During my student years, I spent a lot of time in the company of Norwegian lumberjacks. They knew everything not only about life, but also about smoking salmon and trout in the natural climate of forest glades. Today, 40 years later, I prepare juicy trout just like in Norway - in my own smokehouse, in an agritourism farm right by the forest. Traveling around Scandinavia was a source of many inspirations for creating my own hospitable place. The local tourist cottages are quiet, wonderfully clean and usually stand in the middle of nowhere. It was an adventure to cover the vast spaces of Scandinavia and spend the night in tourist cottages, the so-called hytte, and often also in a tent. I thought then that it would be possible to transfer the standard I had learned to a similar, harsh climate and similar surroundings of the great lakes - that is, to Masuria.
Today's Hermanówka is located in the heart of Masuria in the magical triangle of the cities of Mrągowo, Mikołajki and Giżycko. On the foundations of a former German farm from the pre-war years, we built a house with a not accidental appearance. It was designed for us by an architect - a fan of old Masurian architecture. Many characteristic Masurian cottages were built in his studio, e.g. Hejdyk. And then, in 2010, we started accepting guests. Since then, a lot has changed, but our standards have not. We have comfortable double rooms with bathrooms, amazing breakfasts and knowledge about all the nearby attractions. We will advise you where to start your Krutynia rafting trip, order a sailing trip and even send you on a balloon flight.
We invite you to an adult sanctuary with comfortable rooms for 2 people. Each of them has its own bathroom.
The common space of our guesthouse is a large dining room connected to the living room, where we serve meals. The room remains open for the rest of the day so you can relax, talk and play board games.
We also have an atmospheric terrace covered with vines, a place for a bonfire and a barbecue with a covered shelter next to it, and a smokehouse.
We attach great importance to breakfast, it is our mission and passion. Every day we have a surprising proposition. The morning meal consists of a basic buffet and a hot dish. We are open to culinary novelties and the needs of our guests, which we listen to attentively. We also serve obscenely delicious baked goods.
Breakfast is standard for us, but regarding dinner, please make an individual appointment - we will let you know what we can offer you on a given day.
We are located in the heart of Masuria. You certainly won't be bored in the area. How can you spend your time?
– go for a walk and bike ride to the Rudowiecki Forest,
– walk through stretches of fields and meadows with trickling streams,
– see the picturesque port town of Ryn, located between two lakes, with an old mill and a Teutonic castle, which today houses a hotel and a restaurant with modern Polish cuisine,
– have time to visit the unknown guard mounds around Ryn, which are slowly disappearing from the landscape,
– go to the well-known Mikołajki, full of restaurants with live music and a view of the port,
– a little further, visit the equally famous Giżycko, the largest city in the region,
– sail or motorboat on Lake Ryńskie,
– take advantage of all the goodness of Masuria: in addition to Lake Ryńskie, nearby we have Notyst, Tałty, Tałtowisko, and a little further Śniardwy – if you love water sports, a whole lake of possibilities opens up to you,
– ride bikes – there are plenty of picturesque routes here, a pleasant one is the route towards Kętrzyn to the palace in Nakomiady,
– use Princess Anna's SPA at the Ryn Castle,
– go on a kayaking trip along the Krutynia River (it starts in Ukta, 35 km from here),
– see the Nakomiady Palace: you can walk around the park with 300-year-old trees or look into the mysterious palace chapel.
If you need any tips, please ask. We will be happy to share with you all our knowledge about the area. In addition:
– we will rent you bikes (PLN 10/h or PLN 40/day),
– we will invite you to a hot tub (PLN 100 per couple, 2-3 hour session),
– we will tell you how to organize a kayaking trip on the Krutynia River and where is the best place to start,
– we will organize sailing on Lake Ryńskie with our friendly neighbor (PLN 300/2 h),
– we can even book you a balloon flight with our other neighbors (it's a more expensive event, PLN 400/person).
What’s there for children?
We are a refuge for adults. We invite people over 14 years of age for a quiet holiday.
What’s there for employees?
Our internet is average, but it's not like it's impossible to work with it. It's possible, we work, but sometimes it's whimsical. The rooms do not have desks, only armchairs. The place where you can work most comfortably will probably be the dining room. It is up to you to decide whether such conditions will be comfortable for you.
