The Pension Sarmacja - the surrounding

Some more history.

The Pension is located in the village Rybical at number 40. Rybical is an old Mazurian village founded as an estate in 1435 granted by Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights Paul von Russdorf. The Pension is situated on a hill which enables for admiring the panorama of the whole Lake Ryńskie and the town Ryn with its highest building - a Teutonic Knight's castle and Dutch mill.
Grand Master Winrych von Kniprode started building the castle in 1376. He is the one who later became the ancestor of a water tourism on Mazury. As the legend goes the castle and lake reminded the builders the castles and views on the River Rhine. That's why the place was named Rhein - the German name for the river. After some time the local people changed this name into a Polish one - Ryn. Between the years 1393-1396 Konrad von Wallenrood was the commander of the castle. He was Fryderyk's brother - Fryderyk was killed in the battle of Grunwald. The name Konrad von Wallenrod is familiar to the Polish at the instance of Adam Mickiewicz, the greatest Polish poet, who wrote a poem 'Konrad Wallenrod' giving this figure Polish patriotic features.
The town and its surroundings were inhabited in XIX c. Mainly by Mazurian people who spoke Polish. In 1837, 891 Poles lived in Ryn together with 497 Germans. In 1871 in Ryn parish 7010 inhabitants out of all 8160 were Polish. At present Ryn have 2500 inhabitants.

The Island: Łysa - Duża - Ptasia, the bay Rominek and great forest.

Straight from the terrace of Sarmacja an island sticks out from the water. It has three names: Duża (big), Łysa (bold) and Ptasia (birdy). It is called Duża because its three hills make 1ha of ground. It's Łysa since there are no trees on it. A legend, or rather a silly rumour fells that during the last world war there was a factory hall under the island where batteries for German u-bots were produced and therefore nothing grows there. It is called Ptasia as it is today the biggest breeding ground for Sea swallows in Mazuria. They come here from Africa in the middle of March to make their nests. The birds' calls and acrobatics make an unforgettable impression. Two hawks live in the bay Rominek two eagles fly together with great grey crows. The bay Rominek is over 100 m wide and 1.5 km long. Its high shores covered with wild forest remind the jungle from the delta of the Orinoco River. This Place is a paradise for canoes, sailors or fishermen - all those who want to see the beauty of still wild nature.
On the west side of the pension a great leafy and coniferous forest spreads out. It's necessary to have a good map or to be good at orienteering in order not to get lost. It's not difficult to see a roe-deer or a tusker as well as some other forest animals. What you can find must easily here though, are all kinds of mushrooms.