The Masurian Lake District, a lake paradise with over 3,000 lakes, rivers and canals, embedded in dark forests and rolling hills: Masuria in northern Poland is a place of longing for people who love nature and animals. (More 'Wunderschön' is available in the media library: https://1.ard.de/wunderschoen-masuren...)
Elk, bison and wolves live in the huge forests - and on the Popielno peninsula also Konik ponies. Judith Rakers gets very close to the descendants of the Polish wild horses that are bred here. In Olsztyn, the capital of Masuria, she experiences a happy evening in the pub with students - and a sporting challenge. She makes a detour to the marina of Mikolajki on Sniardwy Lake, gets initiated into the Masurian folk sport of mushroom picking in the Johannisburger Heide and enjoys the beautiful nature by canoe and on a houseboat tour. But Judith Rakers also walks in the footsteps of German-Polish history in the region, which once belonged to East Prussia, and learns a lot about the Masurian ethnic group.

00:00:00 Greeting
00:02:27 A kayak trail on the Krutynia river
00:08:57 Mushroom picking in the Joannisburger Heide, Poland's largest forest area
00:21:01 The town of Mikołajki on Sniardwy Lake, the Venice of Masuria
00:30:27 Koniks, descendants of Polish wild horses on the Popielno Peninsula
00:35:06 The history of the region and the Kadzidlowo local history museum
00:44:58 Boat tour with campfire and BBQ on the water
00:50:46 Olsztyn, the capital of Masuria
00:59:50 Student life in the university town
01:07:20 A unique boat trip over hills on rails in the world
01:09:37 Sztynort Castle, ancestral seat of Heinrich Graf von Lehndorff's family
01:17:55 Vacation on a houseboat on Lake Niegocin
01:27:01 Farewell

Judith Rakers explores the Masurian Lake District on a kayak tour on the Krutynia, one of the most beautiful water hiking routes in Europe. The crystal-clear river meanders 100 kilometers through extensive forests, interrupted by meadows and fields, and crosses numerous lakes. Later, she experiences a Masurian tradition here: a trip on a historic poleboat, including a campfire and a barbecue on the water.

The Kadzidlowo local history museum is located on the edge of the Johannisburg Heath – consisting of eight houses in which members of the Masurian ethnic group lived 200 years ago. Krzysztof Worobiec found and restored the ruins. He also leads Judith Rakers to a "lost village" in the woods. In the north of the Masurian Lake District lies a dilapidated baroque castle in Sztynort. Until 1944 it was the family seat of Heinrich Graf von Lehndorff, who was involved in the assassination attempt on Hitler. Judith Rakers walks in the footsteps of history.

20,000 students to 175,000 inhabitants - that characterizes Olsztyn, the capital of Masuria, is young and lively. On the other hand, it offers Gothic town houses, an amphitheater for 1,200 people and an impressive castle where Copernicus lived and researched in the 16th century. On the outskirts of the city lies the sports and leisure world of Ukiel. On an inline skating tour along the lake, Judith Rakers gets to know the green, quiet side of the university town.

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Further information:
► WDR Reisen: https://reisen.wdr.de
► 2 for 300: https://www1.wdr.de/verbraucher/freiz...
► Wunderschön: https://wunderschoen.wdr.de
► Media library: https://www.ardmediathek.de/reisen
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#Masuria #Beautiful #WDR Travel #Masurian Lake District #Poland #Canoe #Lake #Forest #Boat #Nature #Hiking #Yacht

A film by Agnieszka Jankowska. Editor: Friedel Groth. The film was produced on behalf of WDR & NDR for the program "Wonderful" in 2022. All statements and facts correspond to the status at that time and have not been updated since then.

Beautifully produces travel documentaries for WDR. Travel destinations around the world are presented. Beautiful tries to transport people, culture, cuisine and the landscape of the respective travel destination and gives tips for planning your own vacation.