Warmia-Masuria: Lakes, Nature and Gothic Culture

Lakes and protected landscapes

The Warmia-Masuria Voivodeship has more than 3,000 lakes and other bodies of water, each with an area of more than one hectare. The Masurian Lake District includes Śniardwy and Mamry, the two largest lakes in Poland. These figures give the lake landscape an important place when choosing a travel theme—without implying a specific route or the location of accommodation.

A distinct natural area is the Masurian Landscape Park in the southeast of the voivodeship. It encompasses forests, open agricultural land and surface waters, and extends across three counties and seven municipalities. The park includes 60 lakes, including Śniardwy, as well as 11 nature reserves. More than 90 percent of its area overlaps with the MAB “Masurian Lakes” Biosphere Reserve, the only biosphere reserve of this kind in the voivodeship.

For those interested in travelling on the water, the Krutynia offers an option for canoe trips. The river flows from Lake Warpuńskie to Lake Bełdany and passes through the Puszcza Piska Forest. It is considered one of Poland’s most scenic waterways. The Elbląg Canal, on the other hand, offers a historical perspective on the region’s water-engineering heritage: it has been preserved in its original form, was revitalized in 2015 and today serves primarily a tourist function as a historic monument.

Castles, exhibitions and sacred architecture

Culture enthusiasts can also plan their trip around specific buildings and collections. Olsztyn Castle was built in the 14th century in the Gothic style and today houses the Museum of Warmia and Masuria. It features a permanent Copernicus exhibition and an astronomical table that Nicolaus Copernicus made by hand in 1517 for his studies of the equinoxes.

The Bishop’s Castle in Lidzbark Warmiński was built in the second half of the 14th century. It is one of the most important and best-preserved examples of Gothic representative defensive architecture in Poland. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions cover topics ranging from archaeology and historical weapons to Gothic art, crafts, sculpture, and old and modern painting.

There are also Gothic red-brick castles in Reszel, Nidzica, Kętrzyn and Ostróda; the buildings mentioned include Teutonic Order, chapter and bishops’ castles. The pilgrimage sanctuary of Święta Lipka offers a different architectural highlight: the Baroque sacred complex comprises the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a surrounding cloister with corner chapels, and a single-nave monastery building.

The battlefield of Grunwald includes a monument, an amphitheatre and a museum that opened in 1963.

Orientation and regional offerings

There are more than 40 tourist information centres in the voivodeship. They provide information about local and regional attractions, accommodation, dining, cultural offerings, hiking and cycling trails, and events. They also offer city maps, maps of the surrounding area and regional travel guides in various language versions. This can help you find your way when you want to combine nature, culture and activities in the region during your stay.

PTTK branches in Warmia and Masuria organize orienteering rallies, hiking and cycling rallies, canoe trips, boat trips, regional excursions, and leisure and sports activities. The culinary heritage of Warmia-Masuria-Powiśle complements these themes with regional products and dishes: the network brings together food producers and dining establishments that offer natural ingredients and traditional recipes.

Subregions

For further regional orientation, the following areas are included: Ełk, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Piski, Olsztyn, Kętrzyński, Gołdap, Nidzicki, Lidzbarski, Ostródzki, Nowomiejski, Działdowo, Węgorzewski, Iławski, Szczycieński, Braniewo, Elbląg, Bartoszyce, Olecki, Mrągowski, Giżycko and Olsztyński.