Discover Ostróda County: canal history, churches and lakes

In Ostróda County, a landscape of lakes, cultural history and engineering structures come together. Ostróda is a good base for travellers looking to visit a museum, historic churches and sites by the water. When choosing a holiday region, this raises a practical question: would you prefer to focus on architectural history and culture during your stay, or include lakeside routes and activities on the water?

Castle history and architectural heritage in Ostróda

The museum in Ostróda is housed in a former Teutonic Knights’ castle. Its permanent exhibition explores the history of the town and surrounding area; another exhibition is dedicated to Napoleon’s brief stay in Ostróda in 1807. Workshops for all age groups round out the museum’s offerings. The castle courtyard also hosts theatre performances, literary and musical events, concerts and other organised events. This makes it easy to include both historical themes and a range of events in your travel plans.

The religious buildings also tell the story of the town’s architectural history. The Evangelical Methodist church was built in the Neo-Gothic style from 1907 to 1909; it was designed by Berlin architect Oskar Hossfeld. A viewing point in the tower of the Evangelical church offers a view over the entire town. The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Neo-Gothic brick church. Notable features include an 18-stop organ and stained-glass windows dating from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Other prominent examples of engineering and architecture include the water tower on Drwęcka Street and the Bismarck Tower near Collisa Park. The water tower was built in 1903 by the German company Grove, which constructed the municipal waterworks in 1903 and 1904. The ten-metre-high Bismarck Tower was built from hewn stone in 1902. It was the first structure of its kind in East Prussia; 17 such towers have survived in Poland to this day. The hydraulic installations of the Ostróda–Elbląg Canal, particularly its ship lifts, are considered a world-class technical monument.

Lakeside routes and experiences on the water

Two hiking trails offer different distances. The Ostróda–Piławki trail is 7.8 kilometres long and follows the west shore of the northern part of Lake Drwęckie. The Ostróda–Ruś–Piławki trail is 14.5 kilometres long and leads to the Mała Ruś lock. It is part of the Ostróda–Elbląg Canal system and raises or lowers boats by 1.4 metres. The stated distances can help you plan your day; you can choose destinations and routes to suit your own interests.

Activities on the water are also part of what Ostróda has to offer on Lake Drwęckie. The 800-metre-long water-ski lift can serve up to nine water-skiers at a time. At the town beach near the water-ski course, you can rent watersports equipment for trips on the lake by pedal boat or kayak. There is another town beach on Lake Sajmino; the second town beach there has renovated jetties with waterslides. The amphitheatre in Ostróda opened in 2012, has 2,500 seats and hosts numerous artistic and cultural events. Żegluga Ostródzko-Elbląska, based in Ostróda, operates the white fleet that runs along the historic canal route.

Nature in the municipality of Ostróda

The surrounding municipality includes several kinds of protected areas. The Natura 2000 site “Dolina Drwęcy” is located in the municipality of Ostróda. The “Rzeka Drwęca” nature reserve is also located there and is considered Poland’s longest ichthyological nature reserve. The Dylewskie Hills Landscape Park also extends partly into the municipality of Ostróda. The park covers a total of 7,169.76 hectares, with a 14,664.22-hectare protected zone.

Ostróda County lies on the Iława Lakeland and forms the core of the tourism-oriented region of Western Masuria. Major transport routes between Poznań and Olsztyn, and between Warsaw and Gdańsk, intersect in Ostróda; rail connections are also available. The roads mentioned include the S7 and national roads 15 and 16. In the wider region, the Museum of the Battle of Grunwald holds the annual “Dni Grunwaldu” and a battle reenactment. Culture, lakeside routes and regional nature offer a range of ways to shape your stay and choose a suitable holiday apartment in the area.

Discover places in Ostróda County

Other places in the area: Dabrowno, Gierzwald, Grunwald, Kretowiny, Lukta, Morag, Ostróda, Roje, Stare Jablonki, Wilnowo, Wysoka Wieś, Bogaczewo, Kotkowo, Idzbark, Kątno, Gulbity, Lubajny, Miłakowo, Międzylesie, Zabi Róg, Gierzwald K Ostródy, Samborowo, Kalbornia, Wielki Dwór, Miłomłyn, Słonecznik, Florczaki, Boguchwały, Pojezierce, Kalbornia, Gil Mały, Pelnik, Maliniak, Molza, Grabin, Elgnowo, Jurki and Kajkowo.

View the broader travel guide: Warmia and Masuria.