Elbląg
 Tourist
Treasury
Elbląg (approx. 128,000 residents) is situated on the Elbląg river, connecting the lake Drużno (natural
reserve) with the Vistula Bay. The city lies at the
point of contact of two geographic lands: depression
Żuławy Wiślane [Vistula Fenland] resembling the
landscape of Holland, and the Elbląg Upland which is cut
with canyons and ascends over the waters of the Vistula
Bay. Elbląg is situated along the road from Warsaw to
Gdańsk, and from western Europe to Kaliningrad (Russia)
and the Baltic states. Thanks to the port of Elbląg, the
city is the starting base to tourist centers in the
north of Poland, but also to the Kaliningrad District.
Ships of the white passenger "white" fleet serve the
lines between Elbląg, Krynica Morska, Frombork, Baltijsk,
and Kaliningrad, and – through the Elbląg channel – the
area of the Iława Lakeland e.g. to Ostróda. The city
offers a variety of hotel accommodation. It is
worthwhile to go from Elbląg on a trip to the Vistula
Sandbar or to towns known for medieval monuments (Malbork,
Gdańsk) or to beautiful lakes and forests. The great
differentiation of the landscape of Elbląg and the
neighborhood enables to exercise different forms of
leisure. Sailing and windsurfing have developed in the
nearby water regions, and the net of channels is a
paradise for kayakers and anglers. In winter, the frozen
Vistula Bay attracts ice yacht lovers. Stables offer
horse and cart rides, and sledge cavalcades in the
winter season. With its monuments, Elbląg is also an
attractive place. It is worth to walk down the Old Town,
admiring medieval Gothic structures and houses
reconstructed in style. The forest called Bażantarnia is
a popular place visited by the residents. Interesting
walk paths, the concert band shell, and the amphitheatre
wait for tourists there.
 Archeological
treasury
The Old Town in Elbląg is one of the largest areas in Europe in terms of
space covered by complex archeological research. Based on the great number
of obtained monuments, dating from the 13th to the 19th century, it is known
what everyday life of Elbląg residents was like; how they lived, worked,
played, what they wore and ate. Among hundreds of thousand of artefacts
found, the most precious are: eight musical instruments, 23 wax plates, six
pilgrim signs, magnificent Moresque medieval plates, toys, weapons, and
glass products. The great number and variety of the discovered artefacts is
evidence of intensive trade contacts of the old Elbląg residents with almost
all Europe from Norway to Spain, England, and Italy, as well as their
affluence. The archeological research in the Old Town in Elbląg has been
performed seasonally from 1980 by a group of archeologists of the Town
Archeology Laboratory at the Museum of Elbląg. A catalogue of Elbląg
monuments will be published soon.
A photo
gallery of the Old Town
Elbląg
surroundings
 Elbląg
channel
The Elbląg channel runs through two geographical lands – the Vistula Fenland
and the Iława Lakeland. The river Elbląg is considered to be its beginning.
Then, it goes through the lake Drużno – a nature (ornithological) reserve.
The lake is a unique reservoir in Europe. The swamps and rushes difficult to
access are an excellent shelter and breeding place for birds, as well as a
place of their rests during seasonal migrations. 110 species of nesting
birds, and numerous feeding and flying over birds were observed in the
reserve. In total, 210 species of birds were recorded, which is approx. 50
percent of Poland's avifauna. The route from Elbląg to Ostróda goes through
the lake. The Elbląg channel, with the complex of Europe's unique five
slipways, was built in order to overcome approx. 100 m level difference
between the lake Drużno and the lake Piniewo. The nineteenth century
engineer Georg Jakob Steenke was the author of the design. Originally, it
was timber that was transported most of all, but with the development of
railways and road transport, the function lost its importance.
The channel began to be used for tourists, and cruises began to be
organized.
On the eastern bank of the lake Drużno, near the village of Janów, the
legendary settlement of Truso was discovered in 1982, founded by Dutch
Vikings, and described at the end of the 9th century by the Anglo-Saxon
sailor Wulfstan. Craftsmen living here produced goods of amber, iron,
bronze, glass, silver, and other materials which were exchanged and acquired
by merchants from Scandinavia, western Europe, and even Arabic countries.
Photo
gallery
 Malbork
Malbork owes its establishment and later fame to the knights
of the Order of the Hospital of St. Mary of the Germans,
called the Teutonic Knights. It was here that they built one
of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, now attracting
thousands of tourists. The first works started in the second
half of the 13th century and lasted until the middle of the
15th century. The impressive system of walls and moats
surrounds the oldest fragment of the complex now called the
High Castle, the later Middle Castle, and the Low Castle
being homesteads at the castle foot. Since 1961, there has
been a museum here. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions
show architectural changes of the Castle itself, and the
rich history of the region. The beautiful collections
deserve special attention: amber products, military
accessories, porcelain, and faience. In summer, the show
called "Light and Sound" is performed in the Castle. The
castle of Malbork was entered into the list of World
Cultural Heritage UNESCO.
Photo gallery
 Frombork
It is a small town situated on several hills on the Vistula
Bay. Frombork was established in the 12th century by bishop
Henry I Fleming who brought settlers from Lubeck. Frombork
received municipal rights in 1310 on the Lubeck basis. The
town started to develop as the cathedral was finished in
1388, and then the whole complex of canonic and defense
facilities. The needs relating to maintaining the chapter
and clergy staying here helped to develop crafts, i.e.
tailor, shoemaking, blacksmith, brewery, and baking
businesses. Some of the contemporary Frombork residents also
lived on fishing, cattle breeding, agriculture, and trade.
Frombork was destroyed several times in its over 700-year
long history. The town was most seriously destroyed at the
times of wars against Teutonic Knights, Swedes, and also
during the Second World War which resulted in Frombork
destruction of 70 %. The regular reconstruction of the town
began at the end of the 1960's as part of the scout action
"Operation 1001 – Frombork". At the moment, the town's
population is 2,700 people. Frombork is a tourist center. It
owes it e.g. to the complex of unique monuments, and the
memory of the work of Nicholas Copernicus – the world famous
astronomer, physician, and doctor of laws. Worth seeing in
Frombork are: the Cathedral Hill with the 14-century
Cathedral, the Radziejowski Tower of the 17th century with a
sightseeing terrace, the Planetarium, and the museum of
Nicholas Copernicus. Besides, in the town's center there is
the Water Tower of the 15th century, St. Nicholas church of
the 14th century, Holy Ghost church and St. Anne chapel of
the 15th century. A number of cultural events take place in
Frombork, e.g. the International Organ Festival. In the
tourist season, ships and hydrofoil boats travel to Krynica
Morska, Kaliningrad, and Svetlyi. When the Bay is not
frozen, ship and hydrofoil boat trips to Svetlyi
(Kaliningrad District) take place all year. In summer, the
outdoor swimming pool of the size 50 per 25 meters and the
sports complex with a tennis court may be used.
Photo gallery
 Vistula
Sandbar
The Vistula Sandbar is a narrow piece of land between the
Baltic Sea and the Vistula Bay. The width of the sandbar
ranges from 300 m on the Russian side to 2.5 km on the
Polish side (Stegna area). The Polish part of the Vistula
Sandbar (50 km long) is a sandy dune embankment running from
the area of Gdańsk to the border with the Kaliningrad
District. In the western part, it adheres to the Vistula
Fenland, and in three places is broken by the old and
present mouths of the Vistula (Martwa Wisła, Śmiała Wisła,
and Przekop Wisły). The Sandbar was formed approx. five
thousand years ago as an effect of the process of sea and
wind accumulation in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea.
The wide sandy beaches, and the mosaic of dune forms are
characteristic of the Sandbar. The presence of high dune
embankments whose tops are natural sightseeing points
deserve special attention, and the highest one is the Camel
Hump, 49.5 m above sea level. Thanks to the exquisite
natural and landscape qualities of the area, the "Vistula
Sandbar" Landscape Park was established here in 1985. The
Park is situated in the territory of the Sztutowo and
Krynica Morska communes. The area was covered by legal
protection in order to preserve the natural, landscape,
cultural, and historic qualities. The place has a typically
maritime climate, with mild winters, late springs, high
atmospheric humidity, strong winds, and intensive sunshine.
It all creates excellent conditions for development of
tourism. In summer, most tourists stay in Mikoszewo, Jantar,
Stegna, Sztutowo, Kąty Rybackie, Krynica Morska, and Piaski.
Mikoszewo is situated at the very mouth of the Vistula on
its right bank. There is a ferry connection with Świbno on
the left bank of the Vistula. In the nearby Rybina it is
worth to see the two drawbridges of the early 20th century.
In Drewnica and Żuławki, there are unique architectural
monuments of the 18th and 19th centuries. Those are: arcade
houses, rustic houses, Żuławy crofts, a "koźlak" windmill of
1718, and a neo-Gothic Our Lady church of 1841.
Jantar is a fishing village known since the 13th century.
Stegna is one of the most beautiful and interesting villages
of the Vistula Sandbar. Surrounded by the waters of the
Vistula, Szkarpawa, and the Baltic Sea it resembles an
island. Clean beaches, safe sea watering place, air filled
with iodine, and the mixed forest are only some of the
advantages of Stegna's microclimate. There is the Sacred
Heart of Jesus church in the village, built in 1683, where
organ concerts are played in summer. Sztutowo is another
place very popular among tourists. Its history also includes
a tragic card. The first concentration camp was built here
during the Second World War. It was established on 2
September 1939, and worked till 9 May 1945. The STUTTHOF
martyrdom museum now is open in that area. Another place is
Kąty Rybackie. First holidaymakers came here after the First
World War. There is an ornithological reserve of the black
cormorant and the grey heron here. Krynica Morska is the
largest and best known holiday resort of the Vistula
Sandbar. The only lighthouse on the Vistula Sandbar, 26.5 m
high, built in 1895, is a big attraction. There is a pier in
Krynica Morska on the Vistula Bay side, where there are
passenger navigation and yacht harbors. In summer, passenger
and hydrofoil boats sail out from here to Elbląg, Frombork,
and Kaliningrad. Piaski is a village situated at the end of
the Polish part of the Vistula Bar, about 4 km away from the
state border between Poland and Russia. That is the most
intact area of the entire sandbar. Perhaps that is why
nudists have their beach near Piaski. There is also the
Ecological Education Center in Piaski. The Vistula Sandbar
is an excellent place for spending weekends, holidays and
vacations. Tourists are awaited by differentiated
accommodation (hotels, holiday centers, pensions, guest
rooms, camp sites) and catering bases.
Photo gallery |
