Pilec

Pilec lies at the southern end of Lake Dejnowa, in the Mrągowo Lake District. The surrounding area is characterised by glacial moraines, rolling terrain and elevations of about 180 to 200 metres above sea level. The village is also in the Guber Valley Landscape Protection Area. If you would like to make water, varied landscapes and local history the focus of your trip, Pilec offers several specific points of interest.

Lakes and scenery around Pilec

The Pilecki Pond (Pühlzer Muhlenteich) is in Pilec and covers an area of 4 hectares. Southwest of the village lies Lake Kociołek (Kessel Teich), which covers 1.50 hectares. The two bodies of water therefore differ considerably in size. According to a local legend, a sunken church lies at the bottom of Lake Kociołek near Pilec. In addition to its setting near the village, the lake is also associated with local lore.

Mills, chapel and local history

Pilec was founded in 1326. The village had a church and a castle; the castle was still standing in the 15th century. Today, the village’s unchanged rural layout, along with historic mills and residential buildings, shapes its appearance. Visitors interested in rural architecture and settlement history can explore these features as a distinct focus of their stay, alongside the bodies of water.

The history of the mills stretches far back: the first mill in Pilec was built almost 700 years ago. A dam stands at the former mill site, where water from the Dajna flows into a lake. Pilec also has a chapel in a former blacksmith’s workshop. It is cared for by Jesuit fathers from the parish in Święta Lipka. A guesthouse or hotel is located in the former mill building in Pilec.

Educational walking tours also explore history; they were created by Robert Połubiński, a resident of Pilec. Among other things, they cover the lives of the Prussians. This adds another theme to the historic buildings you can see, and may be of interest if you are interested in the village’s past.

Kayaking and cycling

The 36-kilometre Dajna kayaking trail passes through Piecki, Mrągowo, Kiersztanowo, Pilec and Święta Lipka. The route length and the sequence of places provide guidance if you are planning a kayaking trip in this region. In Pilec, the Dajna kayaking trail has a portage point beside the old hydroelectric plant and mill; the bank there is steep. Bear this feature in mind as you consider the kayaking trail’s route.

Another option for active days is the cycling section of the Grodzisk Pruskich Trail. This section is 24.7 kilometres long and passes through Mrągowo, Polska Wieś, Kiersztanowo, Pilec and Święta Lipka. This identifies kayaking and cycling as different travel interests connected with Pilec. When choosing your focus, you can decide whether you are more interested in the Dajna kayaking route, the cycling section or the historic layout of the village.

Other places in the same overarching area

The same overarching area also includes Nakomiady, Karolewo, Czerniki, Jeżewo, Reszel, Aptynty, Kętrzyn and Barciany.

For the overarching travel guide: Kętrzyński.