Olsztyński: Pilgrimage Sites, Routes and History

Pilgrimage and religious history in Gietrzwałd

Gietrzwałd is the only place in Poland where the Catholic Church has officially recognised Marian apparitions. The Kapliczka Objawień marks the site of the apparitions, which took place from 27 June to 16 September 1877. Another religious landmark is the Cudowne Źródełko: its water is channelled through a stone wellhead with marble reliefs. Together, these sites offer tangible points of connection to pilgrimage history, setting them apart from the destination’s museum and nature themes.

Cooperation on a larger pilgrimage project also shapes the region’s identity: Powiat olsztyński leads the Szlak Świętej Warmii together with Powiat Braniewski, Powiat Lidzbarski and the city of Olsztyn. Those interested in religious history can consider this broader thematic connection alongside the individual sites in Gietrzwałd.

Hiking trails and longer routes

The 49.9-kilometre Do źródeł Łyny hiking trail runs from Olsztyn, or the Wysoka Brama, via Obrońców Tobruku, Jaroty, Bartążek, Kielary, the Łyna, Ruś, the Lalka peninsula, Kurki PKS, Brzeźno Łyńskie and Łyna to Dobrzyń. A considerably longer route is the 130-kilometre Olsztyn–Lipowiec section of the Camino de Santiago: it runs via Łupstych, Gietrzwałd, Parwółki, Stare Jabłonki, Ostróda, Frednowy, Tynwałd, Szałkowo, Iława, Radomno and Nowe Miasto Lubawskie to Lipowiec, then continues to Toruń.

The 40.8-kilometre Napoleonsweg runs from Barkweda via Gutkowo, Mątki, Jonkowo, Łomy, Pupki, Gołogóra, Skolity and Dąbrówka to Konradowo. For a shorter route description focused on nature, there is the 21.9-kilometre “Jezioro Kośno” forest trail: it starts at the bridge over the Kośna on the eastern shore of Lake Kośno, runs via Łajsy and the lake’s western shore, and ends back at the bridge over the Kośna. The different lengths and routes offer a practical basis for matching the planned scope of a trip to your own travel interests.

By bike, canoe or horseback

The other routes also differ in mode of travel and distance. The 40.7-kilometre Gościniec Niborski cycle route runs from Olsztyn (Stary Dwór) via Bartąg, Lake Łańskie and Kurki to Napiwoda. The 14-kilometre canoe route follows Lake Wadąg and the Wadąg River from Słupy to the Łyna power station. The 9.7-kilometre Bałdy riding trail runs from Bałdy to Lake Gim and back. This makes it possible to compare routes of very different lengths and activities when planning, without treating them as a single type of outing.

Museums and landscape

In Olsztynek, the open-air museum combines history with a distinctive past of its own: it was relocated there from Królewiec in 1940 and is one of Poland’s oldest museums. The Multimedialne Muzeum Obozu Jenieckiego Stalag IB i Historii Olsztynka presents the history of Olsztynek and of the First and Second World Wars, with a particular focus on Stalag IB Hohenstein. In Barczewo, the Powiatowe Atelier Kultury SYNAGOGA is now housed in a former synagogue.

For a focus on natural history, there is the Las Warmiński nature reserve in the municipalities of Purda and Stawiguda. Established in 1982, it covers 1,798.2 hectares and protects forest and aquatic communities characteristic of Warmia, with diverse plant, animal and bird life. The themes of a trip to Olsztyński therefore vary considerably: pilgrimage history, historical collections, different routes and a nature reserve each offer their own considerations when choosing where to stay.

Places to explore further

If you’d like to explore more places in the destination: Naterki, Swaderki, Klebark Wielki, Klewki, Siła, Tumiany, Dorotowo, Myki, Giławy, Nowe Kawkowo, Wadąg, Pluski, Łajs, Rzeck, Włodowo and Biesal.

For the broader travel overview: Warmia-Masuria.