Augustów
Augustów - in terms of size, it is the second (after Suwałki) city of the Suwałki region – the farthest north-eastern piece of our Homeland. Its name is directly related to the name of King Sigismund Augustus, who granted the town municipal rights in 1557.
Thanks to its wonderful location between the lakes Necko, Białe, Rospuda, Sajenko, Studzieniczne, Kalejty, and Sajno, Augustów is a paradise for holidaymakers with plenty of both supervised and unsupervised beaches, opportunities for kayaking, sailing, water skiing, as well as motorboating and jet skiing. Those who do not have such equipment and do not know how to use it can take a trip on passenger boats departing from the small local port. The nearby forests (Augustów Primeval Forest) attract mushroom and berry enthusiasts.
The river Netta flows through the center of the town, along which there is a promenade, as well as an artificial waterway – the Augustów Canal – a pride of Polish engineering from the 19th century. Due to the numerous water bodies, Augustów is often called the "Venice of the North."
In the town's center, there is the Zygmunt August Market, which features a small but very lovely park with tall trees, walking paths, a fountain, and a monument. Among the local churches, the most attention is drawn to the large Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from the early 20th century, and nearby (in Studzieniczna) is one of the most famous sanctuaries in the area.
Contrary to the words of a once-famous song, Augustów is not located by the Wigry Lakes, but to this day, there is a well-known restaurant (from another old hit by Janusz Laskowski) called Albatros. Among the recurring events held in the town, the most noteworthy is the "Swimming on Anything" event that takes place at the end of July, when one can see various strange floating vehicles on the Netta – spaceships, dragons, Baba Jaga's cabins, and other wonders.
Renata Gontarz
Photo: Zbigniew Gontarz
If anyone is interested in sacred architecture, I also invite you to the "Churches in Poland" page.
