Soldau

Old Town, Town Hall and Museums

The Town Hall stands in the centre of the market square and dates from 1796. The Interactive Museum of the Teutonic Order State opened here on 13 August 2013. Its exhibition spans two levels; the first consists of five halls arranged in chronological order. This layout gives visitors a chronological framework for exploring the Teutonic Order State. Działdowo Castle is also part of the “Szlak Zamków Gotyckich” (Route of Gothic Castles).

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, is entitled “Działdowo – miasto i ludzie dawnego pogranicza” and covers the history of the Działdowszczyzna region from antiquity to the mid-20th century. Działdowo thus focuses both on the history of the Teutonic Order State and on that of a border region; both themes can be taken into account when choosing cultural visits.

Memorial Sites and City Life

The Sanctuary 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 also has historical significance: it is considered a testament to the martyrdom of the Polish nation. These places add a solemn, commemorative dimension to the city’s history.

The Działdowski Jarmark, a fair featuring antiques, crafts and healthy food, offers a different picture of local life. This recurring gathering brings together culture, craftsmanship and local creativity. If you are interested in these themes, it may provide a separate reason to include Działdowo in your travel plans, alongside its historical institutions.

Nature and Active Excursions

There are four signposted cycling routes around Działdowo, each identified by a different colour. The routes are interconnected. Rest areas with shelters, sports fields and stone barbecue spots are located approximately halfway along the routes. One cycling loop passes through the protected ecological sites of Ptasie Bagno and Torfianki Działdowskie, a wetland of wet meadows and peat workings. The colour coding, route connections and described rest areas provide useful points of reference when planning your ride. A 2.421-kilometre shared pedestrian and cycle path has also been built along the county road between Działdowo and Księży Dwór.

Rivers and protected landscapes also shape the wider Powiat Działdowski: the Wel flows through the county and is a left-bank tributary of the Drwęca; the Wkra also flows through the county and is a tributary of the Narew. The Welski Landscape Park and Górznieńsko-Lidzbarski Landscape Park are located in the western part of the county. The Ostrów Tarczyński Nature Reserve lies partly or entirely within the county. These destinations broaden the perspective beyond the city without conflating the different geographical areas with attractions in Działdowo.

The Piekiełko section of the kayaking route on the Wel runs through a deep gorge. Due to the strong current and fallen trees, it is recommended for experienced kayakers. This restriction is important when choosing a suitable activity: the section described is explicitly intended for experienced paddlers.

Getting There and Other Places to Visit

Działdowo lies on the Warsaw–Gdańsk national railway line, with connections to Olsztyn. For road travel, the junction of provincial roads 544, 545 and 542 is a useful reference point: road 544 runs between Mława and Lidzbark, road 545 leads to Nidzica and road 542 to Ostróda. These rail and road connections offer different points of reference when planning your journey to Soldau.

Other places to consider for your trip: Kopaniarze, Murawki, Naguszewo, Nowa Wies, Działdowo, Grądy, Lidzbark, Uzdowo and Rybno.

For the broader travel overview: Warmia-Masuria.