Olsztyn

Olsztyn is immersed in greenery and surrounded by lakes, with the old town nestled by the Łyna River. Thus, a stroll around the old town will surely be a wonderful aesthetic experience – we invite you!

Let the starting point of our walk be the area around Olsztyn Zachodni railway station (if we arrived by car, it’s better to look for parking around the old town, as it can get crowded). From here, you can also quickly reach the charming and tranquil Lake Długie; if you have a moment – it’s worth it!

However, let’s descend into the valley, passing by the pleasingly located neo-Gothic garrison church of Our Lady Queen of Poland. We reach the Łyna River, where we can begin our walk through the Podzamcze Park, which offers fantastic views at any time of the year. Fountains, sculptures, but most importantly, the river and nature with historic buildings in the background.

Continuing along the Łyna River, you can reach the large Central Park, but it’s also worth taking one of the alleys, crossing a bridge, and visiting the most important landmark of the old town that overlooks the area – the Warmian Chapter Castle, and exploring the Museum of Warmia and Mazury situated inside. Before entering, we will also see a statue of Nicolaus Copernicus sitting on a bench; he worked in Olsztyn and defended it against the Teutonic Knights' invasion. Visitors often rub the statue's nose for good luck and sit on its lap to take a commemorative photo.

From here, it’s just a few steps to the main market square, where, aside from the beautiful old town hall, you’ll notice the tenement houses adorned with ivy and folk motifs. It’s worth spending some time wandering through the alleys of this small town or resting by the riverbank.

In the northern part of the old town, you must also see one of the city’s symbols – the High Gate, which is the only one that has survived to this day. Passing under it, we’ll see a commemorative remnant of the former tram line that once ran through the old town.

What else is worth seeing while in Olsztyn? Definitely the nearby forests and lakes, primarily Lake Kortowskie right by the university campus and the largest one – Lake Ukiel, where at the city beach, aside from play areas and food points, we can witness a breathtaking sunset.

Photo and text author: Adam Włosik