Reszel

Reszel is a unique architectural complex at the border of Warmia and Mazury. It is one of th very few towns in this region, which survived the attacks of the Soviet Union without a single scratch in early 1945. Tourists can admire the town with the preserved, original buildings from the 19th and 20th century. Between these buildings there are additionally precious architectural monuments from the past centuries.

Reszel is a former Prussian settlement, which was enslaved by the Teutonic Order, who built the first castle here in 1241. After the Toruń Peace in 1466, Reszel, along with the entire region of Warmia was included in the Polish country. Up until the 17th century Reszel was expanding thanks to craftsmen and merchants. However, the times of prosperity were over, when the wars an epidemic came along in the 17th century. In th 19th century, due to being far away from the railways of the Eastern Prussia, Reszel did not experience such economic development as the rest of the region. Some of the stonehouses burned during World War I’s fights at the French-German frontline. But thankfully World War II spared the town.

The most precious monument of Reszel, as well as one of the most priceless architectual monuments in Warmia is the Bishop Castle. Its creation began in the mid-14th century by bishop Jan of Miśnia. Despite the fires in the early 19th century, changing the building into a prison and magazine as well as rebuilding the eastern wing for an evangelic church, the reszel castle survived all the way until the end of World War II. Today it holds a museum, a gallery and a hotel.

Another precious monument of the town is the gothic church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which was built in the 14th century and rebuilt 100 yars later.

The complex of the picturesque old-town buildings is focused on a small area, by several streets crossing each other. At the very center of it all, there is a classicist town hall built in 1815.

In 2004 Reszel wa the first town in Poland to join the International Association of the Cittaslow Towns.

Every year, Reszel organizes a cultural event known as the „Reszel Days”, duing which there are concerts, shows and a ttraditional fair.