Explore the local culture at the Zatorze
Biskupiec’s cultural zone sits on the edge of town in an area known as the Zatorze. Here is a Cultural Centre which is located on Matejki Street just a 10-minute walk from the train station. There’s also an old water tower (Wieza Cisnien) in the Zatorze, which was built in 1913.
Jana Matejki 5, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
Water Tower at the Zatorze | © Northern Irishman in Poland
See the Brewery which produced Poland’s first keg beer
It was here, at a now defunct brewery, that Poland’s first keg beer was produced. Although the brewery no longer produces beer, the building remains. You can walk around the old brewery buildings, and the town has put up information boards about its history. Afterwards, pop into the nearby Stara Kaflarnia for a lunch to sample the local grzane piwo (hot beer) and some good soups and Polish main courses.
Ulica Piwna, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
This brewery produced Poland’s first keg beer | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Walk through the dreamy Freedom Square (Plac Wolnosci)
All cool Polish towns should have a pretty old town square — it’s one of the unwritten rules in Poland. Biskupiec might only house 10,000 people, but it still serves up a treat of a central square. If you want to see the beauty of Biskupiec twice, visit once in summer and once in winter to see the contrasting seasons, as evident in the two photos below.
Plac Wolności 7-8, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
Plac Wolnosci, Biskupiec | © Honza Groh / WikiCommons
Plac Wolnosci, Biskupiec | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Cross the Bridge of St. John
There is a main bridge worth checking out in Biskupiec, it crosses the Dymer River. The Bridge of St. John links the town centre to the outskirts and has a brilliant vantage point of the town’s main church.
Bridge of St. John, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
Viewpoint from the Bridge of St. John | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Eat a Polish Sirloin Steak at Steakownia
Despite being a small town, Biskupiec boasts what could just be one of the coolest steak restaurants in the region. The reason being, Steakownia doubles as a butchery and an eat-in restaurant. This means you choose your steak from the meat counter and then they cook it to your own preference. Their purple cabbage salad is an unexpectedly delicious accompaniment.
Warmińska 2, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
Steakownia | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Visit St. Caroline’s Church
There are two main churches to check out in Biskupiec, the first one is the Kosciol Parafia Błogosławionej Karoliny Kózkówny (St. Caroline’s Church). St. Caroline’s is a popular Catholic church which sits on Ulica Warszawska. The second church is listed further below.
Warszawska 13, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
St. Caroline’s Church | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Try Warmiński pierogi
Here in this region, they have Warmiński style pierogi (Warmia region Polish dumplings). The best places to sample it in Biskupiec are the Restauracja Pub Na Rynku or the Stara Kaflarnia. The Pub Na Rynku (bar in the square) offers a great beer menu to go with it as well as having the advantage of a lookout point over the town’s main square.
Plac Wolności 5C, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
Warmiński style pierogi | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Stand on the frozen Lake Kraksy (winter)
Jezioro Kraksy (Lake Kraksy) is a short walk on the outskirts of Biskupiec and separates the town from the countryside and the forests. It’s a truly tranquil and beautiful lake which freezes over in the Winter, meaning you can walk on it comfortably! Check with the locals first though, a tell-tale sign will be if they have their toboggans on it or are in ice skating boots. There are actually two lakes, Lake Kraksy and Little Lake Kraksy.
Stand on the frozen Lake Kraksy (winter) | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Bathe in Lake Kraksy (summer)
And if the winter visit wasn’t enough, you can always return in summer where you can bathe in or sail in a wooden boat across Lake Kraksy instead!
Park Miejski
Masuria’s towns are never short of greenery or nature and Biskupiec has Park Miejski as its main park for trees, plants and wildlife. There are birds to spot in a leafy park that sit alongside the river and the town’s football grounds. The local council have also placed tourist information boards here about the plants and animal species that live within the park.
Wiosenna, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
Park Miejski | © Northern Irishman in Poland
Attend a Catholic Mass at St. John’s Church
While you might want to visit St. Caroline’s Church, the town’s landmark and largest church is its 16th century centrepiece – St. John’s Church. Known in Polish as Kościół p.w. św. Jana Chrzciciela, this Gothic church dates back to 1505. Keep an eye on the Mass service times on the church’s website and head in for a traditional Catholic Mass.
1 Maja 5, 11-300 Biskupiec, Poland
St. John’s Church | © Northern Irishman in Poland