it is one of the most attractive points on the tourist map of Poland. No wonder, since it is surrounded by 11 lakes and numerous forests, it boasts a beautiful Old Town, rebuilt after World War II, and delights with its unique atmosphere. The beauty of architecture, multiculturalism, coexistence of many religions – all this means that Olsztyn, through which you can wander all the time among greenery, serves tourists not only a large dose of history, but also allows them to relax and catch their breath.
A weekend stay in Olsztyn will not allow us to learn all its secrets, but it will certainly be an introduction to a beautiful relationship with this unique city. Here are six things worth doing in Olsztyn on the weekend to admire it at first sight.
One of the most outstanding inhabitants of Olsztyn, actively working for the city, was a Polish astronomer and Renaissance man. Of course, it does not limit itself to Olsztyn itself – it follows the forty-year journey of this outstanding Pole across the vast areas of the entire Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. However, the Olsztyn section of the trail is impressive and is full of many gems that will intrigue both the youngest and slightly older history lovers.
One of the symbols of the city and undoubtedly the most important building is where the famous astronomer resided in the years 1516-1519 and 1520-1521. Today, the former stronghold is the seat of a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Olsztyn period of Copernicus' life. In the cloister of the castle you can admire the astronomical table, which was used to determine the moment of the spring equinox and, ultimately, to reform the calendar. This is the only preserved observation instrument made and used by Copernicus!
In the “Copernicus halls” we will also find a copy of the monetary treatise in which the astronomer formulated the famous economic law that:
It is here that you can also see Copernicus's letter to King Sigismund the Old himself.
Leaving the castle, it is worth heading towards , which was carved in 1914 by Johannes Goetz from Berlin. A bit further there is the astronomer's bench from 2003, which has become one of the favorite places for tourists who take photos against the background of Olsztyn and its attractions.
During your stay in Olsztyn, it is also worth finding time to visit , which was erected in 1973 as a “utility monument” to Copernicus. It enables projections in digital fulldome technology (films displayed on the dome), and one of its greatest attractions are the fragments of lunar soil stored here, the Polish flag taken to the Moon by the Apollo 11 mission and a rich collection of meteorites.
Some people talk about Olsztyn as a city of lakes, parks and… marzipan. To understand why, it is worth first taking a look at the history of this oldest confectionery product in the world.
Although marzipan's ingredients come from the Middle East and most likely where its production began, many European cities claim it as their own. The most famous is, of course, the German Lübeck, but also the Spanish Toledo, Venice, Palermo and Königsberg (formerly East Prussia, now Kaliningrad).
Even in the 16th century, it was perceived as a medicine and an aphrodisiac and only pharmacists could produce it. Interestingly, it was also kept in first aid kits at home and used in emergency situations. A lot changed when beetroot sugar appeared on the market – marzipan became more available and people used it not only “on holidays”.
In Olsztyn we can try the original one, the recipe of which was developed in Królewiec. Before World War II, it was popular in confectionery shops in what is now Warmia, Mazury and Powiśle, and was characterized by a caramelized top layer of formed marzipan, while maintaining a raw bottom. The memory of the Königsberg specialty is kept alive by Tomasz Derdoń, the head of the Moja Café located in the Old Town, which he runs with his family. Delicious coffee and sweets are not the only attraction of this place – the restaurant owners have prepared a special room here where they conduct culinary workshops and teach adepts of this art (of all ages!) how to prepare their own recipe, consisting only of almonds, sugar and a bit of rose water. marzipan. We will reveal that marzipan workshops in Olsztyn are not only a guarantee of a large dose of knowledge, but also… joy and laughter.
On December 2, 2020, Królewiecki Marzipan was included in the List of Traditional Products by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
One of the symbols of the city is the co-cathedral basilica of St. Saint Jacob. The temple was built in the second half of the 14th century and for a long time it was not only a house of God, but also a defensive building and a place of refuge for the city's inhabitants from the fires that plagued it. The patron saint of the basilica, St. James the Elder also became the city's patron saint and appears on its coat of arms. In the years 1898 – 1900, the organist of the temple was the composer of “Rota” and “Legend of the Baltic Sea”. He is the patron of events organized here since the late 1970s.
Inside the basilica there are monuments from every age of the city's existence. The most important ones include:
- reliquary of Saint Wojciech,
- monumental 17th century crucifix,
- late Gothic triptych,
- Gothic wall tabernacle with a Renaissance depiction of the martyred Christ.
One of the most interesting monuments is the demolished church of St. Cross. Legend has it that in the 16th century, the castle's burgrave organized a great hunt at Lake Długie. One of the frightened deer managed to reach the city and run into the church, where it fell dead in the middle of the main nave. To commemorate this event, a large candlestick was made of antlers – apparently, when an unfaithful husband passes under it, the deer's head suddenly turns towards him…
is a city of lakes, and the largest of them is It is not surprising that most tourists take their first steps to the beach – the one on Lake Ukiel is impressive! This is where the most modern tourist and sports complex in the voivodeship is located, i.e. The main part of the facility includes, among others: the captain's office building, swimming equipment rental and beaches, with numerous changing rooms, showers, playgrounds, playgrounds and viewing piers. The walking promenade and extensive network of walking and cycling paths are also impressive.
The second important part of the complex is the Olsztyn Kayaking Center, where four Olsztyn clubs are located. Here, in addition to the sports equipment rental, you will also find a year-round beach volleyball hall and a gym with biological regeneration.
CR-S Ukiel also hosts one of the city's most important cultural events, i.e. This year, the event will take place on August 15-17, and will be honored by stars such as: Edyta Bartosiewicz, Daria Zawiałow, Zalewski, Pola Rise, Kortez, Kaśka Sochacka, Natalia Przybysz and Taco Hemingway.
One of the greatest culinary gems for a change is in Olsztyn, offering traditional dishes of Warmia and Mazury. It is based on regional suppliers, ecological producers and is part of the Culinary Heritage Network of Warmia, Mazury and Powiśle. It is here that you can taste, for example, a regional goulash soup, prepared from meat, beans, cabbage and many other ingredients, spices and several types of dumplings – including: with goose, venison or Russian. Delicious flatbreads are also worth mentioning, both with meat additions and delicious cheeses, and even nettle. The latter is used more often here – we also had the opportunity to try a delicious (and very healthy!) one, and sum up the feast with a delicious bird cherry tincture and local mead.
The interior design of the restaurant is also noteworthy, as it invites you to become familiar with the cuisine and rich culture of Warmia.
Breweries are no longer just factories of golden alcohol. They have been gaining a place on the culinary and cultural maps of cities for years. It is no different in Olsztyn. It is worth ending your tour of the city in a more relaxed atmosphere by visiting the increasingly popular facility, which was built in the fall of 2017 in a former barn building in the ruined Warmian settlement, near Lake Ukiel. The brewery focuses on locality (with a few exceptions, beers are available only in Olsztyn), high quality (no preservatives, chemicals or cheap substitutes are used in production) and patience, because Ukielski beers are aged for a long time, from 2 to 6 months. – The first one we brewed, West Coast IPA, won a gold medal at the Kraft of the Year competition and remains our flagship beer to this day – says the owner.
Uszpolewicz is aware that the Ukiel Brewery is not only a passion and a business idea, but also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Olsztyn. In his opinion, weighing this drink is magic and sincerely invites all visitors to the city to visit this small but modern place. You can quickly see that everything that the inhabitants of Olsztyn do with heart and passion is magic.