In Zełwągi, on Lake Inulec, we keep distractions to a minimum. That's why we've focused on rustic minimalism, natural materials, soft lighting, and anti-allergy sleeping on futons and buckwheat hull pillows. These delicacies only accommodate 16 guests, as we have three independent apartments in a century-old barn: two for 6 and one for 4. Attractions include a lake with a private beach right on your doorstep, stand-up paddleboards, excellent filter coffee, and a bonfire spot on the slope. Children are welcome. There's wheelbarrowing for firewood, paddling with parents on stand-up paddleboards (we provide life jackets for children), searching for strawberries, digging for worms for bait, building a rock dam on the beach, capsizing in hammocks, and weaving dandelion wreaths. Foxes roam behind the fence, and cranes scream overhead. On your way to Lipowo for pierogi, you'll pass a beaver dam. But autumn is the most interesting. Every evening, we hear the rutting season in Dolby Surround Sound. It gives us chills, and the less courageous dogs hide indoors.
Grandpa Julek and Grandma Zosia settled in this settlement, on the outskirts of the Masurian Landscape Park, just after the war. They built a wooden barn and a unique house with reed walls! They kept horses and cows on the farm, and even then, summer guests were eager to pitch tents and picnic by the lake. About five years ago, we decided to breathe new life into the old barn and open the place to guests. Together, we scrubbed roof tiles, sorted bricks, and hauled stones. This place became our family project – full of hard but incredibly satisfying work, created with our own hands and heart. Most of the furniture here is either handmade or purchased and restored. We made the coffee tables ourselves, the ones with the cast iron wheels that Grandpa Julek left us. The whole thing has its own soul and humor – it squeaks sometimes.
Three independent apartments await you on site – two larger, 6-person apartments and one more intimate, 4-person apartment. Each has a separate entrance and direct access to the courtyard, so you can feel comfortable and independent.
6-person apartments (Inulec and Majcz Wielki)
Spacious, two-story apartments, filled with light and featuring large windows along the entire gable. In the morning, the view is breathtaking: in Inulec, overlooking the lake, in Majcz Wielki, overlooking the hills and forest.
Downstairs: kitchen, large dining table, bathroom, and fireplace nook.
Upstairs: open-plan space for sleeping and relaxing – a double bed, a mezzanine for two people, and a relaxation area with fold-out sofas (additional sleeping spaces).
4-person apartment (Majcz Mały)
This is a cozier, more intimate space – also two-story, but without the mezzanine or large windows.
Downstairs: kitchen, dining table, bathroom, and fireplace nook. Upstairs: the sleeping area with two double beds, a relaxation area, and a workspace.
All seasons
All apartments are available year-round – heated by a heat pump, with underfloor heating and a fireplace. If you'd like, light a fire and relax even more.
We wanted you to sleep well here. We wanted the experience to be exceptional, and the materials and furniture from which the beds are constructed to be natural, just like the entire settlement. We ourselves struggle with allergies and hypersensitivity to stimuli. We know that rest is about peace and comfort. We wanted the beds to be allergy-friendly and to be the best possible option for your spine.
Futon means "bed" in Japanese. All our beds are futons, traditional Japanese mattresses with natural cotton filling and characteristic thick quilting. They are valued for their natural fillings, which allow them to perfectly conform to the spine, maintain excellent thermoregulation, and are hypoallergenic. From the many firmness options available, we selected the medium-firm, flexible options. These are the most comfortable and popular choices. The futons were hand-sewn to order in a small sewing workshop in Poland. The futons feature protectors made of undyed, unbleached cotton and wool filling. The headrest and pillows are supported by buckwheat husk rolls – anti-allergic and anti-stress.
You will prepare your own meals. That is why we wanted the kitchen to be very well equipped. There is a classic 4-burner induction hob. An oven, if you feel like heating something up, baking a cake or a casserole. A dishwasher, a hood and, importantly, a large fridge. Enameled pots and dishes, because we trust them more. One heavy, cast iron frying pan and two auxiliary ones - a wok and a pancake pan. A tart tin, a cake tin, a muffin tin. A lot of necessary dishes and kitchen bits and pieces. Openers for everything, sharp knives, all the necessary glassware. Plastic dishes for children, or for a picnic, as you prefer.
We are one of those for whom there must be coffee in the morning, so here we have: a coffee maker, a grinder, a French press, a dripper and a Hario kettle, so that the day starts beautifully.
If, like us, you focus primarily on good, ecological and home-made ingredients in the kitchen, then you have come to the right place. On site, you can buy eggs from our hens. Ania knows a lot about herbs, she makes teas, oxymels, vinegars, but also cosmetics. She spends her entire vacation processing fruits and vegetables into jams and preserves. Wild apples, which grow on apple trees on the other side of the road - into cider or vinegar. If you feel like it, let us know, we'll see what else she has available in her cellar.
You can get practically anything in the area. If you feel like cheese, milk straight from the cow, or fresh fish caught by Mikołaj fishermen - we'll direct you to the place where you can stock up on them.
The garden is for you. It used to be Ania and Rysiek's garden, so you can believe that it's the best fertilized (with natural fertilizers) soil in the area. You'll find whatever's growing there at this time of year. Usually herbs - mint, chives, lungwort, oregano, mugwort, sage, primrose, ground ivy. There are also currants, chokeberries and strawberries. There is enough space and work in the garden for two lifetimes, so if you feel like weeding something as part of your activity - go ahead!
A good place for dinner?
There is a place for a bonfire by the lake, on the slope. Come to us for wood. Sticks for sausages and pegs for sitting are on site.
We have a cozy, private beach on Lake Inulec. Pier, sand and reeds. Inulec is a very charming lake with many bays and islets, it is worth exploring it from a sup or a boat. Our habitat is adjacent to a quiet bay with an islet in the middle, where wild geese have nests. Sailing towards the village, you have to leave our bay and pass the isthmus to sail out to a large body of water full of boats and anglers. It is much windier there, but equally charming, there opens up a view of the village. You can end the trip on the village beach and go for a waffle served on the main street in Zełwągi.
Inulec is a typical fishing body of water, you can catch pike, perch, zander and eel here. You can buy fishing permits at the fish shop in Mikołajki, we will direct you there. To be able to fish on Inulec, you must have one. The lake is a protected landscape area. This means that no noisy boats with combustion engines are allowed here, only those with oars and electric motors. Our boat has one.
Take a SUP or a boat and explore the lake from the water's surface.
We have a boat prepared for you, with an electric engine and paddles. Let Rysiek know if you want to use it. The boat and SUPs are included in the price. You don't pay extra for them.
The SUPs are inflated and ready to go. Each has a displacement of 120 kg. Oars in two versions - double-bladed (kayak) or single-bladed (Canadian). You also have wheels/trolleys - so you can "ride" to the beach. Life jackets and a pump if you need to inflate them.
The habitat is a 1.5-hectare, ecological and friendly meadow for various beetles and creatures. We have a lot of beetles - these are harmless mason bees, wasps and bumblebees. They love to use our house, decking or cracks in the roof to hide there. We don't mind. If they bother you - let us know, we will negotiate with them.
In the apartment you have two hammocks and deckchairs. Deckchairs - of course, you put them wherever you want, the only important thing is that at the end of your stay they are returned to the house. Hammocks, on the other hand, you can hang between trees. Where there are loops prepared for this on the trunks. You will find the first two loops in the trees near the fire pit, on the slope above the lake. From the hammock - a nice view. Two or three more are hidden in the trees. You have to find them :) When you leave us, return the hammocks to the apartment so that they do not get damaged. It will help us a lot.
The best place for a bonfire is on the escarpment above the lake. We invite you there! For wood, go to Rysiek. You don't pay for it. Wood for the fireplace is also included in the price.
Clotheslines. In the line of trees, by the garden, you will find several lines stretched between the trees. Feel free to use them if you want to dry something or just air your bedding.
The Masurian Landscape Park also has many cycling, running and walking routes.
Here are the cycling routes we have tested. You can rent bikes in Mikołajki, or they can come to you.
- Masurian cycling loop - 283.5 km
- Ernest Wiechert cycling trail - 44.5 km
- Large Mrągowo loop - 30 km
- There and back route, from Zełwągi to Popielno. Zełwągi, Lisunie, Mikołajki, ferry crossing on Wierzba - 30 km both ways
- Loop to Ruciane. Zelwągi, Lisunie, Mikołajki, Wierzba, Iznota, Wygryny, Ruciane-Nida, Guzianka Lock, Wejsuny, ferry on Wierzba, Mikołajki, Lisunie, Zełwągi - about 55 km
Running routes. All gravel and hilly. Run by us.
- To school in Zełwągi and back - 4 km
- Circle through the forest, Zełwągi and back - 7 km
- To the community centre in Lipowo and back - 8 km
- Around Lake Inulec, through Śmietki and Zełwągi - 7 km
- Around Lake Majcz Wielki, through Strzałowo forest district, through Lipowo - 11 km
- Circle in Lipowo, through the community centre, to the stud farm and back - 9 km
- To the forest beach on Majcz Wielki and back - 6 km
We like the stable next door to us. Klonek is a small stable in Zełwągi, on the edge of the forest. Arabians and Gypsy cob live here. You will meet there, among others, beautiful Malibu and the characteristic red pony Cerdoba. We love to visit them, go out into the field and into the forest, to Majcz.
Lakes, hidden beaches and other cool things:
The best beaches are the ones where you won't meet crowds. Or the ones where you'll be alone. If you get bored with the beach at the settlement, we'll show you the next ones. Equally charming. Our favorite places.
Majcz Wielki:
The first, most interesting, intimate place is the beach in the forest on Lake Majcz Wielki. It's one of the cleanest lakes in the region. Hidden in the middle of the forest, it's not crowded. There are several wild beaches on Majcz, we go to the one in the middle of the forest, but you can also ride a bike all the way to the other side of the lake, by the Strzałowo forester's lodge. There's a footbridge and a slightly larger beach here. The lake is so clean that you can also meet divers there.
Beach in the village:
The second, best one is the beach in the village. Seriously. Although it's sometimes crowded, it's really great here. Zełwągi is a charming village. The beach has a safe, shallow access to the water. A large pier, playground, volleyball court. Everything in a typical Zełwągi atmosphere.
Krutynia rafting:
Not far from us is one of the most beautiful rivers you can see from a kayak. We say this with our hand on our heart, because we have seen some rivers from the water surface. We highly recommend rafting on the Krutynia, even though it can be crowded, especially on holiday weekends. It is best to start the rafting on Lake Mokre, or in the village of Krutyń, and end in Ukta. In our opinion, this is the most beautiful section, in places it is very shallow, surrounded by forest or overgrown banks, which makes it the most charming.
A river similar to the Krutynia is the Marózka. A shallow river flowing through a forest ravine. We highly recommend its views, but this one is about 1.5 hours away from us towards Olsztyn.
Galindia:
When you are already in the vicinity of Krutynia, and you have children, visit two places.
The first is Galindia. The seat of the specific people of Galindia. A magical, fun and very interesting place. You can also eat here and then swim in Lake Bełdany.
Kadzidłowo:
The second, definitely calmer attraction in this area is the wildlife park in Kadzidłowo.
Even if you are without children, walking through hectares of wild animal enclosures is an amazing experience. If you have not met a wolf or a moose before, you will definitely see one here. You will not leave this place hungry either. “Oberża pod psem” is located here.
The ferry on Wierzba and the breeding of the Polish horse in Popielno:
A great trip. Cycle to Wierzba, cross the ferry and ride through the forest where wild Polish horses live. In spring, you may be lucky and see herds with foals. We managed to do it once. The culmination of this trip is the PAN center in Popielno, where you can learn more about these animals.
Łuknajno Biosphere Reserve:
Just outside the borders of Mikołajki there is an interesting place, but completely unpopular with tourists. A lake that has been placed under international protection as a biosphere reserve and entered on the list of world natural heritage. Łuknajno. A water bird reserve and a sanctuary for mute swans. An educational trail with observation towers leads around the lake.
Mushrooms:
In autumn, the Masurian Landscape Park is full of mushrooms. For some, it is enough to go outside the gate of the habitat. Often, it is enough to go out for half an hour and you come back with a full basket. Here you will find boletes, kites, saffron milk caps (these three types can be found quite close to home), boletes, bay boletes and butter mushrooms, honey fungi and green mushrooms. If you come during this period, drop by and we will show you the best mushroom spots.
Children are welcome. Two children from the youngest generation make the settlement a place for everyone.
When boredom strikes, we have: a trampoline, a house and a large swing. At home, there are books, games and a mezzanine for them to sleep on.
For adventure seekers: wheelbarrowing wood for a bonfire, swimming with parents on SUPs (we have life jackets for children), searching for strawberries, digging for worms for bait, building a barrier of stones on the beach, capsizing in hammocks, weaving wreaths from dandelions.
Shorter and longer trips have always worked well for us and still do. For ice cream in Mikołajki, to Kadzidłowo to walk among deer, on horses to Klonek, to the beach in Zełwągi, or to ours to jump off a jetty.
Walks for waffles in the village, trips on the Krutyńskie kayaks, on the ferry to Popielno, to the observation tower in Mikołajki, on bikes anywhere.
For those who work, we have a cozy space upstairs in the apartment. Here you have a typical chair and a desk that we corporate people are very familiar with. You can even sit here all day if you have to. The desk is right in front of the attic window. It will be a nice change for typical office spaces. Sitting at it, you can relax your eyes every now and then and look into the distance.
If you need more space - because you work in two or more people, you can use the large, wooden table in the dining room.
We have worked remotely from Zełwągi many times ourselves. There are no problems with connections or ringtones. Sometimes there were days when we were running online meetings or workshops all day. What's great about Zełwągi is that you can quickly reset after work :).
When you close your computer, your head can relax immediately. It also happened that in the hot summer, during a break between meetings, you managed to take a quick dive into the water!
