Location: Wegorzewo
Top Things to do in Wegorzewo
The 8 Best Things to Do in Wegorzewo, Poland
Węgorzewo [vɛŋɡɔˈʐɛvɔ] (German: Angerburg, Lithuanian: Ungura) is a tourist town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Poland, not far from the border with Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast. It is the seat of Węgorzewo County. Lake Mamry (called Mauersee until 1945) is close to the town.
Restaurants in Wegorzewo
1. Mamerki City of Brigid
Overall Ratings
4 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By Johnny_Gault - Bavaria, Germany
Not as impressive as I had expected, but certainly worth a visit, if you have time while visiting the Wolf's Lair. Mauerwald/Mamerki is 18km north of the Wolf's Lair. There is a small map available in the Wolf's Lair hotel (as well as guide books to the Mauerwald site, although we did not see one in English) and the route is well marked (follow the signs to Mamerki/U-Boot). There are small museums there that include a reproduction German U-Boot, but these museums were not open when we visited. If the museums are not scheduled to be open, be sure you download a site map from the internet before you go, as there are no directions on-site.
The bunkers at Mauerwald were not destroyed in 1945 as was the Wolf's Lair, so you can see what the intact bunkers would have looked like (actually small on the inside). There are two bunker sites on either side of the road, but you can visit just one side of the road (the original "Quelle" site) to see the largest bunkers and representative types of the smaller bunkers. Bring a flashlight! There is a large dirt parking area on the right (east) side of the road, just up from the entrance to where the bunker museums are - this parking lot is marked with a large sign like at the entrance to the Wolf's Lair, for Mamerki / OKH Mauerwald. Just inside the woods from that lot starts the trail to the "Quelle" bunkers. The bunkers on the other side of the road ("Fritz") are really just more of the same, and not as impressive.
They really do need to trim the trees around the largest bunkers especially. I had been led to think from internet photos that these large bunkers were out in the open, but those photos are several years old (as are the photos that show a viewing platform on top of Bunker 6). Almost all of the bunkers are now surrounded by small trees, effectively obscuring most of their sides.
There are other associated sites around there to see, but you will have to have a good map or a guide. The unfinished locks on the Masurian Canal near Mauerwald are a breathtaking piece of Nazi concrete architecture, but not easy to find. You can also visit an old fortress at Gizycko that was used as part of the overall Wolf's Lair complex, as well as Heinrich Himmler's bunker complex at Hochwald.
2. Gizycko Water Tower
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 158 reviews
The Water Tower was built in 1900 entirely of red unplastered bricks in the neo-gothic style with interesting external vaulting around its crown and two coats of arms over the entrance: one Mazurian and one municipal to emphasise its being part of the region. The water Reservoir in the tower distributed water to all the dwellings for 97 years. Nowadays, following the great reconstruction of the interior and adding a dome and three additional floors and extending the viewing platform with telescopes, the tower has become Giżycko’s most unique tourist attraction. To reach the top, one has to climb 129 steps (or use the lift). The highest floor of the tower is 162 m above sea level and it houses a café. From this height, one can truly appreciate the Panorama of the town and the surrounding areas with lakes and Forests – a typical Mazurian landscape. The inside the tower houses the local museum with exhibits that illustrate the past life of the local people.
Reviewed By incite_wanderlust - York, United Kingdom
Lovely building. Fab view from the top. Cafe with tasty treats available on the top floors. You can walk all the way up or take a lift to the floor below the top (so you will need to be able to climb stairs). Some interesting artefacts on the floors on your way up/down.
3. Wolf's lair - Wolfsschanze
Overall Ratings
4 based on 385 reviews
Previously East-Prussia; Former Military complex of the Third Reich. Military Commanding Center of the Eastern Front in WWII. Site of the 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler, by Claus von Stauffenberg. Story told in the 2008 film Valkirye.
Reviewed By incite_wanderlust - York, United Kingdom
We hired bikes and cycled over from Gizycko on a fab cycle path through sandy tracks, local villages and forest trails. This was fun in itself! We arrived and paid the 15zloty fee and parked our bikes at the entrance. We were offered a tour by one of the blokes by the cafe but decided to buy a guide and walk around ourselves. Be warned there is little information at the site so a tour or guidebook purchase is required to get the full benefit. We spent a good 90 mins or so following the site markers and Reading from the books, such an important site for WW2 history, and we enjoyed looking into the bunkers and imaging the decisions and life that went on their in the 1940's. I did get eaten alive by mosquito's - so spray would be a handy addition to anything you take with you if you visit in the summer. I still really enjoyed it, though I am a bit of a history nut.
4. Port Sztynort
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By pawel_hbg - Gdynia, Poland
They are saying about themselves that they are the biggest harbour in Mazurian Lake District. Probably yes as they were many yachts. However definetely they are not the best one. Bathrooms are from the last century and I am not saying here about this 2nd half. They should invest better. Food in the Pensjonat sztynort restaurant and the service were much below expectations. Everything was expensive. The only advantage is the shop they have where you can buy food in acceptable prices.
5. Gizycko Swing Bridge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 132 reviews
Reviewed By incite_wanderlust - York, United Kingdom
Fab bridge, opens regularly for boat traffic so pay attention to the timings! We had to cross the rail bridge and the pedestrian bridge with our bikes as we hit the boat opening each was on our cycle trip. It's a quaint bridge and a very picturesque setting. Get an ice-cream and watch the boats sail by!
6. Boyen Fortress
Overall Ratings
4 based on 195 reviews
Gizycko’s most interesting monument of exceptional historic value and tourist appeal is the Boyen Fortress. It is a rare example of a 19th century Prussian-school fortification and is one of the best preserved monuments of defensive architecture of the 19th century in Poland.
Reviewed By Madshus - Canberra, Australia
This is a very interesting historical site. I wish I had had more time to explore it. There are translations of certain exhibits etc in english and other languages. But it's not consistent. And coloured tracks were also confusing for me as they did not coincide with what was on my map. I think a good simple map with suggested routes and explanations would have been great.
7. Rope park Wiewiora
Overall Ratings
5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Roni L
We spent about 2 hours in the park.
It is great fun for all. Teenagers with a height of 160cm have all the variety (4 tracks) available to them.
Younger kids are limited.
Minimum height for kids track is 120cm. Ours managed it on her own with some encouragement and a lot of fun photos and videos taken from the ground.
There is one more medium track for over 140cm we didn't try it.
Teenagers and dad did the Omega (zip track) which includes 5 different runs, 2 over the river.
Great sport for the one taken the photos and videos
The staff were very helpful and spoke good enough English to clearly explain safety rules.
Only discomfort was the WC that wasn't inviting (to say the least).
8. WakePark Gizycko
Overall Ratings
5 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Pasha O
Cool and joyful place, fascinating nature, friendly stuff, for more details go and visit the place:) enjoyed being here with all family.
