Soldau

• The Old Town retains its original medieval street layout, with a square market square at its centre.
• Two museums explore the history of the town and the Działdowszczyzna region.
• There are four signposted, interconnected cycling routes around Działdowo.
• The Warsaw–Gdańsk railway line and provincial roads 544, 545 and 542 run through the local transport hub.

The Interactive Museum of the Teutonic Order State opened on 13 August 2013 in Działdowo Town Hall. Its exhibition spans two levels; the first consists of five rooms arranged chronologically. Those interested in the history of the Teutonic Order State will find a thematic introduction here, while the exhibition also provides a specific stop to include in a culture-focused itinerary.

The Muzeum Pogranicza offers a different perspective. This municipal cultural institution is housed in Dom Duży, which was rebuilt and adapted for cultural purposes. Its permanent exhibition, arranged chronologically and titled “Działdowo – miasto i ludzie dawnego pogranicza” (“Działdowo – the town and people of the former borderland”), explores the history of the Działdowszczyzna from antiquity to the mid-20th century. Its timeline therefore reaches far back into the past and extends into the region’s more recent history.

The culture of remembrance is also part of the townscape: the Shrine of the Blessed Martyrs of Działdowo is located in the Church of St Catherine of Alexandria. It commemorates Archbishop Antoni Julian Nowowiejski and Bishop Leon Wetmański, who were martyrs at the camp in Działdowo. The former barracks building in Działdowo is a site of particular historical significance and is considered a testament to the martyrdom of the Polish nation. The Teutonic Castle is part of the “Szlak Zamków Gotyckich”, or Gothic Castles Trail.

The original medieval street layout gives the Old Town its historic plan. At its centre is a square market square; the town hall stands in the centre of the square and dates from 1796. These details help you identify the town’s central landmarks without conflating the distinct histories of the town hall, castle and museums.

The Działdowski Jarmark adds another cultural dimension with antiques, crafts and healthy food. It is a recurring gathering celebrating culture, craftsmanship and local creativity. Park Honorowych Dawców Krwi offers different attractions: its facilities include footpaths, a high ropes course, outdoor trampolines and a stage. The sites described here therefore have distinct focuses, ranging from town history and remembrance to outdoor activities.

Four signposted cycling routes run around Działdowo. Each is marked with its own colour, and they are interconnected. About halfway along the routes, there are rest areas with shelters, sports fields and stone barbecue grills. One cycling loop passes through the protected ecological-use areas of Ptasie Bagno and Torfianki Działdowskie. The latter is a wetland of damp meadows and peat cuttings. When choosing a cycling route, you can weigh up the scenery and the rest facilities described here.

A 2.421-kilometre shared-use footpath and cycle path has also been built alongside the county road between Działdowo and Księży Dwór. On a broader regional scale, the Wel and Wkra rivers flow through Działdowski County: the Wel is a left-bank tributary of the Drwęca, and the Wkra is a tributary of the Narew. Welski Landscape Park and Górznieńsko-Lidzbarski Landscape Park are located in the western part of the county. The Ostrów Tarczyński Nature Reserve also lies partly or entirely within the county.

For kayaking on the Wel, the Piekiełko section should be considered separately. It runs through a deep gorge and is recommended for experienced kayakers because of the strong current and fallen trees. This is an important distinction from the cycling routes: the activities described involve different levels of difficulty.

Działdowo is on the Warsaw–Gdańsk main railway line, with connections to Olsztyn. For road travel, the junction of provincial roads 544, 545 and 542 is relevant: road 544 runs between Mława and Lidzbark, road 545 leads to Nidzica, and road 542 to Ostróda. These connections can help you plan your journey; no specific travel times or distances are given here.

You can visit other town pages here: Działdowo, Grądy, Lidzbark, Uzdowo, Rybno, Nowa Wies, Naguszewo, Kopaniarze and Murawki.

Which museums are there in Soldau?

The Interactive Museum of the Teutonic Order State is located in Działdowo Town Hall. The Muzeum Pogranicza is a municipal cultural institution housed in Dom Duży; its permanent exhibition explores the history of the Działdowszczyzna from antiquity to the mid-20th century.

How are the cycling routes around Działdowo marked?

There are four signposted routes, each with its own colour, and they are interconnected. Rest areas with shelters, sports fields and stone barbecue grills are located about halfway along the routes.

Who is the Piekiełko kayaking section recommended for?

The section on the Wel runs through a deep gorge. It is recommended for experienced kayakers because of the strong current and fallen trees.

For the main travel overview: Warmia and Masuria.