Gothic Castles of North Poland

GOTHIC CASTLES of NORTH POLAND 7 days / 6 nights

WARSAW(1) – Niedzica – Olsztyn – RYN (1) – Ketrzyn – Reszel – LIDZBARK WARMINSKI (1) – Gdansk – Malbork – GNIEW (1) – Kwidzyn – Ostróda – MILOMLYN (1) – Golub Dobrzyn – WARSAW (1)

Day 1 – WARSAW  ( D )

• Arrival Warsaw in the morning.
• Full day sightseeing of Warsaw : Old Town with Barbican Walls, Castle Square with Royal Castle, drive along Royal Route from Old Town to Belvedere Palace and Lazienki Palace and Park complex
• Entrance to Royal Castle – completely destroyed during II World War and rebuilt thanks to public funds
• A stroll thru Lazienki park to Lazienki Royal Palace ( Palace on the Water ) – a Baroque residence of king Stanislaw August Poniatowski who used to invite highly respected artists and intellectuals to his residence in Lazienki. These days Lazienki played an important role in the artistic life of the capital. See palace’s historic interiors, Amphitheatre and the Old Orangery
• Discovering a modern downtown of the city : Palace of Culture, hotels, office buildings
• Welcome dinner at Belvedere restaurant in Royal Lazienki Park ( in a style of old orangery )
• Overnight in Warsaw ( suggestions : hotel Bristol, Le Regina, Polonia Palace )

Day 2 – WARSAW – Niedzica – Olsztyn – RYN ( B, D) : 300 km

• After breakfast departure for Nidzica
• Visit to Nidzica Castle – a powerful stronghold for centuries majestically reigning over the city. Built around 1370r., by the Grand Master Winrych von Kniprode as one of the most important strategic points in the Teutonic defense system of the 14th century.
• Continue to Olsztyn to visit Castle of the Chapter of Warmia. The oldest part of the castle was built in 1348, in the 15^th and 16^th centuries the south wings and upper part of the tower was added. Among exhibits you will also find an astronomical table made by Nicolaus Copernicus
• Arrival Ryn, check in at Ryn Castle hotel****
• Ryn Castle was built by Teutonic Knights at the end of 14^th century as a base of the wars with Lithuanians. The first commander o the castle was Konrad Wallenrod ( known by the novel of Adam Mickiewicz ) and in 14^th century it has a waterway connection to Malbork and Baltic Sea. In 19^th century the castle was converted into a prison. Now it houses a local administration council office while the courtyard s a good place for a events : feasts with knights’ tournaments , musical concerts and the meetings.
  A wonderful location of Ryn in Mazurian Lakes District between lakes and forests give tourists a bi choice of recreational activities in the area.

• In the evening – welcome Knights Feast – with a dinner at the castle offering specialities of Old Polish, noble and European cuisines. Castle wine bar in the stylish interiors which reminds the times when Ryn has a vineyards known in this part of Europe
• Overnight at Ryn Castle hotel****

Day 3 – RYN – Ketrzyn – Reszel – LIDZBARK WARMINSKI (B, D) – 90 km

• After breakfast departure for Ketrzyn – a starting point for the local excursions : to Wolf’s lair – Adolf Hitler’s military Headquarter in Gierłoż, a baroque basilica in Swieta Lipka, castle in Reszel and to the Mazurian Great Lakes . See castle of Ketrzyn built in the second half of 14^th in a Prussian settlement called Rastenburg till 1946. Visit Castle in Reszel – a stronghold erected in the 13^th century by the Teutonic Knights. Then it was a hunting lodge for the bishops of Warmia region and later a Prussian prison. Today Gothic interiors are home to a hotel, restaurant, conference and exhibition rooms.
• Dinner and overnight at Krasicki Castle**** hotel in Lidzbark Warminski

Day 4 – LIDZBARK WARMINSKI – Gdańsk – Malbork – GNIEW (B, D) : 260 km

• After breakfast departure for Gdansk ( 150 km )
• Half day tour in Gdansk including Old Town area, Old Crane, Long Market Square, with Gold and Green Gates, Prison Tower, Neptune Fountain and Artus Court- the meeting hall of merchants in the times of Hanseatic League. Enter Mary’s gothic church – the biggest redbrick church in Europe with famous astronomical clock from 1464.
• Time for shopping ( amber jewellery ) and strolling along a narrow streets with a colorful burgher houses
• Continue to Malbork to visit an impressive Malbork Castle – the world ‘s largest stronghold made of brick.
  Malbork was the headquarter of the Grand master of the order. The Castle was built between 13 and 15^th centuries as a three-part fortress and a town. Its core is High Castle built of 4,5 million bricks. The castle was placed on UNESCO list in 1997 which proves its high value

• Transfer to Gniew, visit Gniew Castle. Construction of the castle begun after 1290 from the construction of on quadrate walls. After completion of the 40-years construction works Gniew Castle was the most powerful castle of the Teutonic Order on the left bank of the Vistula River ( beside the castles in Gdansk and Czluchow.
  The castle was badly damaged in a fire in 1921. After 1939, the German authorities arrange inside the castle prison for Poles. The reconstruction of the castle began in 1968-1974

• Dinner and overnight at the ‘Castle’ hotel in Gniew
  The hotel is located in the 17 hectare park and is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in the Warmia and Mazury. With the lake “Kociol,” which is one of the cleanest lakes in Poland creates an oasis of peace, silence and relaxation

Day 5 – GNIEW – Kwidzyn – Ostroda – MILOMLYN (B, D) : 125 km

• After breakfast departure for Kwidzyn
• Short visit in Kwidzyn castle – the former Prussian possession was taken over by Teutonic Knights in 1233 and changed into certified town. Between 1285 and 1587 the Marienwerder ( St. Mary’s Island ) was a seat of the bishop. In 1440 the Prussian Union ( for fighting the Teutonic Knights ) was founded there.
• Continue to Ostroda to see the Gothic Castle built in 1393 in a place of wooden 13^th century fortress. The castle destroyed during the war was rebuilt in 1977. In Ostróda worth seeing are also Neo-Gothic church from 19^th century and Neo-Gothic luteran church from 1907.
• Overnight at Karnity Castle hotel in Miłomłyn

Day 6 – MILOMLYN – Golub Dobrzyn – WARSAW(B, L) : 300 km

• After breakfast departure for Golub – Dobrzyn ( 110 km )
  Visit Golub-Dobrzyn Castle – built in 13^th century by the Teutonic Knights stronghold and the seat of the commander. It was repeatedly attacked, destroyed and eventually transformed into a Renaissance residence by the princess Anna Wazówna by adding Renaissance accents and corner turrets.The castle built on a hill above the town is one of the most famous and most interesting castles in Poland. Today it is a living museums well known for its the largest knights ‘ tournament in Central Europe, accompanied by concerts and handicrafts fair inspired by Middle Ages

• Lunch in the castle restaurant
• Transfer to Warsaw
• Overnight in Warsaw

Day 7 – WARSAW ( B )

• Transfer to the airport for the flight back home