Visit Święta Lipka and Reszel
Sometimes, during travel, you can find hidden gems. Every country hides hidden treasures. Sometimes, only local people know where to find them.
Święta Lipka is a very small village, located only 68 km from Olsztyn (the capital of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship). It would be a typical, ordinary village, if not for the fact that there is a unique Sanctuary. It is a Marian Sanctuary. Świętolipska Basilica of St. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the cloister buildings and the monastery is a baroque monument.
How far is it from Warsaw to Święta Lipka?
The distance from Warsaw to Święta Lipka is 281 km.
The beginning of the cult of Our Lady in Święta Lipka dates back to the 14th century. According to the records, the prisoner sentenced by the court in Kętrzyn placed a statue of the Mother of God on a linden tree. He prayed to it, and finally he was pardoned. A chapel was built in this place, which was then destroyed. But people continued secret pilgrimages. Finally, the construction of the present Baroque church took place on the initiative of the Jesuits in the years 1688-1693, and the facade was completed in 1730.
The interior of the church is richly decorated with polychrome. The main altar dates from 1712–1714 and is the work of Krzysztof Peucker and Jan Dobel. In the main altar, in a place of honor, there is a painting of Our Lady of Świętolipska, painted in 1640 by Bartłomiej Pens. The painting is covered with a silver dress made (1720) by a goldsmith from Königsberg, Samuel Grew. A lot of sculptures were placed inside the Sanctuary. The pulpit was made in 1700 by K. Peucker. It is decorated with bas-reliefs with biblical scenes. Opposite, on the trunk of a linden tree set in 1728, there is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary in a silver dress from 1652. The organ from 1719-1721 was made by Jan Josua Mosengl from Königsberg. The organ has 40 voices and movable figures. How great they play can be heard by playing the video above.
Magnificent polychromes in the cloisters.
Reszel
Reszel has a unique history. It was in this town that the last person in Europe accused of witchcraft was burned at the stake!
Barbara Zdunk was born in 1769. After several relationships with men, she fell unhappily in love with much younger Jakub Auster. The lover left her and went to the town. The woman in despair shouted in front of witnesses that she would take revenge. She threatened that Jacob would be consumed by fire. Everyone unanimously called her "Crazy Barbara". Shortly after that, a great fire broke out in Reszel on the night of September 16/17, 1807. People died in the flames, the town suffered greatly. The search for those responsible for the fire began. Suspicion fell on Barbara Zdunk, who threatened her lover in front of witnesses. The woman was arrested and locked in the western tower of the castle in Reszel, which was partly destroyed by a great fire. While the investigation was in progress and she was serving her sentence in the dungeon, another fire struck Reszel. This confirmed everyone's belief that she was a dangerous witch who had great power even behind bars. The judges were merciless towards Barbara Zdunk. On June 22, 1808, the court sentenced her to death at the stake. She was imprisoned and tortured in Reszel Castle for 4 years. Finally, on August 21, 1811, Barbara was transported to the famous "Gallows Hill", where the sentence was carried out by the executioner from Lidzbark Warmiński.
Legend says that before the executioner lit the fire, he strangled the girl to spare her suffering.
How far is it from Warsaw to Reszel?
The distance from Warsaw to Reszel is 242 km.
How far is it from Olsztyn to Reszel?
The distance from Olsztyn to Reszel is 68 km.
The castle was built in the years 1350–1401. It was repeatedly besieged and captured several times by the Polish and Teutonic armies. In the 19th century, the castle was adapted into a prison. After World War II, a decision was made to restore it. Now you can spend a night there, attend a concert or eat something local in a castle restaurant. The castle in Reszel is not huge, but it has its own charm.
When we were at the castle in Reszel, there weren't too many exhibits. Now, on the official website it is said that among the 50 exhibits you can see, for example: "The Witch's Chair", "The Iron Maiden", "Judas's Cradle" and "Water Torture".
The main gate to the castle in Reszel.
How to get to Święta Lipka?
How to get to Reszel?
