Pilec

• Pilec lies at the southern end of Lake Dejnowa, in the Mrągowo Lakeland.
• The Pilecki Pond (Pühlzer Muhlenteich) in Pilec covers 4 hectares.
• The Dajna Kayak Trail is 36 kilometres long; in Pilec, there is a portage point with a steep bank.
• A guesthouse or hotel is located in the former mill building.

Pilec lies in a glacial moraine landscape. Its rolling terrain reaches elevations of around 180 to 200 metres above sea level. The village is also part of the Guber Valley Protected Landscape Area and the Mrągowo Lakeland. If you are choosing a destination with water and gently rolling scenery in mind, you will find several distinct landscape features here: Pilec lies at the southern end of Lake Dejnowa, while Pilecki Pond is right in the village.

Pilecki Pond, also known as Pühlzer Muhlenteich, covers an area of 4 hectares. To the southwest of Pilec, nearby, lies Lake Kociołek (Kessel Teich), which covers 1.50 hectares. According to local legend, a sunken church lies at the bottom of this lake.

Pilec was founded in 1326. The village retains its unchanged rural settlement layout, as well as historic mill and residential buildings. Its milling history also stretches far back: the first mill in Pilec was built almost 700 years ago. A dam now stands at the former mill site, carrying water from the Dajna into a lake. Historic buildings and a water-engineering feature reflecting the development of the mill site therefore stand side by side in the village.

Pilec had a church and a castle, which was still standing in the 15th century. Another religious story is associated with a former smithy: a chapel is housed in its building and is served by Jesuit fathers from the parish in Święta Lipka. Together, these traces offer insight into the village’s architectural and religious history.

The 36-kilometre Dajna Kayak Trail runs through Piecki, Mrągowo, Kiersztanowo, Pilec and Święta Lipka. In Pilec, the route has a portage point beside the old hydroelectric plant and mill. The bank is steep there. If you are considering this kayak trail, this specific bank condition is an important point for planning your route; the total distance alone does not indicate how long a trip will take.

The cycling section of the Grodzisk Pruskich Trail also runs through Pilec. The section is 24.7 kilometres long and passes through Mrągowo, Polska Wieś, Kiersztanowo, Pilec and Święta Lipka. This gives you two differently named routes to consider when planning your trip: a kayak trail with a described portage point in Pilec, and a cycling section with a stated distance and route locations.

Educational walks created by Robert Połubiński, a resident of Pilec, offer another way to explore the village’s history. Among other topics, they cover the lives of the Prussians. This provides a thematic introduction to the region’s history, complementing the visible historical features in the village.

A guesthouse or hotel is located in the former mill building. The history of milling is also a distinct part of the village’s history: the first mill was built almost 700 years ago, and a dam now stands at the former site.

To compare other destinations, you can also explore Kotkowo, Jezewo, Nakomiady, Biedaszki, Czerniki, Barciany, Muławki and Grabno.

Where is Pilec?

Pilec lies at the southern end of Lake Dejnowa, in the Mrągowo Lakeland and within the Guber Valley Protected Landscape Area.

How long is the Dajna Kayak Trail?

The Dajna Kayak Trail is 36 kilometres long and passes through Pilec, among other places. In Pilec, there is a portage point on a steep bank.

What accommodation is available in Pilec?

A guesthouse or hotel is located in the former mill building.

For the wider travel overview: Kętrzyński.