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History and facts:

Olsztyn developed from a small settlement related to the Varmia Chapter Castle. It obtained the civic rights in 1353. From 1440, it belonged to the Prussia Union, after the Thirteen-Years War it was incorporated into Poland along with the Varmia (Warmia) region. In the years 1516 - 1521, Nicolas Copernicus was staying here as the administrator of Episcopal properties and he supervised the defence of the castle against the Teutonic Order. The city developed in the second half of the 19th century along with the start-up of a railway line. In the 19th and 20th centuries, in spite of Germanization, it was a centre of Polishness. During the war there were 5 labour camps here. After 1945, Olsztyn was found to be within the Polish borders. Nowadays, it is the provincial capital, industrial, research, cultural and educational centre of the Varmia and Mazury regions, with about 172 000 inhabitants. Railway and road junction for the whole north-east Poland.

Location:

Olsztyn lies by the Łyna River, in the middle of the Olsztyński Lake District, that is part of the Mazuria Lake District - the richest region of protective areas, National Parks, Landscape Parks and Reserves. Surrounded by forests: The Taborskie Forests from the west and the Purdzkie Forests from the south. Within the administrative boundaries it has 11 lakes, abounding in fish and even crayfish. A water trail and sightseeing routes pass through Olsztyn.

Architecture:

The valuable architecture monuments include above all the Gothic defensive castle from the 14th century, by the Łyna River, the chambers of which house souvenirs after Nicolas Copernicus. From the massive tower, tipped with a conic helmet, extends a view on the city centre. The places wworth seeing are also: the High Gate from 14th century, the church from the 14th century, the Granary as well as the Space Flights Planetarium given to Olsztyn in 1973, to celebrate the Copernicus' Year. The City Hall from the 17th century is preserved in the Old Town. Near Olsztyn, Gietrzwałd is worth attention, as the main centre of pilgrimage tourism in the Varmia region with a late-Gothic church and mementos of the poet A. Samulowski.

Cultural life:

The city is visited in July, owing to the Olsztyn Blues Nights, and because of many events since June to August, within the Olsztyn Art Summer - organ concerts in the Cathedral, meetings with poetry, dramatic performances, recitals. Here a popular way of spending spare time in the summer is: fishing, sailing, canoeing, and iceboats in the winter. The city has theatres, the concert hall, museums as well as art galleries. For more active people there were also created sport facilities such as tennis courts, the roofed swimming pool, an exhibition and sports hall.