Prussian Poland Tour

 

Uncover the treasures of Greater Poland, Masuria and Pomerania.


September 16-26, 2023

10 – day tour through today’s Greater Poland, Masuria and Pomerania and the lands that were a part of Prussian partition of Poland

Download the itinerary for 2023


Based on our many years of experience in providing Genealogy Tours and other historical and cultural tours in Poland, as a complement to our tours to the former Austrian and Russian partitions of Poland, we present you the Prussian Poland Tour.

 

 

Picture credit: tripsoverpoland.pl

Itinerary of the Prussian Poland Tour


Click to see detailed map of the Prussian Poland Tour

Day 1.   Poznań – Meeting Day

Your arrival. Airport pickup and transfer to the hotel. Some time to rest after the journey.

Read more about how to arrive in Poznań by plane.

In the evening: Welcome dinner in one of the restaurants in Poznań.

Accommodation: Comfort class hotel in the center of Poznań.

Day 2 Poznań – the historical capital of Greater Poland

Where else could we begin this journey through the history if not here, in Poznań.

Poznań is among the oldest cities of Poland and was one of the most important centers in the early Polish state in the tenth and eleventh centuries. After the partitions the city of Poznan was officially named an imperial residence city, leading to the construction of the Imperial Castle, the Imperial District, the Opera House, new city walls, railway station and many other sites which make a big part of its landmarks to this day.

Renaissance merchant houses and town hall in Poznań. Picture credit: poznan.lovetotravel.pl

It is best known for its renaissance old town, destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt, and Ostrów Tumski cathedral. Today, Poznań is an important cultural and business centre and one of Poland’s most populous regions with many regional customs such as Jarmark Świętojański, traditional Saint Martin’s croissants and a local dialect.

We will begin guided tour with Poznan cathedral, you will also see the archaeological reserve Genius Loci.

Among other attractions we will show you the Old Town with market square, Baroque collegiate and town hall, where you will see the famous mechanical goats’ butting display.

In the afternoon for volunteers exploring Wilson’s Park and Palm House, Citadel Park and Shopping, Arts and Business Center “Stary Browar” with preserved 19th century beer factory.

Accommodation: Comfort class hotel in the center of Poznań

Day 3 From the beginnings of the Polish state to Copernicus times

After breakfast check-out from your hotel, leaving Poznań.

First stop in Gród Pobiedziska: a reconstruction of the wooden fortress from the beginning of the Polish State. Located in the heart of the Piast Route, halfway between Poznań and Gniezno, you will learn here about architecture, the art of war and aspects of everyday life during the reign of Mieszko I and Boleslaw Chrobry (the Brave). We will explore the exhibition on medieval siege engines in the natural scale, armory, and working catapult.

About noon we will arrive in Gniezno. After short break for coffee or lunch, we will visit the cathedral where the coronation of the first Polish kings took place with famous gate and confession of St. Adalbert.

After Gniezno stop in Biskupin: Slavonic settlement from the Bronze Age, that survived through the ages,  flooded by the waters of the lake.

In the late evening arrive in Toruń, picturesque medieval city, the hometown of Copernicus.

Accommodation: Hotel in the center of Toruń.

One of the medieval tenement houses on the market square in Torun.

 

Day 4    The triumph of Polish army and the everyday life in the old Prussia

Today we will tell you the stories about Polish Teutonic wars. Who were the Knights of the Cross described by Henryk Sienkiewicz? Why they were residing in Poland and what impact did they have on the history of this part of Europe. 

We will visit the battle of Grunwald museum. Fought on 15 July 1410, was one of the largest battles of Medieval Europe and is regarded as the most important victory in Polish history.

Historical reconstruction of the battle of Grunwald. Picture credit: Agencja Gazeta.

In the afternoon we leave the medieval times and move to 18th and 19th century life in the villages of the Eastern Prussia.  In the Ethnographic Park in Olsztynek, we will introduce you to the everyday life of your ancestors.  
Accommodation: Hotel in the lakes district.

Olsztynek Open Air Museum. Picture credit: www.tripsoverpoland.eu

Day 5 Masurian Lakes District. Nature and Wildlife.

Morning travel to the heart of the Masurian Lakes District.

Optional: visit in the Wild Animals Park in Kadzidłowo.  The aim of the park is to protect and research the primarily native species (such as the lynx, wolf, eagle owl, black grouse, capercaillie, hazel grouse, elk, deer). Location on forest meadows allows the existence of animals in conditions close to natural. It is possible to access certain species on their extensive paddocks and even feeding, stroking and admiring up close. The walking paths in the park require some moderate physical fitness and good weather so in case this will not be appropriate for the group, we will offer you some alternative attraction in the area.

Visit in Mikołajki. Cruise on the Śniardwy lake (the larges in Poland).

Mazury Lakes. Picture credit: nature.desktopnexus.com.

Day 6 The Wolf’s Lair, Reszel and Święta Lipka sanctuary.

Visit in Gierłoż – Adolf Hitler‘s first Eastern Front military headquarters in World War II. The top secret, high security site was in the Masurian woods about 8 km (5.0 mi) east of the small East Prussian town of Rastenburg (now Kętrzyn, Poland).

In the afternoon stops in Reszel, a small town in Warmia region, with the Gothic Castle and the medieval city center surrounded by brick defense walls. We will show you also Święta Lipka (“holy tile”) sanctuary, a masterpiece of baroque architecture.

The basilica in Święta Lipka. Picture credit: wikipedia.org, Alfista33.

Day 7  From East Prussia to Pomerania.

In the morning we will leave the hotel in Masuria and we will drive to Pomerania.

Dependent on the weather conditions this Autumn and the permission of the waterway office, we will have the cruise.  The Elbląg canal is considered one of the most significant monuments related to the history of technology and was listed by Unesco. In Buczyniec there is one of inclined planes and the exhibition about the canal and cruise one of the tourist routes.

If the cruise will not take place, we will provide alternative attractions along the way.
In the afternoon arrival in Gdańsk.
Accommodation: Hotel in the center of Gdańsk.

Elbląg Canal. Picture credit: turystyka.wp.pl

Day 8 The mysteries of Teutonic Prussia

Morning drive to Malbork Castle – the largest teutonic castle in Poland and one of the largest castles in the world.  In the afternoon you will have the free time in Gdańsk.

Accommodation: Hotel in the center of Gdańsk.

Day 9 From the Hanseatic League to the trans-Atlantic liners era

Today you will have the guided tour with local guide from Gdańsk who will tell you about the oldest history of the city which was the member of the Hanseatic League.

A medieval crane in the old port of Gdańsk (picture credit: gdansk.lovetotravel.pl)

The culmination of our itinerary will be the afternoon visit in the port of Gdynia an Emigration museum. The exhibition presents the history of departures from Polish lands over the centuries. Today, there are more than 20 million people of Polish descent in the outside world! Can we feel what other Poles felt, as they were leaving their homes at the end of 18th and 19th century? who can understand this better than the descendants of the Polish emigrants!

Picture from the Emigration Museum in Gdynia

Accommodation: Hotel in the center of Gdańsk.

Day 10  Gdańsk – the free city

Because of its location Gdańsk was always the tension point between Poland and Germany. Today we will show you the Westerplatte monument, place where took place the first battle of the European theater of World War II.
We will also have a tour in Stutthof concentration camp, which after the invasion of Poland in World War II, used for the imprisonment of Polish intelligentsia.

We will also focus on modern times  as Gdańsk was the scene of anti-regime demonstrations, which had the impact on the downfall of the communism in Poland.

There is the fabulous exhibition about the Solidarity movement in European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk shipyard.

In the evening we will try to summarize and discuss the best moments of the tour during the farewell dinner in Gdańsk.

Accommodation: Hotel in the center of Gdańsk.

Day 11 Departure

Departure options:

Flights from Gdańsk (airport transfers in Gdańsk are included)

From Gdańsk back to Poznań (there is a possibility to travel back to Poznań right after the tour’s end, however depending on the time of your departure flight there might be some additional cost)

From Gdańsk to Warsaw (travel by train, we can help you to arrange the train tickets and airport transfer in Warsaw. There would be a supplement for such an additional service).

Cost

The total cost of PO Prussian Poland Tour is 16000 Polish zlotys (SGL room supplement: 3000 PLN) (Around US$3696, (SGL room supplement: US$693) according to currency exchange rate from January 23, 2023).

First Minute price till February 28, 2023: 15000 Polish zlotys (in DBL or TWN room occupancy).

Please be aware that we accept payments in Polish zlotys and this amount expressed in US$ is only for information purposes, valid on the date mentioned above. The current Polish zlotys (PLN) / US Dollars (USD) exchange rate you will find here: current average currency exchange rate between US Dollar and Polish zloty USD/PLN. This is an average currency exchange rate and it is usually distorted by commissions charged by all the financial intermediary institutions (so-called spread between currency buy and sell rates). We operate in Poland as a licensed tour operator and Polish business entity and we accept payments in Polish zlotys (PLN)).

If you are returning PolishOrigins Tours client or want to combine Prussian Poland Tour with tailor-made Genealogy Tour or Family & Friends Tour then you are entitled to a 600 PLN discount. Discounts do not combine.

Tour cost includes: accommodations in comfort class hotels in TWN/DBL rooms with private bath or shower, two meals daily: breakfast, lunch or dinner, transportation between cities by air-conditioned, comfortable mini bus, sightseeing tours as specified in the tour itinerary, baggage allowance of one suitcase per person, services of an English-speaking guide throughout the whole Tour, hotel taxes, transfers on arrival and departure from and to the airports or hotels.

Not included in the tour cost are items of personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, mini-bar, gratuity to guides and drivers, air transportation to and from Poland.

Reservations:

For reservation make a deposit of 1600 Polish zlotys per person and provide your chosen dates by filling the reservation form Reservation Form – PolishOrigins Prussian Poland Tour

Prussian Poland Tour 2023 deposit payment
1,600.00zł

Important: The deposit is refundable until the 120-day before the date of starting your Tour. If a tour has less than 5 persons who have made reservations 2 months before planned date of starting the Tour, we reserve the right to cancel the whole Tour. In that case, all deposits for that Tour date will be refunded.

The Prussian Poland Tour is carefully designed and prepared, with attention to all the details, from the leaders of the tour, the transportation, accommodations and the attractions chosen in our itinerary. To keep a private character and atmosphere, our group size will not exceed 15 participants.

Throughout the whole tour and associated itinerary, you will be accompanied by one of our experienced English speaking tour guides. You can be sure that he will do everything possible, to create a comfortable atmosphere and reply to all the questions guests may have about the organization of the trip as well as Polish history. In addition, in all tourist attractions, we hire specialized, local guides and we invite knowledgeable people to share with our guests, the history and traditions of the area. They add the local colors to your tour!

To see other our tour proposals like Genealogy Tour, Galicia Tour, Kingdom of Poland Tour,  Wooden Treasurers of Southern Poland, Bobbin Lace Making Workshops, and tailor-made Family & Friends Tours visit: http://tours.polishorigins.com

We invite you to contact us by email: [email protected] or by phone: 0048 664 407 089 (6.00 AM- 4.00 PM EST).