The Land of Thousand Lake and Countless opportunities

Warmia and Masuria is situated in north - eastern Poland, two hours by car from the tricity. It’s often called the land of a thousand lakes owing to a large number of lakes there.   In the region, there are over 40 hotels of various standard and style that can accommodate over 5,000 people. Such an amount ensures a wide variety of offers for all kinds of visitors – those who prefer gothic castles and manor houses, those looking for traditional design inspired by Warmia and Masuria architecture, as well as those who are after state-of-the-art resorts. Apart from attractions provided by hotels, there are many ways of spending your leisure time in an active and exciting manner. After playing golf, kayaking, sailing, going on  a cruise in a passenger boat or cycling, you should absolutely have some rest and relaxation in one of numerous spa & wellness hotels.

Olsztyn – the capital of the region

You should spend at least a few days in the capital of  Warmia and Masuria. It’s absolutely worth it. The most interesting and valuable sights are located in the Old Town. The Neo-Gothic city hall in the heart of the Old Town features stunning sundials on the outer walls of the building. The Gothic Castle of Warmian Bishops dating back to the 14th century, which was once administered by Mikołaj Kopernik, a world-known astronomer, houses the Museum of Warmia and Masuria that’s definitely worth your while. Lots of cultural and special events are held in the Old Town throughout the year.

What’s more, there are also plenty of recreational spots where you can spend time in an active way. In the surroundings of Lake Ukiel, you’ll find jetties, a promenade, cycling paths and ski runs, a sport equipment rental,a seasonal ice rink, a skatepark (turned into a snowpark in winter), an allyear water sports base, an all-year beach volleyball hall with squash rooms,

volleyball courts and playgrounds. Olsztyn is directly connected by train to Olsztyn–Mazury Airport. From 20 May 2017, it’ll be possible to fly here with Wizzair directly from Oslo three times a week. And then it’ll only take 40 minutes to get to the capital of the region by train. The Land of a Thousand Lakes will be even closer then!

More at: www.visit.olsztyn.eu, www.visit.ukiel.eu

Lands perfect for golfers

One of the first gold courses in Poland – Mazury Golf &Country Club – is located near Olsztyn, in Naterki. Diverse lay of the land and its exceptional location make the course really attractive for both experienced golfers and the beginners. Another golf course – Sand Valley Golf &Country Club – is located in Pasłęk.

Read more at: www.mazurygolf.pl ; www.sandvalley.pl      

The Elbląg Canal

With its unique hydrotechnical infrastructure and picturesque surroundings, the Elbląg Canal attracts tourists from all over the world. The fascinating lands of the canal, functioning for over 150 years, and its neighbouring areas provide plenty of attractions. You can go on a passenger boat cruise, sail the canal, go kayaking or have a shot at water biking. For those who are keen on cycling, there are over 600 km of trails.On the canal, there are five inclined planes which allow boats to be carried on special carriages running on rails – so the boats are said to be sailing on the grass.

The winding gear used is propelled mechanically, by the flow of water. Near one of the planes, in Buczyniec,operates a Historical Chamber with a multi-media room and an exhibition of, among others, moulds of inclined planes devices and documentation on the canal’s construction, including original documents signed by its constructor, Georg Jacob Steenke. A great starting point for exploring the Elbląg Canal and its attractions is Anders Hotel****, located on one of the branches of the canal, in Stare Jabłonki, by Lake Szeląg Mały.

Information about cruises on the canal is available at: www.zegluga.com.pl

Kayaking on the Krutynia River

Warmia and Masuria is a kayaking paradise. One of the most attractive kayaking trails – the Krutynia trail – is over 100 km long and it goes through the most beautiful and breath-taking lands. For example, over a half of the trail goes through the Masurian Landscape Park. Many valuable specimens of flora and fauna can be found there, for example, the gray heron, occurring along the trail, accompanying kayakers during their trips.

Besides astounding nature, the Krutynia trail provides a network of PTTK campsites – ten sites are set in such a way that even a beginning kayaker will easily cover the distance from one to another. All the sites provide accommodation in cabins and on the campsite, and in each of them, there is a small restaurant serving tasty local dishes. You can also go on foot or cycle along the trail. The best starting point is the PTTK campsite in Sorkwity, with a well-equipped kayak and bike rental.

To read more, visit www.mazurypttk.pl .

Warmia and Masuria on two wheels

Apart from kayaking and sailing, another way to explore Warmia and Masuria is by bike. There are a number of cycling paths in the region. A perfect starting point for cycling trips may be Mikołajki Hotel***** located on an island. One of the most attractive trails is Green Velo, going through five regions in Northern and Eastern Poland; and its part in Warmia and Masuria is 397 km long. During one of your trips, you can visit Pałac i Folwark Galiny located near Bartoszyce, offering exquisite local dishes.

The trail is marked well – information about distances between villages and towns, nearby attractions, and other trails heading to interesting places is provided. While cycling through Warmia and Masuria, you can visit wellknown attractions, but also explore areas rarely described in guidebooks

SPA relaxation at the end of the day

After an active day full of attractions and adventures, there’s nothing better than relaxation in a SPA. Over forty 3, 4 and 5-star hotels surrounded by lakes, meadows and woods offer a wide range of SPA treatments. Each of the hotels strives for original style and philosophy. A fine example may be Gothic castles – Hotel Castle Ryn**** and Krasicki Hotel****. Princess Anna SPA housed in the Castle in Ryn combines state-of-the-art cosmetology with tradition, thanks to which the knowledge of certain elements has endured thousands of years. Its SPA offer is based on rituals relating to the four elements: water, fire, earth and air. Krasicki Hotel invites you to Saint Catherine SPA. A wide range of treatments for all parts of the body are combined with a holistic approach to the spiritual condition of its guests. Thanks to the large number and huge variety of SPA hotels in the region, everybody will find something for themselves here. So no matter whether you’re after Thai, Bali and Ayurvedic massages, specialized treatments performed using state-of-the-art equipment, or aesthetic medicine treatments, you’ll find it all here.

These are only some of Warmia and Masuria attractions. When you arrive, you should visit one of 40 tourist information points, where you can get information on accommodation and tourist attractions of the region.

More information is available at: www.mazurytravel.com.pl

Poland – Warmia and Mazury – come and find your story!