There are places which tell us about their history on their own. To this group belong castles ruins, palaces, military fortresses and heritage parks. If the people who care for them are also engaged and full of passion, these places become even more enjoyable for tourists.

 

When we went thorough the brick-built gate into the Boyen fortress, we were welcomed by a guard with a very serious facial expression and a small squadron of Prussian soldiers. All these minor details made the Boyen fortress look more realistic and very attractive for children.

 

The Boyen fortress in Giżycko was built between 1843 and 1855 as a strategic construction to control the pass between Niegocin and Kisajno lakes. The Fortress is an example of Prussian Fort building knowledge from the mid XIX century and is one of the best remaining relics of defence architecture from the XIX century in Poland. It is difficult to believe that this huge fortress, which occupies around 10 hectares, was built so fast. The attention to detail and aesthetics of many elements is remarkable, even though this is a military fortress. The biggest surprise for me was seeing one of the best remaining openwork buildings, which in its prime served as a pigeon loft for almost 700 carrier pigeons.

 

The fortress is in the shape of an irregular 6-pointed star with a courtyard inside. It is surrounded by a 5-meter high stone-brick Carnot wall with a length of 2.3 km (a so-called "dry fosse") and internal and external earthwork. Each point of the star is a bastion. There are six of them. The origin of the names of these bastions is interesting. The fortress was named after the Prussian War minister general Herman von Boyen, in recognition of his merits. Three of the bastions were given names of the general: Leopold, Ludwik and Herman, and the other three were left with mottos from his coat of arms: Schwert (sword), Recht (law) and Licht (light).

 

It is worth having a guide for your walk in the fortress. However you choose to do it, you can expect a very nice walk between the atmospheric ruins of the fortress, which have been partially but consistently overthrown by nature.

 

Today the Boyen fortress plays the role of a summer entertainment center, where in picturesque amphitheatre settings concerts and festivals are organised (i.e. the sailing and sea shanty festival in July, "Szanty in Giżycko"). There is a museum in the fortress ­­- a club for old motorcycles and divers.

 

I think that a very interesting attraction, especially for young boys, would be the opportunity to stay overnight in the fortress. There is a hostel with spartan conditions, where you can spend the night after a campfire and a night time visit to the fortress (hostel visitors may visit the fortress free of charge).