Mikolajki

Mikolajki sits on the strait between Lake Mikolajskie and Lake Talty, with a promenade, a footbridge over the water and marinas along both banks, and in summer it is the busiest resort town on the Masurian lakes - the nickname Masurian Venice is about the boats rather than any architectural resemblance. Its emblem is the Krol Sielaw, the King of the Vendace: a legend that a giant fish once wrecked local nets until fishermen caught it and released it on condition that it drive shoals into their nets forever, chaining it under the bridge; a small figure marks the spot. Lake Sniardwy, the largest lake in Poland at over a hundred square kilometres, is a short sail east and is shallow and dangerous in wind. Luknajno, the swan reserve, is a few kilometres away. The town itself is small, with one main street and a great deal of ice cream.

History

The town is first recorded as Nickelsdorf, or Sankt Niklas, in 1444 and as Niklasdorf in 1493, its name taken from Saint Nicholas, and early on it belonged to the State of the Teutonic Order. In 1877 its people were still mostly Polish-speaking Protestants, and the town, already a growing tourist centre in the early twentieth century, is now one of the largest in Masuria and known as the sailing capital of Poland (Wikipedia, Mikołajki).

What's there

• Marinas along a strait - between lakes Mikolajskie and Talty.
• The King of the Vendace - the chained-fish legend marked at the bridge.
• Lake Sniardwy nearby - the largest lake in Poland, shallow and rough in wind.
• A promenade town - one main street and the waterfront.

When to go

May to September. A day.

Before you go

Peak summer is very crowded and prices rise sharply. The town is small - it is a base rather than a destination. Sniardwy is genuinely dangerous for small boats in wind. Off-season, most of it closes.

Nearby

Lake Luknajno and its swans are east; Gizycko is north.

Key facts