HISTORY
Kętrzyn, a town with a population of 30 thousand, lies on the border between Warmia and Mazury (two regions in the north-east Poland, rich in lakes and forests), at the intersection of routes leading to several towns, including Węgorzewo, Mrągowo, Bartoszyce and Giżycko. Owing to its convenient location, Kętrzyn has been able to develop tourism and trade businesses. Located in the vicinity of such sightseeing attractions as the medieval town of Reszel, the Baroque basilica of Święta Lipka, the remains of Hitler's headquarters at Gierłoż or the Great Masurian Lakes, Kętrzyn itself can be a pleasure to visit. Finding good accommodation and leisure facilities is never a problem here. Kętrzyn (historically known under its name of Rastenburg) was founded by the Order of Teutonic Knights, who had earlier seized here a local Prussian settlement called Rast. The timber watchtower that was originally built on this site was later replaced by a brick-laid castle. On 11th November 1357 the town, which had by then grown around the tower, was granted urban rights by the Commander of Bałga, Johann Schidenkopf. Soon afterwards, the construction of St George's Church, the castle and battlements commenced. At that time, the town had another brick church, known as St Catherine's Church. One of the oldest churches in Prussia, St Catherine's church sadly had to be pulled down in 1820. In the 15th century the burghers of Kętrzyn rebelled against the oppressive power of the Teutonic order and in 1444 they joined several other Prussian towns, creating the Prussian Union. In 1454 the rebellious burghers seized the castle and paid homage to the Polish king, Władysław Jagiellończyk. A year later, however, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order and the King of Poland signed the second Peace Treaty of Toruń, by the force of which Kętrzyn was ceded back to the Order. The golden age of the town fell to the 16th and early 17th century - between the secularisation of the Order (1525) and the outbreak of the war between Poland and Sweden (1628). The war, followed by contributions, plagues and fires, ruined the town. A new impetus for development came at the end of the 19th century, when new road and rail connections were created and the town's crafts and industries began to flourish. History had come full circle when in January 1945 the Red Army seized and ravaged the defenceless town. Unfortunately, the Old Town has never recovered its previous glamour. The last half a century has witnessed great efforts at reconstructing and developing the town. Today, Kętrzyn is proud of its diversified industrial resources. Several Polish and some international companies have their plants in Kętrzyn: Warmia (clothes), Philips Lightning Poland (electronics), Rolimpex (food processing). Dominant industrial branches include agricultural crops processing and food processing (sugar plant, yeast plant, brewery, mayonnaise production plant, grain plant). Tourists are recommended to see Gothic St George Collegiate Church, a spendid example of a fortified church, the neo-classical Town Hall and Masonic Lodge, and some beautifully restored townhouses dating back to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Kętrzyn castle was raised in the second half of the 14th century in the south-west corner of the urban battlements. The building contained a chapel, a bakery, a kitchen, a mill, a malt-house, a brewery, a meat store, a cereal store, a pantry, an armoury, and a powder magazine. The residential quarters were situated in the north wing and provided accommodation to the prosecutor of the Teutonic Order. When the order was dissolved in 1525, the castle became a seat of the Duke of Prussia's official. In 1910 the castle became property of the municipal authorities. Until World War Two the building housed the office of finances and several flats for the town's clerks. Originally built as a three-winged structure with a curtain wall and a gateway on the south side, the castle has been refurbished countless times to help it various serve administrative and residential functions. In January 1945 it was burnt down. Its Gothic character was cleverly restored in the years 1962-1966, when it was renovated to house the Wojciech Kętrzynski Museum and the municipal library. At present, it is visited by those who are interested in regional history and arts.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICE
1 J. Piłsudskiego Ave. tel. 089 751 47 65, e-mail: it@ketrzyn.com.pl

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The Wojciech Kętrzyński Museum, 1 Zamkowy Ave. tel. 089 752 32 82, www.muzeum.ketrzyn.pl

Museum - open daily from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (to 4.00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays), outside season from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (to 5.00 p.m. on Mondays, Saturdays and Sundays).
Exhibitions - history and culture of the region (collections of sculpture, furniture, documents from the former civic archives, books and other publications about the region); The Gallery of Friends - presentation of contemporary Polish art.
EVENTS - horse riding shows, Air Show, the Masurian Chivalric Tournament, Festival of Folk Bands and Singing Ensembles, the Kętrzyn Summer (a series of events in July), Poetry and Songs at the Castle in Kętrzyn.

SPORT, TOURISM, CULTURE
The Cultural Centre "ZAMEK", 1 Zamkowy Ave. tel. 089 751 25 53
The Sport and Recreation Centre, 12a Kazimierza Wielkiego St. tel. 089 750 59 76
Association "A. Holza" for Polish and Germany Cooperation, 1 Mickiewicza St. tel. 089 752 40 19
Swimming pool, 21 Poznańska St. tel. 089 751 37 33
Tennis courts, 1 Szpitalna St. tel. 0 501 723 460
Stable, 1 Bałtycka St. tel. 089 752 51 71

ACCOMODATION
The "Koch" Hotel, 3 Traugutta St. tel. 089 752 20 58
The "Wanda" Hotel, 27 Wojska Polskiego St. tel. 089 751 85 84
The "Agros" Hotel, 1 Kasztanowa St. tel. 089 751 52 40
The "Wilcze Gniazdo" Hotel, Gierłoż, tel. 089 752 44 29
The "Księżycowy Dworek" Hotel, Gierłoż, tel. 089 752 42 77
The "Pod Zamkiem" Inn, 2 Struga St. tel. 089 752 31 17
The "Tom" Guest-house, 11 Ogrodowa St. tel. 089 752 26 79

RESTAURANTS
The "Aria" Restaurant, 5 Daszyńskiego St. tel. 089 751 24 55
The "Kosmos" Restaurant, 22 Sikorskiego St. tel. 089 751 28 50
The "Maleńka" Café, 1 Gałczyńskiego St. tel. 089 752 26 56
The "Margarita" Pizzeria, 19 Sikorskiego St. tel. 089 751 40 20
The "Cois Cafe" Café, 15/1 Wojska Polskiego St. tel. 089 751 55 50
The "Maleńka" Pizzeria - Café, 1 Gałczyńskiego St. tel. 089 752 26 56
The "Zodiak" Café, 16a Daszyńskiego St. tel. 089 751 32 52
ASPEN RES - catering, 8 Chrobrego St. 089 751 37 43

The Town Office
11 Wojska Polskiego St., phone: 089 752 05 20
www.ketrzyn.com.pl