Jankowice: Village History and Nature

Jankowice is a settlement on the road from Kętrzyn to Srokowo. Its local character can be explored through local history, landscape, and community projects. A half-timbered history board, an avenue of old fruit varieties, and the ecological project “Mikro Jankowice” each offer a different perspective. Together, they show different sides of the place: a historical overview, a distinctive landscape feature, and an initiative for small creatures. If you are interested in smaller local histories as well as landscapes during a trip to Poland, this mix offers a concrete starting point for further planning.

Local History Across Two Time Periods

A wooden half-timbered history board has been installed at the village hall. Its two sides cover the history of the village from its founding to 1945 and the period after 1945. The dividing line of 1945 gives the account a clear structure: the village’s earlier history and the postwar period appear on the same board, but in separate sections. In 1409, the village head, referred to as the Schulze of Jankowice (Jawnenisken), received half a mark from the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. The title identifies the recipient’s office; the half mark is the specific gift in this instance. The dates belong to different time scales: 1409 marks a single event, while 1945 marks the dividing line between two broader periods. The local history therefore offers both an early specific point and a broader overview.

Avenue and Ecological Habitat

An avenue of old apple and pear varieties, as well as wild cherry trees, runs along a municipal road. Its composition makes this landscape feature easy to picture: old fruit varieties shape part of the avenue, with wild cherries completing the row. The result is a clearly defined landscape feature, distinct from the chronologically structured local history. For travelers who experience landscapes primarily through specific plants, the avenue offers a thematic starting point.

“Mikro Jankowice” created an ecological habitat for hedgehogs and small creatures; the project was intended to provide protection for beneficial insects. The avenue describes specific trees along a municipal road, while the project focuses on animal habitats and insect protection. A landscape feature and an ecological initiative thus stand side by side—two different ways of engaging with nature in the area.

Jankowice in a Broader Context

Another project forms part of the village’s more recent development: during the 2018–2024 term of office, a shelter was built in the Sołectwo of Jankowice and the surrounding area was landscaped. Unlike the history board and the avenue, this involved construction and landscaping in the Sołectwo. Cemeteries are located in 42 places in Srokowo commune, including Jankowice. This figure places Jankowice in the context of the commune, while the history board, the historical event, and the work on the shelter describe specific features of the village.

Discover more places to visit: Karolewo, Muławki, Biedaszki, Nakomiady, Leśny Rów, Swieta Lipka, Aptynty, Łęknica

See the broader travel guide: Kętrzyński.