Augustow, dear Augustow (Poland, the region of the Masurian Lakes)

Any tourist traveling in this forest paradise will find something for himself - from hiking along the Rospuda River to kayaking tours on a stylized gondola. There are also well-prepared horse, bicycle and hiking trails in the vicinity of Augustów.

most valuable natural object The area where all roads lead is the valley of the Rospuda River, and the Augustow Lake District is a real pearl of Polish nature.

The heart of the city is Sigismund August Market. It is to him, Sigismund Augustus, according to legend, that the city owes its origin. In commemorating the founding of the city his first meeting with Barbara Radzivillova, and although the first mention of the village on the Natta River dates back to 1496, this event is considered to be the beginning of the history of the city.

One of the most interesting entertainment The city of Augustow is considered to be the first cable car for water skiing in Poland. Its length is 740 meters and it can accelerate to a speed of 56 kilometers per hour.

More and more tourists, having arrived in the city, refuse to travel by car and switch to bicycles. There are many rental shops in the city, so it will not be difficult to find and rent a two-wheeled friend and dedicate yourself bike ride around the city and surroundings.

Augustow Canal Museum

At the end of the 16th century, when King Stefan Batory announced the slogan about the creation of a waterway that was supposed to connect the Vistula with the Neman, he did not think that the construction of the Augustow Canal would be delayed for more than 250 years.

Only in 1822, Prince Francis Xavier Drucki-Lubecki convinced the tsar of the need to build a waterway that would enable the connection of the Baltic, bypassing the territory of Prussia, in which high customs duties were introduced. Work on the canal began in 1824 and lasted 14 years, but by the time the construction was completed, the conjuncture had changed, the Prussian duties decreased and the canal became a local highway.

The length of the canal is 101 km, the number of locks is 18, 14 of which are located on the territory of Poland, one in the border zone and 3 on the Belarusian side.

This canal is the most famous kayaking route in Poland and the only waterway to Belarus.

Additional Information:

Admiring with Castle Hill beautiful position of the city, we must remember that we are admiring the old coronation castle, one of the four in Poland - after Gniezno, and before Krakow and Warsaw.

Almost all Polish kings, starting with Wladyslaw Jagiello, considered Belovezhskaya Pushcha the richest place for catching the beast. The kings took care of the rights of watchmen and shooters. Proof of this are the documents signed by the crowned heads of state. Sigismund August even established death penalty for killing a bison.

The Bialystok Village Museum is 2 kilometers away from the border of Bialystok. It recreates the development of the village, typical for the eastern Podlasie and the Augustow-Suwalski Lake District. The museum has collected more than 9,000 exhibits, including buildings and items of rural life.

Augustów is the unofficial summer capital of Podlasie, where nature and sports lovers flock in season. The surrounding Augustows are clean, fishy lakes, smelling and mushroom forests provide not only relaxation and relaxation, but also satisfy the needs of outdoor enthusiasts.

There are several types of orchids in the reserve, some of which are very rare. A variety of lichens indicates the purity of the air. The world of animals inhabiting the Vigersky Reserve is also rich - about 800 species of animals, but the beaver, the emblematic animal of the reserve, "hosts"

The Suwałki Region is a region of fabulous beauty in the northeast of Poland. Landscape park, the first in Poland, Wigry reserve and many other historical and natural gems worth visiting

Poland is big and interesting country, traditionally lying on our way to the annual vacation. As a rule, going to Europe by car, we skipped Poland non-stop, but not this time. On this vacation by car in Europe, we were traveling in the company of our friends with children, who offered to make an intermediate stop on the usual route. Quick search on the Internet, he brought me to the Polish city of Augustow, where I will pleasantly stop and write about it.

Our tourists, traveling around Poland, did not ignore the city of Augustow, they stopped there for rest and praised it very much. We did not plan to stay in the city for the night, so Augustov in our impressions is a little different, but also purely positive. But still, in order to fully enjoy your vacation in Augustow: admire the canal, wander along the paths along the canal and lakes, swim, ride a boat and get other amenities, you should spend a couple of days in the city. And the impressions short visit below.

Let's start with the entrance to the city. The road around the city, built in 2014, made life easier for citizens and transit workers, but it turned out to be inopportune for us, who wanted to get to the city center. This new road is not yet on all navigators, and the signs on Polish roads, having entered into conflict with the instructions of the navigator, once again played hide and seek with us. To correctly get to Augustow at the exit from Suwałki, it was not worth going along highway No. 8 following the signs for Warsaw and Augustow, but you should have trusted the navigator, on which there is no new road.

The old road from Suwalki to Augustow, which was previously traveled, passes along picturesque places between two lakes (Necko and Białe) and crosses the Augustow Canal along beautiful bridge. We expected to look for a place by the lake for a small picnic. But harmful Polish signs took us to new road, the entrance to Augustow from which passes far beyond the lakes. But this path also had its positive aspects. The navigator was placed at the address Mostowa 34, where, not far from the bridge over the Netta River, there should have been a place of enjoyment of all yummy things, marked by travelers, whose reports I read before the trip - the stylized antique tavern "Mostki". The path from the highway to the desired address passed right through the very center of the city.

The center of Augustów is a square called Rynek Zygmunta Augusta (Rynek Zygmunta Augusta). The square appeared simultaneously with the advent of the city in 1550, and maybe even earlier. It still retains the flavor of past centuries and is surrounded by small houses from the nineteenth century, the oldest of which was built in 1801. This is house number 28, which is also called the "Napoleon's House", since it was here that on December 8, 1812, while fleeing from Russia, Napoleon Bonaparte stopped. House number 3 is interesting, decorated with an eclectic facade and ceramics, where a post office has been located since 1945. House number 9 now houses the City House of Culture, and before the Second World War, the rowing society.

In the center of the square there is a small park founded in 1847, previously known as the Saxon Garden and the Jagielonsky Garden. In the very center of the park there is a monument to the initiator of the founding of the city, King Sigismund II August. the monument appeared on the square in honor of the 450th anniversary of the city in 2007 at the initiative of the townspeople. On Sundays, city holidays are held in the park and you can listen to a concert of brass bands.

Mostowa Street, apparently the main street of the city of Augustow, well, or one of them. This is a cobblestone pavement, beautiful renovated houses on both sides. They have hotels, restaurants, shops and shops.

Having approached the point defined in the navigator as Mostowa 34, we unfortunately did not find anything similar to the described tavern "Mostki". No proper sign, no house that would fit the description of the tavern. But we nevertheless showed the necessary perseverance and, having made a circle around the block, from the second call we drove into the yard establishments under the banner of Patelnia Smakow, looking like a restaurant, where they had lunch.

Since we were tuned in to the fish menu, our ladies ate fish dishes with pleasure, while the men preferred meat. Of the drinks has been tried lomza beer, light and dark. I'm not a big fan of Polish beer, but this turned out to be my taste - slightly sweet and without too much hoppy bitterness. Dinner for two with hot and salad plus two beers cost PLN 93.00 including tips, which is something like €21.0.

While the dishes were being prepared, I enjoyed walking along Mostowa Street to Rynek Zygmunta Augusta Square and took a few photos. An interesting effect was obtained in the photographs - it seems that Mostovaya Street is very wide and the houses are free, I look and I myself am surprised, because it did not seem so on the spot.

Not far from the corner of the Bridge and the street "May 3", I admired one of the cathedrals of the city of Augustow - this is the "Small Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus" Bazylika Mniejsza Najświętszego Serca Jezusowego. The temple was built in 1906 - 1911. in an eclectic style in the shape of a Latin cross, on the site of the dilapidated classical church of St. Bartholomew. During the war, it was partially destroyed. Five oak altars have been preserved in the temple, in the main one there is the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the icon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The interior is decorated with images created by Vilnius and Czestochowa artists of the early 20th century and modern stained glass windows. In 2001, the church received the status of a Minor Basilica.

From the history of the city of Augustow.

The second legend is more romantic, according to which the first meeting between King Sigismund II Augustus and Barbara Radziwill took place in the August forests. This happened during the stop of the king in the guest yard of the village of Mostki, located at the intersection of the roads from Vilnius to Warsaw and from Grodno to Königsberg. He fell in love with the daughter of the owners at first sight, and in memory of this, a city was founded at the meeting place in the 16th century, which received the middle name of the king.

Is it so, but it is known for sure that King Sigismund II Augustus always admired these lands and the city was founded. The coat of arms of Augustow became a monogram - in a red field crowned with a crown, golden woven letters S and A, they can be seen lined with cobblestone mosaics on the pavement central square cities. Augustow received the status of a city and Magdeburg rights on May 17, 1557.

Over time, Augustow became an important trade center for the surrounding villages, mainly due to its favorable location on a large highway connecting the eastern borders of Poland with the Baltic ports of Königsberg and Gdansk, as well as with Poznan. Avgustów has always been a frontier - the interests of Poles, Belarusians, Lithuanians and Prussians converged here, and the land changed hands more than once. Since 1795, the city belonged to Prussia, from 1807 to 1812 the Napoleonic army was here, after the Congress of Vienna in 1815 it was ceded to Russia.

20-30s of the XIX century - a period of intense economic development city, associated mainly with the construction of the Augustow Canal, and in 1898 came to Augustow Railway. The city was badly damaged during the First World War, being at the epicenter of heavy fighting between the Russian and German armies, but was completely restored. Augustow again entered a period of rapid development of education, political, economic and cultural life, woodworking enterprises appeared in the city. Suddenly, the city became attractive for recreation, and between the world wars Augustow was the most famous Polish resort, where the political and military elite of Poland rested.

In September 1939, Augustow became part of the Belostok region of the Byelorussian SSR. The city was again badly damaged during the Second World War, about 70% of the buildings were destroyed. In 1945 Augustow was returned to Poland and regained the status of a resort. In 1968, the first production well was launched mineral water, in 1972 the production of mineral water "Augustowianka" began.

Since 1989, Augustow has been developing as an attractive and modern tourist center, a magnificent pedestrian embankment on the Netta River and Lake Necko, and stylish paving stones appeared on the market square. In 1999, the first water skiing facility in Poland was opened in Augustow. cable car. The city in the late 90s became the center of shipbuilding, there are two large shipyards on the scale of Poland that build yachts for export to Western Europe.

The Augustow Canal is a unique hydraulic structure of European scale for the first half of the 19th century. It was built intermittently from 1824 to 1838 to counter the very high Prussian customs duties that practically blocked the transport of Polish goods along the Vistula River to the port in Gdansk. The Augustow Canal was supposed to connect the tributaries of the Vistula, Narew and Biebrzha rivers with the Neman River.

To maintain an appropriate water level, the builders regulated 35 km of the Netta and Charna-Khancha riverbeds, made more than 40 km of tunnels, built 18 locks and 23 culverts that regulate the flow of water. Locks made of stone and brick, painted in national colors, stood out for their beautiful architecture.

The common basin of the Augustow Canal covers two countries: Poland and Belarus (14 locks in Poland, 1 in the border zone and 3 in Belarus), the length is 103.4 km. The channel connects 12 natural lakes, near the last of which Necko is located Augustow. The difference in water levels, overcome by locks, is from 0.8 to 9.8 m, so among the locks there are not only ordinary single-chamber, but also multi-chamber.

The canal was opened in 1839 for navigation, but the truth immediately lost its economic significance. More precisely, he played his role differently, forcing Prussia to abandon high duties on goods transported along the Vistula River. In 1968, the Augustow Canal was included in the list of valuable monuments of Poland, in 2007 it became a historical monument.

I think this is enough descriptions of Augustow, I will only add that, among other things, there is such an attraction on the Augustow Canal as " papal path". You can take a boat, you can take a boat, or you can go dry along the canal to repeat the path made by the Pope in June 1999. The pope of that time, if you remember, was a Pole and visited the places of his childhood and the city of Augustow. From where on the boat the way to the monastery, located on the island of one of the lakes.

Augustow - small town in northeastern Poland.
go into historical background we will not, who are interested - here. One can only mention that during its five centuries of existence at various times this city belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Kingdom of Poland, Prussia, the Kingdom of Poland, the Polish Republic, the Byelorussian SSR and again returned to Poland. Now there are about 30,000 inhabitants.

We are in Augustow for the second time. The first time was in the summer of 2014, but then we only spent the night in it, arrived late on a rainy evening and hurried to leave early in the morning. Augustow remained behind the scenes.

And this year, Augustov smiled at us, brightened up, showed himself in all his glory. Posed, in general.

We settled in the hotel "Old House". We booked a hotel room at Booking based on positive reviews. Were not mistaken.

The hotel is really a very cozy an old house(more precisely, two old houses), inside is also made in retro style using modern materials and technologies.

I'd like to note that the owner for the same price gave us a better room than we booked for "booking". For the reason "It will be convenient for you", which certainly captivates. Coffee, tea, sugar in the hotel unlimited and at any time. Breakfast is served directly to your room at a convenient time.

* the next picture and some others in the upper right corner are marked with . This means that under such a picture there is another one hidden - similar or from a different angle. To display the second snapshot, click on the first snapshot, to return the first, click on the second.

We moved in, stuffed our things and went to see the city.

The main attraction of Augustow, of course, is the Augustow Canal:

There is a separate story about the channel, so here it is briefly:

Canal embankment:

The Poles call the city "Northern Venice". All city ​​life revolves around the Augustow Canal and Lake Necko. Augustow is currently developing as resort town. People come here to admire the nature and the crystal clean water Masurian lakes, breath amazingly fresh air.

One of the channel gateways:

Not without permanent inhabitants of the water surface:

Swans are apparently used to being fed by passers-by:

And we didn’t have any buns ((

Let's walk through the streets.
Almost all of Augustów consists of small, functional cottages built without the frills so characteristic of Polish towns and villages.

The Poles invest their whole soul not in the facade, but in the landscaping of their plot of land in front of the house. Here is a place for the manifestation of the ambitions of the homeowner. A sea of ​​flowers, a perfect lawn, bushes, so that "better than the neighbor's." Garden benches and swings are indispensable. However, for every 99 Poles who are sheared, dug and planted, there is one who sits on this bench. Naturally, there is no fashion for high stone fences and brutal steel doors and gates. Everything is very open to "show itself". Provincial Poland - a combed and made-up panenka for marriageable age.

Another of the sights in Augustow, as in almost every historical Polish city, is Rynok Square:

Well, churches. This one is from the sacred heart of Jesus:

History of development Resort Augustow in Poland

At the beginning of the 16th century, Queen Bona Sforza noted the uniqueness of the lands located on the territory of the Augustowska Forest, and ordered the establishment of the town of Zygmuntowo here, the role of which was initially to maintain the routes from Lithuania and Belarus to Prussia, Krakow and Warsaw. And already on May 17, 1557 in Vilna, King Zygmunt August granted the town the privilege of Magdeburg law. The city of Augustow got its name and coat of arms from its founder.

Active development of Augustow as tourist center began between the two world wars. The surroundings of the resort are replenished tourism infrastructure: Polsky Yacht Club, Officer Yacht Club, Nad Lakes Hotel, etc. In 1927, Peter Galitsky, the mayor of the city, set about creating the Northern Venice resort on the site. Soon all this leads to the fact that Augustow becomes one of the most popular places holidays in Poland. The entire political and military elite comes to Augustow to rest: Gabriel Narutowicz, Stanislav Voitsekhovsky, Ignatius Mostitsky, Edward Rydz-Smigly, and others.
Second World War interrupted the development of the region for a long time. Military operations destroyed the city by 70%. But soon the resort began to rise from the ruins, a number of resort facilities arose: Tourist House, Rest House for Workers, Rest House for the Military.

Attractions Resort Augustow in Poland

An integral part of the city's history is the construction of the Augustow Canal. In 1822, Prince Frantisek Xavier Drutsky-Lubetsky convinced Emperor Alexander I of the need to build a waterway connecting the Vistula and Vindava (current Ventspils). The opening of the canal took place in 1839. Currently Augustow Canal 101.2 km long, one of the longest artificial waterways in Poland. The channel has 18 locks, 29 dams, 14 drawbridges, 24 wooden and stone buildings for maintenance of engineering communications.
As a result of the division of Europe after the Second World War, 80 km of the Augustow Canal is located on the territory of Poland (14 locks), and today there are 3 locks on the territory of Belarus and one in the border zone. The Augustow Canal is a monument of hydrological construction and is a candidate for inclusion in List world heritage UNESCO.

Holidays and festivals Resort Augustow in Poland

Among the huge number of tourist cultural and sports events in Augustow, everyone can find something for themselves. Most festivals, shows, concerts fall in July and August. The most spectacular event is the championship of Poland in swimming on anything - "What floats, it will not sink." This performance provides all participants with a variety of emotions, and the audience - a positive mood. The last week of July attracts a large number of boat designers.
Every year, the Netta River hosts the International Jumping Championship. water skiing. First day summer holidays water slalom competitions are held with the participation of well-known representatives of radio and television, athletes and sports journalists. In August, a marathon of swimmers takes place on Lake Necko - a large number of participants demonstrate their skills in a 6 km swim every year. The regatta for the Augustow Mayor's Cup and the qualifying stage of the race have become traditional motor yachts"Augustow Cub".

The city of Augustow, located near the Lithuanian border, is considered an excellent transit point for travelers going to the Baltics. It is located on the famous Augustow Canal, which is considered one of the main city attractions.

We first read about the city of Augustow in documentary chronicles dated 1496. At first this locality was ruled by the Lithuanian princes, and in the middle of the XVI century it became Polish city. In general, this border town managed to be part of many countries: Prussia, Russian Empire, THE USSR. After 1944, he again withdrew to Poland. Throughout its history, Augustus has seen kings and emperors, popes and presidents. Monarchs liked to rest in this small town, which is famous for its proximity to the purest Masurian lakes. In the city you can see the house in which Napoleon lived for several days, it is located on the Sigismund August Market.

Documents in the city archives also tell that in 1793, during negotiations between representatives of the Russian Empire and the Commonwealth, several high-ranking officials, among whom was King Stanislav August, simply fled from Grodno to Augustow in order to see a rare a natural phenomenon- solar eclipse.

Tourists who have visited Augustow note a large number of local interesting architectural monuments. These are several churches: the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, built at the beginning of the 20th century, and the baroque monastery complex of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. It was built in 1726, repaired several times, but managed to keep its appearance unchanged. Public buildings, for example, a post office or a yacht club built in the 30s of the last century also arouse the interest of travelers.

There are also museums in Augustow. Expositions of the local local history museum tell not only about the history of the city, but also about the structural features of the Augustow Canal. The Museum of Lancers, which occupies the premises of the bell tower of the Church of the Virgin Mary of Czestochowa, will appeal to men of any age.