Attractions and Places To See around Stawiguda - Top 20

Probably the most prominent structure of the Brick Gothic style in northern Poland, rhe church was probably built between 1370 and 1380, after Allenstein was granted city rights in 1352. The impressive east gable was built shortly after 1429. During the Fourth Coalition War, the church was used as a prison for 1,500 Prussian and Russian soldiers in the winter of 1806/07, who used the furnishings as firewood. The current furnishings were then created, which fortunately survived the end of the war in 1945 thanks to the work of Pastor Johannes Hanowski. The baroque interior design that had been installed in the meantime was removed in 1866. In 1896, the main altar with its valuable Flemish paintings, which had been installed from the castle's St. Anne's Chapel, fell victim to a fire. In 1899, the roof was replaced. Around 1900, the composer Feliks Nowowiejski worked as an organist at St. James' Church. On June 28, 1972, the church became a co-cathedral of the archdiocese. In 1991, Pope John Paul II visited it, and in 2004, he elevated St. James' Church to a minor basilica. The three-aisled hall church was built without a choir. The tower was initially built free-standing only up to the church roof and was only raised to its current size between 1582 and 1596. With the construction of the side chapels, which were added between 1715 and 1721 together with a general restoration, the tower became part of the church. The current spire was added in 1867/68, with the golden star dating from the original building in 1596. At the same time, the façade was redesigned in a neo-Gothic style, with Ferdinand von Quast and August Stüler contributing. In 2001, the church received a representative main portal made of bronze.

In 1334, a watchtower was established on the Łyna River. In 1346, the forest was cleared at the location for a new settlement, mentioned in a historical document from 1348. The following year, the Teutonic Knights began the construction of an Ordensburg (castle) as a stronghold against the Baltic Prussians. Allenstein was granted municipal rights by the cathedral chapter of the Bishopric of Warmia in October 1353. The German "Allenstein" referred to the river's Baltic Prussian name Alna, which meant a hind. Local Poles, having arrived along with German settlers, called it Holstin and Olsztyn, which are Polonizations of the German name. The castle was completed in 1397. The town was captured by the Kingdom of Poland during the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War in 1410, and again in 1414 during the Hunger War, but it was returned to the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights after hostilities ended.

Starting with Cardinal Stanisław Hozjusz, Polish bishops from Warmia who came to take over their rule were ceremoniously welcomed in the area of the villages of Przykop and Bałdy and in the parish church in Butryny[1]. Here, the Bishop's Route leading from Warsaw to Lidzbark Warmiński crossed the border of Ducal Prussia (Masuria) and the diocese through the Gates of Warmia.

The gates of Warmia in Bałdy and the Bishop's Route. Starting with Cardinal Stanisław Hozjusz, the Polish bishops of Warmia coming to assume their rule were solemnly greeted in the area of the villages of Przykop and Bałdy and in the parish church in Butryny. Here, the Bishop's Route leading from Warsaw to Lidzbark Warmiński crossed the border of Ducal Prussia (Masuria) and the diocese through the Gates of Warmia. The last celebration of welcoming the new Reverend Lord in the area of Butryn took place on May 12, 1767, when Bishop Ignacy Krasicki arrived in Warmia. In memory of the former ceremonial visits of church superiors to Warmia, the historic Bishop's Route was reconstructed in Bałdy.

Allenstein Castle was built in the 14th century and served as the residence of the grand masters of the Teutonic Order. Today the castle houses a museum that presents a variety of exhibitions and exhibits on the history of the Teutonic Order and the city of Allenstein.

A beautiful gothic church in the center of Olsztyn

The church in Gietrzwałd was enlarged and expanded into a pilgrimage church in the years 1878–1884 by the Paderborn cathedral and diocesan architect Arnold Güldenpfennig. The church was opened in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. elevated to the minor basilica. During the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Dietrichswald, 13-year-old Justyna Szafrynski and 12-year-old Barbara Samulowski reported that they lived in Dietrichswalde (today Gietrzwałd in the Olsztyński powiat in the Polish Warmian-Masurian voivodeship) from June 27 to September 16, 1877 the Virgin Mary appeared several times. In contrast to the Marpinges apparitions of the Virgin Mary, which took place almost at the same time, the Prussian authorities reacted with caution. Bishop Maximilian Kaller recognized Dietrichswalde as a diocesan pilgrimage site. [10] The apparition was only officially recognized by his successor as Bishop of Warmia, Józef Drzazga, in 1977 (on the 100th anniversary) and thus approved the worship. Source: Wikipedia

The very interesting museum inside the castle not only devotes sufficient space to his famous personality, Nikolaus Kopernikus, but also offers extensive collections on archeology, regional history and also folk art.