Discover Ukta: the Krutynia, kayaking and culture
Accommodation in Ukta
In Ukta, two different travel interests meet: the Krutynia, with its kayaking connections, and the Church of the Holy Cross, which houses a Renaissance painting. If you are choosing between an experience on the water and a cultural stop on your trip, the town offers concrete points of interest for both. The information about river sections and the church highlights different sides of Ukta, without implying that they form a single route.
Bridge and kayaking route
A landmark in the centre of Ukta is a bridge on provincial road 610 between Piecki and Ruciane-Nida. A kayak can be conveniently launched near the bridge. For travellers interested in kayaking on the Krutynia, this specific link to the town centre is helpful: you can identify the starting point by the bridge rather than relying only on a general river name.
The kayaking route from Ukta to Nowy Most is described as approximately 7 kilometres long. This identifies a specific section of the Krutynia for your kayaking plans. The route to Nowy Most should also be distinguished from the 2-kilometre section described below.
The Krutynia downstream of Ukta
The lower section of the Krutynia downstream of Ukta lies within the “Krutynia” nature reserve, also known as “Krutynia Dolna”. A two-kilometre stretch within this river environment is called “Mała Amazonka”. Numerous meanders, fallen tree trunks and inaccessible, marshy banks are what give it this name. The name therefore does not simply refer to another place or route: it points to the distinctive character of this section. The meanders and tree trunks mentioned here distinguish it in the description from a kayaking route identified only by its approximate length.
Those with a particular interest in river landscapes will find both a specific route length and a description of meanders, tree trunks and marshy banks here.
Church and art in Ukta
The Church of the Holy Cross in Ukta was built as a Protestant church between 1860 and 1864. Inside is a Renaissance painting depicting the lamentation over Christ before his burial. The building’s history and the painting’s subject offer two different starting points for a cultural visit: you can distinguish the historical context of the church building from the scene depicted in the painting. Visitors interested in sacred art will find a clearly identified subject in the painting; at the same time, the date of the church’s construction remains a separate part of the town’s history.
A historic kayaking trip also links Ukta with the Krutynia: on 1 and 2 August 1957, Karol Wojtyła was in Ukta during a summer kayaking trip with acquaintances from Sorkwity to Ostrołęka. An obelisk on the banks of the Krutynia commemorates his stay. The trip was part of a longer route between the two places mentioned; the two days in August refer to Wojtyła’s stay in Ukta. The obelisk is therefore another distinct point of interest, alongside the bridge, the church and the river sections described above.
More destinations: Maldanin, Ogródek, Wygryny, Nowe Guty, Jaśkowo, Kaliszki, Orzysz, Gałkowo.
For the wider travel overview: Piski.
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