Żywki by the lake of the same name

Żywki lies on a lake of the same name; the village’s history dates back to its founding in the mid-16th century. Historic buildings and two circular cycling routes that pass through Żywki complete the picture. When choosing a destination based on its lake, local history and cycling, you can weigh these aspects separately: the village’s location by the water, its different historical periods, and specific route distances and itineraries.

Local history across several periods

An evangelical cemetery dating from the second half of the 19th century lies near Lake Żywki. There is also an object made of dressed stone in the centre of the village. These are two historical points of interest in different locations: one near the lake, the other in the village centre.

The former watermill dates from the early 20th century and is now used as a residence. A railway station building dating from 1908 adds a specific construction year to these historical points of interest. These two details tell different stories: for the mill, its present residential use is important alongside its former function, while the railway station building is dated to 1908. Together with the village’s founding and the cemetery, they form a timeline spanning the founding period, a construction year, a period and present-day use. This helps you read the local stories as several layers rather than as a single era.

Another historical period concerns the Second World War. The staff of the German 4th Army under General Friedrich Hossbach was briefly stationed in the palace by Lake Żywki. In January 1945, the Red Army burned down the palace. The brief military use and the destruction form a distinct, clearly defined period in the village’s history.

Two circular cycling routes through Żywki

For active days, two circular cycling routes pass through Żywki. The black circular route is 37.5 km long. Other stops include Lake Żywy, Lipowo, Zagroda Żubrów, Możdżany, Lake Gołdapiwo and Kruklanki. The green circular route covers 44 km and runs from Kruklanki through Żywki. It also passes Lakes Sołtmany and Gawlik, goes to Zagroda Żubrów, and continues through Puszcza Borecka to Lake Gołdapiwo and back to Kruklanki.

At 44 km, the green loop is 6.5 km longer than the black one. Both routes go to Zagroda Żubrów and Lake Gołdapiwo. The black route also lists Lake Żywy, Lipowo and Możdżany; the green route also includes Lakes Sołtmany and Gawlik, as well as Puszcza Borecka. This gives you two specific points of comparison to consider: the difference in length and the places and landscapes listed for each route. Before setting out, it is advisable to consult the current route description.

Discover more destinations: Ryn, Boćwinka, Wilkasy, Jagodne Małe, Sterławki Wielkie, Rydzewo, Talki, Fuleda.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Giżycko.