Olsztyn

I have decided that we need some new type of adventure on this blog. So today I will take you on what they call a city game - a series of riddles that will allow us to visit the most interesting spots in Olsztyn.

Olsztyn is the most important city in the Warmia and Mazury region. In early sixteenth century it was the residence of the most famous Polish astronomer - Mikołaj Kopernik (aka Nicolaus Copernicus). Therefore, the game proposed by the Tourist Information in Olsztyn is called "Chasing Copernicus".

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First we need to enter the Old Town via the High Gate. You can easily guess where its name comes from.

To answer question number one we need to turn back and see the picture of Our Lady. What colour is the background of the picture?

Yes, it is gold. We have the first answer! Now we need to follow the Staromiejska Street (meaning "the Old Town Street").

It is surrounded by nice residential buildings.

Now we have to turn left and walk towards the Saint Jacob church. Yes, you guessed it right, it is one of the spots of the Polish Route to Santiago de Compostela.

The church was built in fourteenth century in the gothic style.

The gothic influence can be easily recognised on the ceiling, similar to the one that I have shown you recently in Barczewo.

The altar is also typical for this period. The most famous altar of this type is in Kraków. I definitely need to take you there soon.

Here we have another question. A legend says that during a hunting party a deer run into the church in order to seek refuge. As a memory of it, one of the chandeliers is decorated with ...

Yes! With deer antlers. We have another clue! We can then leave the Saint Jacob church and look for the Old Town Market Square. The building in the middle is of course the Old Town Hall.

Now we need to find a sundial. Here it is - let's check the time.

I am afraid it is a bit too cloudy for this. But it should be somewhere after 9AM. The next riddle directs us to a mock-up of the Old Town that should stand somewhere on the Market Square.

Here it is! We need to check what is the number given on the mock-up to the High Tower that we have seen as the first object in Olsztyn.

Number one. Another riddle solved. Now we need to define an axe based on the sundial again and note the name of a little street that will be on the left hand side. It is called "Jana z Łajs" and is thus honoring the first mayor of Olsztyn who was serving there in fourteenth century. We need to go up the street to see the city open air theathre.

And just behind stands the biggest pride of Olsztyn - the castle. It was built by Teutonic Knights but they did not enjoy it too long. In one of the peace treaties signed in middle fifteenth century it was assigned to Poland.

Next to the main entry gate we can meet the one we have been chasing - Copernicus himself. He was administering the castle and the region from 1516 to 1521.

I have been told we need to touch his nose as it brings luck.

Let's enter the courtyard of the castle.

Our last riddle relates to the black statue standing there.

Well, it is called a Prussian old lady. Though in fact it represents a man. It has something to do with the old pagan rites of the region.

Now let's move all the right letters into the right cases to check the password. Yes, I am sure you guessed it already. It is Copernicus. As a reward we can now enter the castle to visit the museum.

The long hall on the first floor will lead us to a special feature of the castle.

On the wall you can admire the experimental table of Copernicus. It allowed graphic presentation of the spring equinox date, which allowed then to determine the dates of movable church holidays. Ultimately, it made possible the reform of the calendar. 

Through these windows, the sunlight was faling on the table and thus drawing the lines that Copernicus used in his analysis.

On the second floor, the museum exhibits the traditional crafts of the region, a bit like what we have seen in Bytów recently. Here come the table clothes ...

... and a typical bedroom.

Through the windows of the third floor it is possible to admire some nice views of Olsztyn, with its residential buildings ...

... and the protestant church close to the castle.

I hope that you have enjoyed this city game and our trip to Olsztyn. For all those who wish to complain I have reserved a special place where they can rethink their attitude.

Barczewo

Today we will visit another small town on the Polish Route of Santiago de Compostela. It is called Barczewo and is celebrating this year 550 years of exintence since it was founded in 1364.

On the market square you will find in the first place the town hall.

But of you look carefully you will for sure spot also the Santiago shell.

To fulfill our duties as pilgrims we need to enter the Saint Anna Church. You may admire the ceiling in the gothic style ...

... the organ (not as nice as the one in Święta Lipka though) ...

... and finally the picture of Our Lade of Barczewo together with her mother Saint Anna and Baby Jesus.

Now let's walk down the hill on which the church is located.

This nice lake is in fact the river Pisa. On the other side you can see the prison, with the church of Saint Dismas or the Penitent Thief.

And again the Saint Anna church, with the town hall in the back.

The lake is a fantastic recreational area. It is surrounded by flowers and benches. And on the lake itself you can see swans with their young. Yes, you got it right. These are the ugly ducklings from the tale by H.Ch. Andersen.

Let's go up the hill again. Next to the town hall you can see the house in which Feliks Nowowiejski, one of the most prominent Polish composers, was born.

Let's cross Pisa again. I will take you to the last attraction in town.

As in many other towns that I have shown you, before World War II many Jews lived in Barczewo. Obviously, they had their synagogue in town.

Nowadays, the synagogue has been turned into an art gallery. You can still see the old architecture, with the upper floor desined for women.

But the traditional menorah is now framed by contemporanous paintings.

Time to move back on the trail my friends. Santiago is waiting for us!

Święta Lipka

Święta Lipka (called Heiligelinde in German) is a village in the North of Poland. It is famous for the sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary. According to the old tales, in the fourteenth century a prisoner has scuplted Mary with the Child and has placed it on a linden tree. Many pilgrims were visiting the sculpture who was said to bring miracles to those who believed. Unfortunately during the unrest following the Reformation the tree was cut down and the sculpture destroyed. A new chapel was founded 1619 and entrusted to the Jesuite order.

 

Nowadays, the sanctuary is far bigger than the small chapel it used to be in the past.

It is also one of the sites of the Polish Route of Santiago de Compostela (so-called Camino Polaco). I will not be able to visit all of them this year but I hope to see at least one or two more.

So let's enter through the monumental gate.

The complex of Święta Lipka (the church, the convent and the surroundings) are considered as one of the most magnificent examples of Baroque architecture in Poland.

Next to the top you can see a reminder of the old tree and the miraculous sculpture.

The church is embraced by a gallery.

The ceiling of the gallery is decorated with frescos with biblical scenes.

The paintings are also on the domes.

On the walls there are Stations of the Cross.

Inside, the church is decorated with numerous ornaments. You can see in a second that it has been built in the baroque style.

Again, the ceiling is painted with biblical scenes.

But the biggest jewel of the church is the organ. During concerts held there the sculptures of Mary and the angels move along with the music.

On the left side of the main nave you see again Our Lady on the linden tree.

The concert will begin in two minutes so let's sit and listen. Then we will move back on the Santiago route. Watch out for the Santiago shell.