Wopity: Old Trade Routes and Village History
Accommodation in Wopity
Wopity is a small village in the municipality of Rychliki, near the former Rejsyty estate. Its local history can be traced through old trade routes, a railway line, and several names. The crossroads near Skarpeta in particular show how different connections and later changes help put the village in historical context.
Wopity at a glance
- Wopity is in the municipality of Rychliki, near the former Rejsyty estate.
- Skarpeta (Strömpchen), where historic trade routes crossed, was in the southern part of the village.
- The Elbląg–Kwietniewo–Myślice railway line opened on September 1, 1893.
Which old routes met at Skarpeta?
Skarpeta (Strömpchen) was in the southern part of Wopity. Two historic routes crossed here. One ran from Myślice to the port on the Dzierzgonka in Stare Dolno. The other came from the Komornictwo in Kiersyty and led either to Pasłęk or to Dzierzgoń and onward to Elbląg. The local history thus brings together different destinations: the port near Stare Dolno and the connections via Kiersyty to Pasłęk or Dzierzgoń and onward to Elbląg. The crossroads illustrate a network of named places and destinations rather than focusing on just one route.
How did the railway change the importance of the old route?
The Elbląg–Kwietniewo–Myślice railway line opened on September 1, 1893. Near Skarpeta, it ran right beside the old trade route. When the railway opened, the route lost importance. The two transport routes therefore belong to different periods in the village's history: the trade connections represent the older routes, while the railway line marks a specific turning point. Its opening date makes this change tangible in time.
What do the lime trees and former road use tell us?
The old trade road from Wopity toward Giśle (Geißeln) and Kiersyty (Kerschitten) was lined with majestic lime trees. Their dense crowns formed a cool, tunnel-like passage in summer. The description of the road thus links the directions to these places with a specific landscape scene. In the past, some residents rode along this road toward Giśle and Kiersyty. The old route therefore appears in two historical contexts: as a lime-tree-lined road and as a route for local rides.
Which names are part of the village's history?
Until 1945, Wopity was called Opitten. After the war, the village was colloquially known as “Opijowo” until around 1948; later, it was called Wopity. This sequence distinguishes the colloquial name from the village names used before and after the war. A pasture also has a distinctive name: at the edge of Wopity in the direction of Dymnik lies a small rural pasture that German residents called “Pestfriedhof” (“plague cemetery”). While Opitten and Opijowo are part of the village's naming history, “Pestfriedhof” is the name of this pasture.
Discover more destinations: Pasłęk, Rychliki, Pilona, Sałkowice, Elbing, Bogdaniec, Tolkmicko, Łęcze.
FAQ
Where did the historic trade routes cross?
The routes crossed near Skarpeta (Strömpchen) in the southern part of Wopity.
When did the railway line open?
The Elbląg–Kwietniewo–Myślice railway line opened on September 1, 1893.
What was Wopity called after the war?
After the war, the village was colloquially known as “Opijowo” until around 1948. Later, it was called Wopity.
For the main travel overview: Elbing.
