Rogale: History and the Skalich Erratic Boulder Nearby

When planning a trip to Rogale, it is worth looking at two distinct topics: memorial sites in the village and a natural feature in the nearby area. The war cemetery and the monument relate to the First World War; the Protestant cemetery dates back to the second half of the 19th century. The Skalich erratic boulder lies in a forest by a small lake between Rogale and Ziemiany. This means that a look at Rogale takes in both the village’s history and a natural site in its surroundings.

Memorial Sites in Rogale

Rogale is home to a war cemetery for German and Russian soldiers from the First World War, which is listed in the register of war graves and cemeteries. The monument to those who fell in the First World War also stands in the village. After the war, the name plaque was removed from the monument and a figure was put in its place. The Iron Cross was replaced by a Catholic cross after the war. In the 1970s, the monument’s stones were plastered over.

A description from 2015 places the monument in front of the church and describes it as a roadside chapel.

The war cemetery and the monument both relate to the First World War, but in different ways: the war cemetery is associated with German and Russian soldiers, while the monument commemorates those who fell.

Skalich Nearby

The Skalich erratic boulder lies in the nearby area between Rogale and Ziemiany, in a forest by a small lake. It is not in Rogale itself. The stone lies near former buildings that belonged to Rogale before 1945. The natural setting and this historical connection to the place give the site two distinct aspects: its forest-and-lake setting and its link to Rogale’s past.

Skalich is 2.30 metres high and has a circumference of 11.40 metres; it is also listed as a natural monument. The measurements describe the size of the erratic boulder, while its designation as a natural monument identifies its special category. For travellers who would like to include a natural feature in the surrounding area as well as the memorial sites in the village, Skalich provides a clear second focal point.

The Cemetery and Historical Periods

The Protestant cemetery in Rogale dates from the second half of the 19th century; it is listed in the monuments register. Its date precedes the First World War, while the war cemetery and monument are associated with that war. The changes made to the monument after the war and the plastering in the 1970s add to this timeline. This gives the historical picture a sequence of periods, from the 19th-century cemetery, through the memorial sites of the First World War, to later changes to the monument. If you are considering Rogale as a travel destination because of its history, you can thus take in different periods rather than just a single event.

Discover more destinations: Dubeninki, Banie Mazurskie, Gołdap, Gołubie, Galwiecie, Klewiny, Pietrasze and Dunajek.

For the overview of the wider area: Goldap.