Discover Pilec: Lakes, Mills and the Dajna Kayak Trail

Pilec lies at the southern end of Lake Dejnowa. The village brings together a glacial lake landscape, historic mills and routes over water and land. If you would like your trip to take in both scenery and history, Pilec offers a range of ways to explore both.

Lakes and scenery around Pilec

Pilec lies in the Guber Valley Protected Landscape Area and in the Mrągowo Lakeland. The surrounding area is a glacial moraine landscape, marked by rolling terrain and elevations of around 180 to 200 metres above sea level. This elevation range describes the village’s setting; Lake Dejnowa is also an important landmark for orientation, as Pilec lies at its southern end.

The Pilecki Pond (Pühlzer Muhlenteich) is in Pilec and covers an area of 4 hectares. Lake Kociołek (Kessel Teich), which covers 1.50 hectares, lies southwest of the village. Their different sizes give a concrete impression of the bodies of water that feature in descriptions of the area. A local legend places a sunken church at the bottom of Lake Kociołek near Pilec. It is part of the lake’s folklore, not a verified account of its bed.

Mills, settlement and historical traces

Pilec was founded in 1326. Its rural settlement layout has remained unchanged, and the village also has historic mill and residential buildings. 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. The history of milling thus shapes several of the features described here, from historic buildings to the present-day watercourse.

A chapel is housed in a former blacksmith’s shop in Pilec. It is cared for by Jesuit priests from the parish in Święta Lipka. The village’s older history also includes a church and a castle; the castle was still standing in the 15th century. Those interested in the development of the village will find a range of historical connections here: the settlement layout, the mill and residential buildings, and the surviving religious and architectural traces.

Kayak and cycling routes: different perspectives

The 36-kilometre-long Dajna Kayak Trail passes through Piecki, Mrągowo, Kiersztanowo, Pilec and Święta Lipka. Its length is a useful guide when planning the scale of a kayaking trip. In Pilec, the trail has a portage point beside the old hydroelectric plant and mill. The riverbank is steep there. This particular section is therefore worth noting when familiarising yourself with the kayak trail route.

A route through Pilec is also listed for cyclists: the 24.7-kilometre section of the Grodzisk Pruskich cycling trail passes through Mrągowo, Polska Wieś, Kiersztanowo, Pilec and Święta Lipka. The kayak trail and cycling trail offer two different ways to explore the area; each stated distance refers to its own route. In addition, Robert Połubiński, a resident of Pilec, created educational trails that cover, among other subjects, the lives of the Prussians. This historical focus offers a different perspective from the routes over water and land.

Nearby places

Nearby places: Kętrzyn, Jankowice, Czerniki, Nakomiady, Jezewo, Swieta Lipka, Grabno, Muławki.

For the broader travel overview: Kętrzyński.