Discover Ostrołęka

The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1399 in the Gothic style, funded by Janusz I the Elder, Duke of Masovia. Beside the church stands a 13-metre-high bell tower with a square ground plan, built in the 18th century. Another historical highlight is Forty Bema, a monument and mausoleum commemorating the 1831 Battle of Ostrołęka. Art and exhibitions are represented, among others, by Galeria Ostrołęka and the Muzeum Kultury Kurpiowskiej.

Two distinct periods of construction can be seen at the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the church dates from 1399 and is Gothic, while the square bell tower was built in the 18th century. Its height of 13 metres is specifically documented. The church’s funding by Janusz I the Elder, Duke of Masovia, is also part of its history. The church and tower therefore offer different points of interest if you are interested in historic religious buildings and their architectural features.

Forty Bema commemorates the 1831 Battle of Ostrołęka. The monument and mausoleum are located on the battlefield of the largest engagement of the November Uprising. The site previously housed a powder magazine belonging to the Tsarist army; Forty Bema is surrounded by trenches. The site thus brings together the memory of the battle and the area’s former military use.

The former monastery complex of the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua includes a Baroque church, a former monastery building with a courtyard, and another courtyard surrounded by cloisters and known as Kalwaria. These features distinguish the complex from a single church building: in addition to the Baroque church, its historic layout includes monastery architecture and Kalwaria.

Galeria Ostrołęka is located at Plac Bema 14 in a former merchant’s house. It hosts chamber concerts featuring classical music and jazz. Courses are also held there for children, young people and adults, including classes in painting, drawing and graphics, as well as other artistic techniques. The programme therefore includes both musical events and hands-on artistic activities. If you are planning your trip around your interest in art, you can explore these two different offerings.

The Muzeum Kultury Kurpiowskiej is housed in a building erected in 1928 that formerly served as a post office. The exhibition «Ostrołęka i Kurpie. Między wątkiem historii a osnową życia» includes archival materials and objects connected with the residents of Ostrołęka and the Kurpie region. It also features excerpts from poems about Ostrołęka by Izrael Sztern, as well as multimedia content. The exhibition thus brings together different kinds of material, from archival collections and objects to literature and multimedia.

The ethnographic workshops «Ginące zawody» («Vanishing Professions») are listed for June. If you are interested in ethnographic topics, you can take this information into account when planning, without treating it as a year-round date.

Ostrołęka lies on Route 61. The road runs from Warsaw towards Augustów and continues to Suwałki and the Ogrodniki border crossing. For those planning a trip by car, this road connection places Ostrołęka on a regional route. You can therefore first consider whether the city would be a cultural highlight of your trip or a stop along this route.

You can also visit other local pages: Kadzidło, Kamianka, Wydmusy, Łodziska, Zamość, Olszewo-Borki, Grabnik and Baranowo.

When was the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary built?

The church in Ostrołęka was built in 1399 in the Gothic style, funded by Janusz I the Elder, Duke of Masovia.

What does the «Ostrołęka i Kurpie» exhibition include?

It includes archival materials, objects connected with the residents of Ostrołęka and the Kurpie region, excerpts from poems about Ostrołęka by Izrael Sztern, and multimedia content.

When are the «Ginące zawody» workshops scheduled?

In June.

For the overarching travel overview: Ostrołęcki.