ancient city founded in the Middle Ages.

The main architectural attraction of the city is a swing bridge on the Luchansky Canal, built in 1860, and it is pulled apart to the side. It is amazing that one person did it.

The more ancient Teutonic castle is also located nearby. Gizycko is also famous for its music festivals and a huge old park.

Finding accommodation in the town is easy: you can book a hotel room or use the best guidebook - the city's official website. On the site you can find not only the schedule of various festivals, but also pleasant places to dine, relax and have fun.

Olsztyn

Another beautiful medieval town with many tourist attractions is Olsztyn. The city's official website invites you to visit:

• Castle of the Warmia Chapter. Since 1945, the Museum of Warmia and Mazury has been located here. The museum organizes knights' tournaments, chamber ensemble concerts and the famous "Thursdays with Copernicus".
• An exposition about Nicolaus Copernicus. The astronomer worked as an administrator in the castle, now a permanent exhibition in the Museum is dedicated to him. There is also the Copernicus Shop on Zamkovaya Street.
• Planetarium.
• The Cathedral of St. James is ancient and majestic. It hosts organ concerts.
• The Aquasfera entertainment center is fun, and not only for children.
• Student holidays "Kortovyada" and Artistic Summer - a 3-month festival.

Ryn and Pish

Small towns that are ideal for camping and tourism are Pisz and Ryn. Their charm is in the small number of tourists and the atmosphere of uncluttered living antiquity. Ryn is also famous for the castle of the Teutonic Order of the 16th century, which was used by the Germans as a torture chamber during the Second World War. The hotel is now located here.

Both towns are similar in architecture, and even more attention to protection environment... They will appeal to those who want to be in the bosom of nature and find peace of mind - this is precisely what the surrounding landscapes contribute to. By the way, knightly tournaments and historical reconstructions are regularly held here.

Mikolajki

Mikolajki has always been a fishing center, and now it is also a haven for yachtsmen (the country's main yacht club is located here), surfers and sailing enthusiasts. You can get there by bus from Warsaw or Olsztyn - as convenient. For lovers of antiquity, buildings have survived mainly from the 18th-19th centuries.

The picturesque Piskaya Pushcha also attracts tourists - another carefully protected corner of wild nature.

The city regularly hosts various festivals, bicycle, motorcycle and auto races, the announcements of which can be seen on the official website. Guests of Mikolajki must visit the Tropikana Aquapark at the Golembievsky hotel.

Where to stay

The indisputable advantage of the Mazury Region is the variety of hotels, tourist centers and just camping sites. You can search for them already upon arrival, but if you want to compare the conditions and not miscalculate the price, it is better to use the services of an online service.

Minimum price per night for 1 person is 61 PLN, however, during the peak season, the price of accommodation rises, as well as for renting a yacht.

At such affordable prices, you can find good cottages, boarding houses, tourist hospitality or summer houses - many provide free cancellation of the reservation.

In reputable hotels, you will have to pay from 100 zlotys per night for an acceptable, but not the best room.

The hotels of the Masurian Lakes are distinguished by good cuisine and offers for leisure activities - the cultural program includes concerts, tours and excursions. It is worth considering that at the height of summer most of the hotels are busy, so it is worth booking a place at least a week in advance, if you are not used to being content with little.

Features of the road

There are several ways to get to the Masurian Lakes:

• Airplane. The only Masurian international Airport is located in Olsztyn. From there you can fly to London, Oslo and Warsaw. If you fly with transfers, it is convenient to get there from Warsaw, Krakow or Wroclaw.
• Train. By train you can reach Olsztyn, Elblag and Gizycko. It is more convenient from Warsaw - to Olsztyn it will cost about 40 zlotys. You can buy tickets in all directions online.
• Bus. Longer than the train, not much cheaper, but there are more directions. The routes are offered by Mobilis and Flixbus. Tickets can be ordered in advance directly on the websites.
• Transfer. Expensive, but comfortable. A trip from Warsaw to Olsztyn will cost about PLN 1,000.

Another option is to use your own transport, but there may be problems at the border. In addition, fuel is very expensive. Do not forget about toll roads.

Conclusion

The Masurian Lakes attract with ecologically clean rivers, forests and parks. There are rich opportunities for active rest, especially aquatic species sports, because kayaks, canoes, yachts are more common than cars. Romantic places are not lagging behind in terms of festivals, cultural events, historical attractions - spend a night in medieval castle it's a common thing here. At the same time, the price of such a holiday is quite acceptable, and the quality is above average.

Masurian Lakes in Poland: Video

There is an ethnographic and historical region in northern Poland, which includes vast lands that combine more than 4 thousand natural reservoirs. This region is perfectly characterized by the name quite often used for it - the Land of a Thousand Lakes. Some of them are connected by canals, rivers and locks. All these are the Masurian Lakes in Poland, about which the story is presented in the article.

General information

Masuria is a unique and amazingly beautiful lake region in Poland. Many, describing this region, refer to it areas that actually do not belong to it. It is located in the northeastern territory of Poland, with the following borders: east - Suwalki (Suwałki region does not belong to Mazury); west - Olsztyn; north - Russia ( Kaliningrad region); south - Piskaya Pushcha. These are the very real Mazury, where more than 4000 small and large lakes are located, many of which are connected by natural rivers and artificial canals.

The postglacial landscape of this corner of Poland is famous for its bizarre geology and varied vegetation. The climatic conditions are quite favorable here. In these places, the history of the development of settlements is very interesting.

From this paradise, you can get to any part of the country by water.

Short story

The first information about shipping in the Great Masurian Lakes region dates back to 1379. At that time, the Master of the Teutonic Order of Knights made a boat trip to Malbork across these lakes. In the city itself, in the chronicle of Elblg, there is a record that in the 15th century ships were built from the wood of the trees of the Piska Forest.

In the period from 1763 to 1766, by order of Frederick II, canals were built that connected the lakes from the city of Vegorzhevo to the Pisa River. Only in the 19th century did the region acquire the name Masuria. The Great Masurian Lakes are the most important part of this complex.

Description of the region

Mazury is the largest lake system in Poland. 45 reservoirs are connected by eight rivers and twelve canals. This land, called the Green Lungs of Poland, is one of the places in Europe with an exceptional landscape value and pure nature. It has many forests and two forests (in the south - Piskaya, in the east - Boretskaya). The complex contains two of the largest lakes in the country:

• Snyardvy with an area of ​​114 sq. km and 8 islands.
• Mamry (area 104 sq. Km, 33 islands).

The deepest lake is Khancha, and the longest is Jezerak. The most popular canals among tourists are the Elblгg and Augustow canals.

It should be noted that many people call niardwy Lake the Masurian Sea, since the opposite is almost indistinguishable from one side. The largest sailing center is located next to this natural reservoir. There is also a research and development station for breeding Polish horses up to 140 cm in height, deer and beavers.

Tourism

What to see in the Masurian Lakes and what can you do here? These places are a paradise for sailing, canoeing and rowing enthusiasts, as well as for those who love outdoor activities. The most famous water tourism centers in the country are located here. They are located in the cities of Vegorzhevo, Gizycko and Mikolajka. There are on the lakes and bays, and marinas with hotels, developed infrastructure, recreation centers and sports equipment shops.

This region has excellent conditions for agritourism. The picturesque forests are ideal for exciting horseback riding trips. Numerous churches and castles built by Teutonic knights in the Gothic style also attract attention.

The largest city in the region - Olsztyn (160 thousand inhabitants). Valuable historical monument is the Teutonic castle - a structure of the XIV century. Today it houses the Museum of Masuria and Warmia, telling about Nicolaus Copernicus, who once worked in this city. The attraction of the Masurian Lakes region is the High Gate, which is a fragment of the city's fortifications of the 14th century, as well as the Gothic cathedral and the old Baroque town hall.

Mostly popular among tourists are the Great Mazurian Lakes, located in the very center of the region. These are the largest reservoirs: Mamry, Snyardvy and Jezerak.

Places for rest

The Masurian Lakes attract many tourists. Where to stay? There are many campgrounds on the shores, however, they are only areas for tents. In this regard, Poland should still develop. Of course, there are campgrounds with sandy beaches and flower alleys, just like in others. European countries... True, in Poland they are considered 4-stars. For example, there is such an establishment on the shore of Lake Taltu, which is not very large by Masurian standards.

However, such living conditions do not interfere with enjoying the indescribable beauty of the surrounding nature, tranquility and silence.

Finally

As you can see, there is a lot to see on the Masurian Lakes. Especially noteworthy is the opportunity to see a huge flock of swans on Lake Lukaino. The number of these birds is up to a thousand or more. This place is under the protection of UNESCO (since 1977).

The territory of the Masurian Lakes is one of the candidates for the title of the wonder of the world. It is one of the few corners of the earth where nature is almost pristine.

Mazury in Poland is an amazingly beautiful and unique lake region. Almost everyone who describes Mazury is dumping districts that do not belong to Mazury at all, and as a blueprint, one faked, the rest lick. Mazury is located in the north-east of Poland in the border: east - Suwalki (Suwałki region does not belong to Mazury); west - Olsztyn; in the north - Kaliningrad region (Russia); in the south they end with Pisskaya Pushcha. This is Mazury, where more than 3000 lakes are concentrated, most of which are connected by rivers or artificial canals. This part of Poland stands out for the beauty of the landscape formed by the last glaciation, features geological structure, climatic conditions, the uniqueness of the vegetation cover and fauna, as well as the history of land development and the ethnic composition of the population. Tourists mainly chose the Great Masurian Lakes, which are located in the center of Mazury and where all large lakes: Snyardvy, Mamry and Eziorak (27 km long!).

Mazury real paradise for fans of sailing and kayaking, as well as anyone who prefers to relax in silence and take leisurely walks in the forest, ride a bicycle or horseback. In the vicinity there are Gothic castles and churches built by the crusaders who once owned these lands.

Mazury is very popular place recreation of the inhabitants of Poland, well developed tourist infrastructure related to accommodation, food and sports. In the large tourism centers: Mikolajki, Mrронgowo, Gizycko, numerous sports and cultural events take place in the summer.

The Masurian Lakes region has become one of the candidates for the title of the seventh wonder of the world, it is one of the few corners of Europe where nature is preserved almost in its original form. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscape parks and nature reserves.

Mazury is a place of Pushcha. Here you can go to Pisskaya Pushcha to fully appreciate the beauty and natural splendor of this area. The forests of Pisskaya Pushha are inhabited by various representatives of the animal world: wild boars, roe deer, wolves, hares, foxes, otters, raccoons, lynxes and even American minks, and from birds: a rare black stork, eagle owl, dumb swan and many others.

Here you can see the largest flock of swans that you have ever seen - on Lake Lucaino. The number of swan pairs on the lake and in its vicinity is about a thousand! This place is carefully guarded by the staff of the reserve, and since 1977 it has been under the protection of UNESCO.

Huge Lake Snyardvy called the Masurian sea. Its dimensions are 22 by 13.4 kilometers, and from one coast it is almost impossible to distinguish the outlines of the opposite. It is on this lake that the largest sailing center is located, where both amateurs and professionals come. On the coast of the "Masurian Sea" there is also a livestock research station, where "Polish horses", whose height is up to 140 cm, as well as beavers and deer are raised.

In Mazury, there are mostly narrow asphalt or dirt roads, however, as in all of Poland, you cannot accelerate, although the Poles manage, and indeed, like ours on our terrible roads. But what amazed me was the alleys, even a bad road can be forgiven by driving along these wonderful alleys.

On the shores of the lakes, there are many so-called campgrounds, which are just places for tents, this side of tourism is still "stalled" in Poland. We hardly found a "normal" campsite, as usual in Germany, but 4 stars in Poland, at a price of 15 euros per day. However, we were satisfied: there were flowers all around, an emerald lawn under the tent; cozy restaurant; not a large number of tourists (apparently because of the price); own sandy beach on the lake; cleanliness and tranquility.

The camping is located on the shore of a small (by Masurian standards) Lake Taltu(22 km long!), When, having settled down, they went ashore, were amazed by its enormous size and the wonderful view of the setting sun.

The next day we went to inspect the tourist Mikolajki town located 10 km from us.

Tourist boats, boats, sailboats, etc. depart from the Mikolajki pier. in different directions, it all depends on your time, desire for what to see and ... wallet. We took a boat tour to Gizycko(12 euros per person for 8 hours, it is round trip). We sailed many lakes and canals, admired the beautiful landscape, swans (unfortunately from afar), beavers, yachts, bridges over the canals. We regretted not staying in Gizycko for a longer time, we were given only 1 hour, there was an opportunity to sail on the next boat, but this had to be agreed in advance. So we had a little time: to see the spread unique bridge on the Luchansky Canal, which since the 19th century has remained the only one in Europe and ... have lunch. But, alas, there was not enough time for the most beautiful medieval castle.

bar on the water: beer, hot coffee, juices, sandwiches

when you swim under the bridge, the roof of the boat goes down

Gizycko: "black panther" and the famous sliding bridge.

While we were having lunch, we enjoyed watching the crow, who quickly managed the leftovers of the lunch until they were removed.

Gizycko embankment.

Maybe people swam during the day, but at this time we usually went somewhere. They were amazed by their beauty huge poppy fields, my husband with difficulty pulled me out of there, probably, I was intoxicated with a drug from this beautiful sight alone. Flowers are my hobby, and the fields of tulips, daisies, poppies are simply mesmerizing.

Every day, yachts moored the camping berth, offering various services, skiing for an hour or more, apparently thus earning their continued existence. Skiing hour 5 euros. But we drove so hard to Gizyck, which was more than enough.

it miniature park, everything that is interesting in Mazury, later went to see some "mini" in full size.

Masurian village

city ​​of Rastenburg. The Polish and German names of cities are somewhat different, the Germans still cannot accept the loss of a huge territory after the war, the names of cities in their maps, etc. its own - German, and Poland gave its own, so it is sometimes difficult to figure it out. The Mazury before the war were German, like Kaliningrad, which is still written in the maps of Königsburg to this day.

Let's go to the baroque castle in the village of Dönenhof, which I liked very much in the miniature park. The expected did not comfort, this castle looked better in the miniature park. Moreover, they had to look for him for a long time, even in the village where the castle is located ... they do not know about its existence, no wonder, it got lost in the forest and ... collapses, presenting a rather pitiful picture. Looking at our German license plate on the car, the bare-bellied children accompanied us for a long time, showing the throw of their hand "Heil Hitler", the hinterland, in a word .... And if this castle was primarafeti, at least from the outside, it would be possible to cut some money from tourists, because he is just a handsome man, and so ... they found an aunt who guards this "masterpiece" and climbed around for free.

Gateways. They began to be built even before the war, dug canals, filled with water, the Germans had practically finished structures during the war. Hitler had big plans with these floodgates, but he failed to carry them out. After the war, there was simply no money for their restoration, and these colossi are still standing, gradually collapsing from time to time, the water from the canals left and they were overgrown with greenery. The difference between what he saw in nature and in the miniature park was striking, here everything looks more significant, more powerful.

canals overgrown with bushes and covered with silt

Masuria can be called the land of a thousand lakes. Or rather, there are more than 2000 lakes here, connected by 12 canals, 3 locks and 8 rivers. All this high water is located on the territory of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscaped parks and wonderful nature reserves. These places can be called islands of the most unique virgin nature, which are ideal for fans of a calm and secluded relaxation.

For many centuries, Masuria was subject to a variety of rulers - Tatars, Swedes, Russians, Prussians, etc. At one time Mazuria was part of the German Empire. Masuria is now often called the "green lungs of Poland", and in the last century it was declared a recreation area.

Regardless of which side of the world tourists come here, they still have to drive through the ancient city of Thorn. This real medieval city has preserved its narrow streets and old buildings, which are now undergoing restoration.

In the Masurian Islands, in small coves, it is very common to see many private yacht marinas. There are also equipped campsites for recreation. Lovers of yachting trips are offered rental for a week, for one day, in general, for any period. Yachts are of various types - from the simplest to the luxurious, equipped with everything you need.

Here you can choose from a wide variety of leisure activities - kayaking, canoeing, swimming, diving and, of course, fishing. You can walk along all the shores by boat or yacht, inspecting ancient castles, ruins of ancient cities and cultural monuments along the way.

The Masurian Lakes are considered a paradise for lovers of virgin nature. Here you can find such representatives of the fauna as deer, lynxes, bison, wolves, wild boars, many birds, the most typical of which are cormorants and gray herons. And in the Masurian Lakes themselves there are over 60 species of various fish - pike, pike perch, carp, eel, trout and salmon. However, amateur fishermen must first obtain a permit from the Polish Fishing Association.

If you come to Poland to relax on the Masurian Lakes, then you will not have problems finding accommodation. You will even have different options. Either you can stay in a modern mansion, in some luxurious apartment, or on the lakeside in a summer fishing lodge. There is no need to worry about the purity of the water - thanks to the recently built large number of treatment facilities, the water here is very clean and transparent everywhere.

The so-called "houseboats" are especially popular here. These are very comfortable and quite safe boats, in which the whole family can relax. They have everything you need - lounges, showers, kitchen and heating. On such boats, you are guaranteed comfort and a lot of pleasure during the trip. And you are already choosing the one that best suits your needs.

The most popular and comfortable resorts in the Mazury Lake District are considered to be Pisz, Mikolajki, Vegonzhevo, Gizichko, Ilawa and Ryn. These are cozy towns with a large number of hotels, large recreation centers, children's entertainment and shops with everything you need. You can book a hotel, camping or apartment in the Masurian Lakes region through any of the booking sites. You will find many different offers here. Besides the fact that each of these towns is ideal place for water tourism, they also have a lot of different attractions.

In the town of Grzycko you can see the most unique swing bridge, the only one in the whole territory of Poland. It was erected back in 1889, and it is a huge multi-ton colossus that opens a canal for shipping. In the same town, you can visit the Boyena Fortress, erected in 1856 and intended to protect the borders with Russia. This is the most grandiose structure, which is an undoubted historical value, will surely amaze you with its reliability and power, since it has retained its formidable appearance to this day.

In Mikołajki, the most interesting thing for you will be to visit large water park"Tropicana". Child entrance ticket it costs 15 PLN, and an adult costs 30 PLN. For this amount, you can spend 1.5 hours in the water park, but if you wish, the time can always be extended.

If you drive a little away from the towns located on the shores of the lakes, you will find yourself in the city of Kenshtin - the very heart of the Lake District. There is an interesting castle-museum in the Gothic style. And not far from the castle you will see the Church of St. George, towering over the city. It is surrounded by a very ancient high stone wall and was built on the steepest and highest slope.

Not far from the city, you can visit the remains of Hitler's headquarters - "Wolf's Lair". Today, there is a museum equipped here, where you can see - the old railroad, Bormann's bunker, Wehrmacht command headquarters, air defense bunker, guest bunker and so on. A ticket to this kind of museum costs 2 euros, and you will have to pay 3 euros to park your personal (or rented) car.

In the town of Ressel, located 14 kilometers from Kentshin, you can also see the ancient castle of Ressel, built by the crusaders. This castle is over 650 years old. From the side of the river, a Gothic bridge, which has miraculously survived to this day, is brought up to the castle. And literally next to him, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, decorated with a clock, rushes into the sky.

Not far from this city there is a very legendary and highly revered place throughout Poland - Svyataya Lipka. In fact, this is a whole complex consisting of an ancient Jesuit monastery and a church. Once upon a time in these places the Virgin Mary herself appeared to young shepherdesses. The church truly amazes with its magnificence and grandeur, beautiful organ music sounds in it, here you can see figures of saints and, in general, everything here is saturated with absolute tranquility and shines with gold. You can also go to the monastery canteen for a snack - there you will be treated to delicious dumplings, kvass and berry pies.

Great Mazury Lakes is a historical and ethnographic region in northern Poland. This is a huge territory of picturesque nature, called the "Land of a Thousand Lakes", of which there are up to 4 thousand in these places. Most of the lakes are of glacial origin. Lakes with rugged coastline fit into a beautiful landscape. The Great Masurian Lakes are located on an area of ​​about 1700 km2 and occupy the fourth part water resources Poland. This is a miracle of nature. The lakes are located on the territory of the largest in Poland and the second largest in Europe forest complex Piszskaya Pushcha and the forest area of ​​Augustowska Pushcha. The largest of the lakes are Sniardwy (113 km2), which is also called the Masurian Sea, and Mamry (105 km2) in the Masurian Lake District, the most deep lake is located in the Suwałki Lake District, and in the Iława Lake District, the longest lake is Jeziorak (27 km). Lake niardwy is connected to Lake Ros by a very long Masurian channel, called the Eglinsky channel. In southern Mazury there is one of the longest lakes with 13 islands, reserves and villages, called Lake Nidza. In the very heart of Mazury, surrounded by lakes Niegocin and Kisaino, there is a Pivot Bridge on the Luchanski Canal - the only object of this type in Poland and one of two in Europe. Most of the lakes are connected by canals, locks or rivers, which makes it possible to practice sailing and water tourism. A real pearl of the lake region is the unique, active old Ostroda-Elblгg Canal, built in 1848-1876. Along the canal, excursion boats and water tourists, with the help of four ancient locks and five unique slipways, over water and land overcome a path of 82 km, with a 100-meter vertical drop. The total length of the water system is 1298 km. To the east is the Augustow Canal, the wonderful Wigry Lake, the deepest lake in Poland Hancza (108 km). Between the two lakes Mikolajskoe and Talty is the town of Mikolajki with a population of only 4 thousand people. This town is called "the pearl of Mazury". The town is turning into an active tourist center, where festivals, excursions take place and there are many sailing ships on the 1.5 km long pier. Between lakes Niegocin and Mamry there is a small town called Gizycko, which is called the "summer capital of Poland", where festivities, concerts and discos are held. 30 km from Gizycko there are lakes Dargin and Kirsayty and Shinortskoe lake with picturesque village Shinorth on the peninsula. This place is called "Mecca of yachtsmen". Some lakes are included in the "zone of silence", where the movement of motor boats, scooters, boats and excursion boats is prohibited. In the Great Masurian Lakes region, there is an excellent tourist infrastructure with equipped water bases and marinas for kayakers and yachtsmen, many campsites and hotels of various categories. Tourists are offered numerous cycling, hiking and kayaking routes, a sailing and surfing school, yacht posts, water marinas, horse riding stables, historical sights and attractions. These are places for summer gatherings of tourist and sailing fraternity, sporting events, folklore and music festivals.