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Masurian lakes (Mazury), also – Great Masurian Lakes (Kraina Wielkich Jezior Mazurskich) is a lake region in the northeast, where there are more than 4,000 lakes surrounded by forests and meadows, many of which are connected by rivers and canals. This is also where the most big lake Poland – Sniardwy (Śniardwy). This region has the largest concentration of lakes in Poland, with 15% of the area covered by water. These lakes are remnants of the Ice Age, when all of northeastern Poland and parts of Europe were covered in ice.

Masurians are ideal place for relaxation not only in summer. Close contact with nature is the biggest attraction this unique region of Poland offers. In this area, every traveler - whether a lover of solitude or a lover active rest- will find something to do for himself. The network of turquoise waters extends over 300 square kilometers. Therefore, this area is often called the Land of a Thousand Lakes. (Kraina Tysiąca Jezior). The Masurian lakes are considered one of the most beautiful corners of Europe. The endless waters fascinate every visitor, leaving a desire to stay in these parts as long as possible.

Masurian Lakes: How to get there

Travel to public transport to Masuria is actually very simple and pleasant, regardless of the choice of transport. In addition, the infrastructure is well organized, especially bus transport.

Airplane. There is only one airport in Mazury – Olsztyn Mazury Airport (www.mazuryairport.pl). Direct flights depart from airports in and, as well as from abroad - from Munich, Berlin and London. The airport is located 60 kilometers from the city itself, but fortunately there is nearby railroad station, with which you can get there without problems.

Train. To the three most important cities of Masuria – Olsztyn (Olsztyn), Elbląg (Elblaga) and Gizycko (Giżycka) can be reached by train. The fastest way to get to Olsztyn from Warsaw is by rail. From Warsaw central station to Olsztyn main station, the trip costs from 9 EUR. Gizycko has a train station with two-hour connecting trains to Warsaw and Gdansk (Gdańsk). Please note that journeys from Warsaw take too long (6 hours or more) due to the lack of north-south rail connections in Poland, so the train makes many detours rather than taking a direct route. You can find out more on the website of the Polish railway - “PKP”.

Bus. From Warsaw to Gizycko, Olsztyn, Mragowo (Mrągowo), Elka (Ełk) You can get there, although a little longer than by train, but no less comfortably, by Mobilis buses. Price to Olsztyn – from 7 EUR. Routes to Elblag and Elk are also offered by the Flixbus service.

Auto. The Masurian Lakes are easily accessible by car from almost anywhere in the country. Therefore, it would be wise to use a navigator. It is worth considering that there is also toll roads(from 0.50 EUR and above). Route from Warsaw to Mragowo – route No. 7, then No. 61, No. 53 and No. 59, via Ostroleka (Ostrołęka) to Mragowo (215 kilometers).

Masurian Lakes: Lifehacks

Lake Snyardwy (Śniardwy)– the largest lake in Poland. This favorite place for sailing. There you can rent a boat for a day trip. Renting a motor boat can cost from 2 to 6 EUR per hour. Other popular lakes are Lake Luquiajo (Luknajo)(it is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), Nigocin (Niegocin) and Mamri (Mamry). In general, there is a lot of entertainment on lakes, rivers and around them - boating, kayaking, swimming, yachting, cycling through the surrounding forests, spas.

In the town of Mikolajki (Mikołajki), the Golembiewski hotel has a water park called Tropikana Aquapark, which is very popular among tourists. It is open from 8:00 to 21:00. A 1.5-hour pass for an adult costs about 7 EUR, and 3.50 EUR for children under 12 years old (they can only visit the water park under adult supervision). Every additional half hour - 1 EUR per person.

In the town of Kętrzyn (Kętrzyn) There is a museum called “Wolf’s Lair” in the Masurian forests. This museum is one of Adolf Hitler's former headquarters, where more than 2,000 people lived in 1944. The museum consists of 200 buildings scattered throughout the forest: barracks, power plants, airports, railways, heat generating plants and many other military structures.

The city of Olsztyn also has very interesting place– Olsztyn Planetarium (Olsztyńskie Planetarium). In order to order individual tour call (+48 89) 650-04-20 or go to the website www.planetarium.olsztyn.pl to find out more information.

The towns of Masuria themselves are very beautiful and picturesque, and there is something to see in them - numerous parks, ancient architecture and castles, cafes and restaurants with delicious national cuisine.

The largest lake is Snyardvy, with an area of ​​110 square meters. km. Many rare animals and plants are found here; there are several nature reserves on the lake, including the Lake Luknajo Nature Reserve, where the largest nursery of mute swans in Central Europe is located. Here you can see other wonderful birds - herons, bitterns and rare black storks, as well as predators - eagles, kites and hawks.

On the territory of the lakes there is the Augustów Forest - one of the largest in Poland, mainly old pine and spruce trees grow here. In addition to birds, there are bison, elk, wild boars, wolves and beavers. City of Augustow - popular place recreation among those who come to the lakes, since from here you can go in any direction.

If you are not a fan of sailing, you can explore the lakes on a pleasure boat, sitting on any of the lake piers, or take a cruise along the Elblag Canal. It was built about 150 years ago, and the system of hydraulic locks that allows heavy vessels to move between different bodies of water is still a source of admiration.

The Masurian Lakes are an amazingly beautiful region in northern Poland. I decided to go there after listening to my yachting friend. And although I don’t understand anything about yachts, I went and didn’t regret it at all.
Poland's "land of a thousand lakes" is a place of extraordinary beauty. Almost 2000 square kilometers are lakes, between which are located small towns, which have long become local tourism centers.

Pros of holidays in Masuria:
Availability. The Masurian Lakes are easily accessible by any means of transport. Immediate airports– these are Vilnius, Warsaw and Gdansk. Main transport node region - the city of Elk. Easy access from Warsaw, Gdansk and Vilnius By railway . You need to get to Elk, and then change to local train to Gizycko or Mikolajek. Buses they come to the lake region from many cities in Poland. So, from Warsaw to Ełk the travel time will be about five hours. I decided to go by car from Warsaw. The road is very good, we got there quickly and without incident.
Augustovskaya and Pisskaya forests. Nature of extraordinary beauty. For travelers there is hiking trails and bicycle paths, you can arrange a horse ride. There are rest stops along the trails and information boards.
Entertainment. In summer, various gatherings, festivals, performances and other exciting events are held in Mikołajki, Giżycko, Augustów and Mrągowo. There are many different excursions available for tourists.
Attractions. Gizycko, Olsztyn, Ryn – lovers of the Middle Ages have something to see there! And in Masuria there is memorable places associated with the life of Copernicus.
Water park "Tropicana" in Mikołajki. It was built on a grand scale, and there is everything for relaxation on the water - swimming pools, slides, jacuzzi, baths, salt caves.
Yachts, sailboats and kayaks. For lovers of such types of recreation, Masuria is simply a paradise! By the way, you can also get to the lake region by water. For kayakers there is a route from Sorkvita along the Krutynia River and Lake Beldany. Yachtsmen prefer the largest interconnected lakes, which are located from Wegorzewo to Ruciane-Nida.

Excursion boats from Gizycko. Excellent entertainment for those who are not yachtsmen or kayakers. Personally, I really liked it!
Sports center for the disabled in Giżycko. The city constantly hosts national regattas in which you can take part. There are companies where disabled people undergo training or receive special equipment.
Well-developed infrastructure, comfortable hotels, reasonable prices, shops for hobbyists aquatic species sports.
Nature of amazing beauty.
Disadvantages of holidays in Masuria:
In July and August there are many tourists in the lake region. Difficulties arise everywhere: checking into a hotel without a reservation, chartering a yacht, finding a relatively free campsite. Accordingly, prices are higher than in June or September.
If there are not enough passengers on the pleasure boat, the trip is cancelled.
I advice:
If you come without a car, rent a bicycle. Each of the resort towns has interesting things to do, and it’s very pleasant to ride through the protected forests!
For those who are interested in vacationing on a yacht, it is better to come in the “low season” - in June or September. Freight prices will be lower and there will be more opportunities to rent a boat. A four-seater yacht will cost an average of 100 euros, excluding the cost of fuel and skipper services.
Don't forget to take a card for yachtsmen from the operating company!
Excursion boats from Gizycko. All of them have an open deck and a cafeteria; you can take a bicycle, hiking backpack, and other equipment on board. The boat goes from Gizycko to Ruciane-Nida via Mikołajki.
Visit the water park in Mikołajki. It is located in the Golembievski Hotel, where, in fact, we lived. There are many water attractions, baths and saunas, salt cave. The water park is large, and it doesn’t feel crowded no matter how many people there are.
It is best to choose a hotel in Mikołajki or Giżycko. The infrastructure there is better, there are more opportunities for a comfortable stay. And the prices are the same throughout the lake region.
Attractions. There are not too many of them in the surrounding towns, but each of them is very interesting. So:
o Gizycko. The only swing bridge in Poland, built at the very end of the 19th century. Water tower in neo-Gothic style.

It is seven stories high, built in 1900 and now operates as Observation deck and a cafe. Fortress von Boyen, built in the middle of the 19th century on the border of the Polish kingdom and Russia. It stands on an isthmus between lakes.
o Ryn. A delightful Teutonic castle. It was built in the 14th century, and then rebuilt “according to fashion” in the English neo-Gothic style. Now it's luxurious local history museum, all of whose exhibitions are impossible to briefly examine! There is archeology, ethnography, geology, and art. Back in Ryn, everyone is shown the 19th century Evangelical chapel and multi-story houses of the same time on Sverchevsky Street, but I liked more the granary of the early twentieth century and two mills - water Mill, built in the 19th century and Dutch, built in 1873.
o Olsztyn. The Warmia Chapter Castle is an ancient, Gothic one. Nowadays the Warmia and Mazury Museum is located there.

Very interesting exhibitions. There is also Gothic Cathedral St. Jacob, old town hall in Baroque style and the beautiful gates of the main entrance to Old city. In winter, Olsztyn turns into a ski resort.
o Pish. Very tempting - the ruins of a Crusader castle. There is also an old Protestant bishopric.
I do not recommend:
If you charter a yacht, don't set sail on it right away. Upon return, the company can present any damage - this is the corporate style there. Inspect the entire vessel before signing documents. Bring your own sleeping bag, raincoat and lantern.
In the “high season” it is better not to go to Masuria: crowds, queues, noise and crowded conditions. We visited in June and August. June is much better!
So, to go or not to go? Of course, go! Summer rest in Masuria will be remembered for a long time by everyone: yacht lovers, those wishing to spend a holiday in the lap of nature, and connoisseurs of ancient sights. Go, you will definitely enjoy it, and most likely you will want to come back.

Masurian lakes(Polish Mazury; also Great Masurian Lakes) - a large group of lakes in northeastern Poland, until 1945 on the territory of Prussia. total area 310 km². In relation to the relief of north-eastern Poland, it is customary to use the term Masurian Lake District, and in relation to the hydrography of the region - the term Masurian Lakes.

Geographical position

The lakes are located in the center of the Masurian Highlands, the topography of which was formed during the Ice Age during the melting and displacement of ice masses, therefore the basins of the lakes are of glacial-moraine origin and have the common name Masurian Lake District.

Hydrography

Due to constant hydration and large quantity precipitation brought by the Baltic and Atlantic cyclones, the lakes are full of water, quite deep (up to 40 meters) and form entire chains of reservoirs connected by channels and connected by canals (the Elbląg Canal). The flow of lakes is directed mainly to the basin of the Vistula rivers in Poland and Pregolya (via Lava and Angrapa) - the central water artery of the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation.

Largest bodies of water

• Lake Snyardwy (106.6 km²)
• Lake Mamry (104.5 km²)
• Lake Niegocin

• Masurian Canal
• Elbląg Canal

Economic importance

Small-scale (mainly tourist internal Polish) shipping is developed on the lakes (it is noteworthy that some ships between the lakes move on land rails). Passenger shipping on the canal is carried out by the shipping company Żegluga Ostródzko-Elbląska (Ostródzko-Elbląska Shipping Company). The canal is also open to the passage of private ships, yachts and boats. Amateur fishing is developed (pike, pike perch, and eel are found in the lakes). In the city of Gizycko on Lake Niegocin there is one of the largest fish factories in Poland. There are also sanatoriums and tourist centers on the shores of the lakes.

Story

During the First World War of 1914-1918, bloody battles took place between Russian and German troops in the Masurian Lakes region in 1914-1915. On the Masurian Lakes, the Boyena Fortress, named after the Prussian Minister of War, was built along the shores of lakes Niegocin and Kisajno and served as a defense against Russia in the 19th century.

The Great Masurian Lakes is a historical and ethnographic region in northern Poland. This is a huge area picturesque nature, called the “Land of a Thousand Lakes,” of which there are up to 4 thousand in these places. Most lakes are of glacial origin. Lakes with rugged coastline fit into the beautiful landscape. The Great Masurian Lakes cover an area of ​​about 1,700 km2 and occupy a quarter of Poland's water resources. This is a miracle of nature. The lakes are located on the territory of the largest forest complex in Poland and the second largest in Europe, the Pisz Forest and the Augustow Forest. The largest of the lakes are Śniardwy (113 km2), which is also called the Masurian Sea, and Mamry (105 km2) in the Masurian Lake District, the most deep lake is located in the Suwalski Lake District, and in the Iława Lake District the longest lake is Jeziorak (27 km). Lake Śniardwy is connected to Lake Roś by a very long Masurian canal called Jeglinski. In southern Masuria there is one of the longest lakes with 13 islands, reserves and villages, called Lake Nidz. In the heart of Masuria, surrounded by lakes Niegocin and Kisajno, the Swing Bridge on the Lucansky Canal is located - the only facility of this type in Poland and one of two in Europe. Most lakes are connected by canals, locks or rivers, allowing for sailing and water tourism. The real pearl of the lake region is the unique, functioning ancient Ostróda-Elbląg Canal, built in 1848-1876. Along the canal, excursion boats and water tourists, with the help of four ancient locks and five unique slipways, cover a distance of 82 km by water and land, with a 100-meter elevation difference. The total length of the water system is 1298 km. To the east is the Augustow Canal, the marvelous Wigry Lake, and the deepest lake in Poland, Hancza Lake (108 km). Between the two lakes Mikolajski and Talty there is the town of Mikolajki with a population of only 4 thousand people. This town is called the “pearl of Masuria”. The town is becoming active tourist centre, where festivals, excursions take place and the 1.5 km long pier is home to many sailboats. Between the lakes Niegocin and Mamry is the town of Gizycko, which is called the “summer capital of Poland”, where folk festivals, concerts and discos are held. 30 km from Giżycko there are lakes Dargin and Kirsayty and Lake Štinort with the picturesque village of Štinort on the peninsula. This place is called the “Mecca of yachtsmen”. Some lakes are included in the “silence zone”, where the movement of motor boats, scooters, speedboats and excursion ships is prohibited. The Great Masurian Lakes region has an excellent tourist infrastructure with equipped water bases and marinas for kayakers and yachtsmen, many campsites and hotels of various categories. Tourists are offered numerous cycling, walking and kayaking routes, a sailing and surfing school, yacht ports, water marinas, riding stables, historical attractions and entertainment. These are places for summer gatherings of the tourist and sailing fraternity, sporting events, folklore and music festivals.