Wigry
Region with numerous lakes, rivers and wild forests constitutes
one of the most interesting and charming corners of Poland.
 Naturalists,
tourists and sightseers treasured its unique natural resources,
recreational and landscape advantages already in the period
of time between the World Wars. It was then that the idea to
preserve and protect this land emerged. Yet, still several years
had passed before this was realized. In January 1976 Wigry Landscape
Park was established. A few years later, in 1989, it was converted
into Wigry
National Park. It occupies the southern fragments of
Eastern Suwałki Lakeland and the northern part of Augustów Plain
covered with wild forests of Augustów Primeval Forest. The core
point of the Park is Lake Wigry, the biggest lake in Suwałki
Region with such wonderful viewes as nowhere else in Europe.
The river axis of the Park and the lake is marked by the symbol
of Suwałki Region - the Czarna Hańcza River, one of the most
attractive canoe routes in Poland. Postglacial layout of the
northern part of the Park is distinctly hilly, or one may even
say that mountainous.  On
the other hand, the southern part does not have such diversified
topographical lie. It is flat, typical of outwash (sandy) surface.
Wigry National Park is rich in various water reservoirs. In
this area there are more than 40 lakes and picturesque rivers
such as the Czarna Hańcza, Wiatrołuża, Kamionka and Maniówka.
Wild forests abound in flora and fauna create a natural protection
zone of the lakes. The 16 most precious habitats have become
protected reserves. Lake Wigry is a dream place for canoeists,
sailors and fishermen. On the shores there are holiday villages
such as Gawrychruda, Stary Folwark, Bryzgiel and Cimochowizna
which were already known before the war. The most valuable monument
of architecture situated on Lake Wigry is the Post-Cameldolite
monastery built in a village with the same name as the lake.
This is the place where Pope John Paul II rested during his
pilgrimage to Poland in June 1999.
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In
the Wigry region
- info
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The
area of Wigry
National Park offers very good recreation and relaxation conditions,
especially the area on Lake Wigry, where one can find holiday villages
like Gawrychruda with Płociczno, Stary Folwark, Bryzgiel, Cimochowizna,
which were known already before the war. Across the Park there run
well marked hiking and biking trails as well as kayak and riding
routes. They enable exploring the most precious natural and scenic
corners of this forest-lake country. One can only wander along the
appointed trails and public roads - unless with a tour-guide - after
having bought the entry card to the Park. They are sold in the Park's
office, recreation centers, campsites and with the Park's guards.
Wigry Region has a well-developed overnight accommodation and catering
facilities.
Accommodation
and relaxation facilities
FORESTER'S
LODGES
Gawarzec, tel. 563 93 11; Lipniak, tel. 567 51 85; Maćkowa Ruda,
tel. 516 42 01; Mikołajewo, tel. 516 44 14
CAMPSITES
"Bindużka", "Ciemny Las", "Gremzdówka", "Jastrzęby", "Za Szkołą";
and other: Cimochowizna, Gawrychruda, Jeziorki Małe, Krusznik, Rosochaty
Róg, Stary Folwark.
RECREATION
CENTERS OPEN FOR EVERYBODY
The House of Creative Work in Wigry, tel 563 70 18
The Youth Recreation Center in Gawrychruda, tel 563 93 12
The Center of Polish Tourist and Sight- seeing Association in Stary
Folwark, tel 563 77 27
The Youth Hostel (PTMS) in Płociczno, tel 563 90 27
BOARDING-HOUSES
"Aga", Stary Folwark 69, tel 563 78 94
"Nad Wigrami", Stary Folwark, tel 563 75 46
"Wigry", Stary Folwark 43, tel 563 78 15
"Dowcień", Burdyniszki 21, tel 563 71 17
CATERING
Bars: Gawrychruda, Krzywe, Płociczno, Stary Folwark, Wigry
Restaurant "Pod Sieją" (Stary Folwark)
Groceries: Bryzgiel, Gawrychruda, Krzywe, Stary Folwark
WATER
EQUIPMENT RENTALS
The Youth Recreation Center in Gawrychruda
The PTTK Center in Stary Folwark
Qualified
tourism in Wigry National Park
MARKED
HIKING TRAILS
1. The green trail around Wigry (49,3 km). The beginning
near PTTK Center in Stary Folwark.
2. The red trail (8 km). The beginning near the roundabout
of the Suwałki municipal transport services in Krzywe. It leads
across Wigry forests to Stary Folwark.
3. The green trail, a roundabout trail from Krzywe, through
Leszczewo to Krzywe.
4. The yellow trail from Krzywe to Kaletnik (17,5 km). It
runs across the forests of the Wiatrołuża valley.
5. The black trail. The beginning near PTTK Center in Stary
Folwark. It leads to the Jatzvingian Cemetery (outside the Park)
in Szwajcaria. Its length - 19,8 km.
6. The blue trail from Suwałki (in front of the railway station)
to the village Danowskie on Lake Blizno (39,6 km). It leads through
the area of Wigry National Park.
7. The red trail (forest) from Wysoki Most through Studziany
Las and back to Studziany Las (13,7 km).
8. The red trail from Krusznik on Lake Wigry to Danowskie
village (8 km).
9. The blue trail from Giby to the range Węgzał on Lake Wigry
(25 km). It runs across fragments of Augustów Primeval Forest (within
the area of the Park).
BIKING
TRAILS
1. Płociczno - Wigry - Stary Folwark - Krzywe (38 km).
2. Suwałki - Mała Huta - Sobolewo - Stary Folwark -Leszczewo - Suwałki
(39 km).
3. Bryzgiel - Danowskie - Sttudziany Las - Mikołajewo - Wigry -
Stary Folwark (36 km).
4. Gawrychruda - Słupie - Sobolewo - Krzywe (14,6 km).
KAYAK
ROUTES
1. From Stary Folwark, across Lake Wigry, to Gawrychruda (about
35 km).
2. From Stary Folwark to the Czarna Hańcza outlet from Lake Wigry
and further along the Czarna Hańcza to the Augustów Canal (60 km).
Fishing
in Wigry National Park
In Wigry National Park, fishing is allowed only in the following
lakes: Wigry, Pierty, Leszczewek, Omułówek, Czarne near Bryzgiel,
Mulaczysko and in the Czarna Hańcza River within the area of the
Park (from Czerwony Folwark to Studziany Las). It is prohibited
to catch the European catfish, the lavaret, the lake trout and the
river trout. Fishing from a boat is allowed from 1st June to 31st
October. One can only fish if he has the licence.
Important
telephone numbers
Wigry National Park Administration, tel 566 63 22
The Park's tourist information (open 24 hrs), tel 566 63 22
The Center of Tourist Information SIRT tel./fax 566 54 94
Police, tel 997; 566 22 61
Road assistance, tel 566 42 87
PTTK (Suwałki), tel 566 59 61
The Park's Administration address: 16-400 Suwałki, Krzywe 82, tel./fax
566 63 22, e-mail: wigry_pn@su.onet.pl; http://www.wigry.win.pl
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