AUGUSTÓW
was a royal town, and it has been reflected in its coat of arms
till today. The town was granted civic rights, as well as the
name, by King Zygmunt August in 1557.
Augustów was situated on the banks of the Netta River, where
historical tracks from Lithuania to Podlasie, Mazovia, and Prussia
crossed. Thanks to such a position the town had been developing
till the times of the Swedish invasion. The wars of 1656 and
1708 ruined the town, and the plague which broke out in 1710
decimated its population. However, at the beginning of the 19th
century, there were 3000 inhabitants in Augustów. It was then
that the town got a big chance connected with the construction
of the Augustów Canal. Augustów was to become a big trans-shipping
and transit port and an important center for administration
and economy. Political changes after the November Uprising of
1830 ruined these hopes. The Canal became a local waterway,
and the town did not gain the status of the province capital.
It has only been the county seat. World War I damage was followed
by a great fire of 1922, after which, however, Augustów was
rebuilt fast.  In
the period of time between the wars it became one of the most
snobbish holiday resorts in Poland. It was then that the town
got the names of "Venice of the North" and "summer salon of
the country". Picturesque lakes, stretches of wilderness surrounding
the town, and the climate advantages determined the town's new
function as a tourist, recreation (water sports, fishing, hunting)
and health resort. It has been developing in this direction
since 1945. Augustów is in possession of good accommodation
and catering facilities, comfortable recreational centers and
sanatoria situated by Lake Necko. Since 1974, the town has had
the status of a health resort.
Augustów,
surrounded by lakes and forests, is an attractive health and recreation
town with good tourist facilities and a wide range of recreation
and relaxation services. It is a good place where one can start
exploring the areas of Augustów Primeval Forest, the Biebrza valley,
Ełk Lakeland and northern Suwałki Region.
In Augustów there is the road junction of a few main roads: no.
16 (Augustów-Ełk-Olsztyn), no. 61 (Warsaw-Augustów), no. 19 (Białystok-Augustów-Suwałki-Budzisko
border crossing). Moreover, other roads have their beginning in
Augustów, for example, one to Suwałki via Raczki, to Sejny and Ogrodniki
border crossing (12 km away) and to Lipsk by the Biebrza River.
The railway connection joins Augustów with Warsaw via Białystok
and with Lithuania via Suwałki.
Important
addresses an telephone numbers
Coach
station (PKS), Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 18 643 36 49
Railway station (PKP), Dworcowa l 643 22 77
Post office, Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 3 643 32 33
Road assistance 958
Police station, K. Brzostowskiego 6 997, 643 34 41
Augustów Navigation port, 29 Listopada 7 643 28 81
Customs Office, Tytoniowa 13 644 75 59
Town Council, 3 Maja 60 644 64 08
Hotel
services
HOTELS:
"Delfin", Turystyczna 81 643 27 92
"Dom Nauczyciela", 29 Listopada 9 643 20 21
"Hetman", Sportowa 1 644 53 45
"Krechowiak", 1 Pułku Ułanów Krechowieckich 2 643 20 33
"Warszawa", Zdrojowa 1 643 36 57
Motel "Turmot", Mazurska 4 643 28 67
Boarding houses:
"MB", Spacerowa 4 (district Borki) 644 67 34
"U Marianny", Rajgrodzka 98 644 57 11
"Nad Neckiem", Rajgrodzka 98 b 644 94 94
"Zajazd Staropolski", Armii Krajowej 28 644 70 73
RECREATION FACILITIES
In Augustów and the neighbouring area there are over 200 comfortable
recreation centers. The most famous are: Sanatorium and Recreation
Center "Daewoo-FSO Motor"; Health Sanatorium "Budowlani"; Recreation
Center "Polped"; Training and Recreation Center "Borki"; Training
and Recreation Center "Leśnik" and so on. Addresses can be found
at tourist information centers. Information about campsites, youth
hostels, agrotourist houses - is to be found at The Centers of Tourist
Information in Augustów: tel./fax 643 28 83; and PTTK, 643 38 50;
and in Suwałki - SIRT, tel./fax 566 54 94
Catering
RESTAURANTS
"Albatros", Mostowa 3 643 21 23
"Hetman", Sportowa 1 644 53 45
"Motel "Turmot", Mazurska 4 643 28 67
"Myśliwska", Przewięˇ 643 24 11
"Rospuda", Klonownica 643 36 63
"Turystyczna", Białobrzegi 644 92 13
"Zajazd Staropolski", Armii Krajowej 28 644 70 73
In addition, there are nearly 20 bars and cafés in Augustów. All
recreation centers have their own canteens.
Tourist
information
Tourist
Information Center, 3 Maja 31 tel./fax 643 28 83
Tourist Office "Zorb-Tour", 3 Maja 6 tel./fax 643 44 94
Polish Travel Agency "Orbis" Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 12 643 26 13
PTTK Branch "Sailing Center", Nadrzeczna 70a 643 38 50
"Sirocco", Zarzecze 5 643 31 18
Przedsiębiorstwo
Turystyczne "SZOT", Konwaliowa 2, tel. 644 67 58, fax
643 43 99
CULTURE
"Iskra" Cinema, 3 Maja 37 643 21 27
Municipal House of Culture, Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 9 643 36 59
Augustów Land Museum:
- Ethnography Section, Hoża 7 643 27 54
- The Augustów Canal History Section, 29 Listopada 5a 643 23 60
Municipal Public Library, Hoża 7 643 36 29
SERVICES
Banks: 3 Maja 13; 3 Maja 43; J. Wybickiego 2; J. L. Chreptowicza
1
Money exchange: 3 Maja 28; Młyńska 6; J. Wybickiego 2
Car service: Mazurska 4, tel. 643 26 66; Jeziorna 35, tel. 643 30
02; Młodości 43, tel. 643 23 46; M. Kopernika 54, tel. 643 55 13.
Road Assistance: Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 4, tel. 643 28 67; M. Koperni-ka
54, tel. 643 55 13; Wypusty 7, tel. 643 10 60
Filling stations: Mazurska 5; Rajgrodzka 40; J. Słowackiego; Turystycz-na;
Wojska Polskiego 52, 69a, 79
Taxi: Rynek Zygmunta Augusta, tel. 643 37 20; J. L. Chreptowicza
3, tel. 643 40 08; 29 Listopada;
Radio-taxi, tel. 643 40 08; Super-taxi, tel. 643 28 28
WATER EQUIPMENT RENTALS
Konwaliowa 2 644 67 58
Tytoniowa 1, 643 3791
Portowa 1 644 56 39
Nadrzeczna 62a 644 75 40
Zarzecze 8a 643 25 30
Nadrzeczna 70a 643 38 50
Health
care
PHARMACIES
Hoża 4 643 24 79 M. Konopnickiej 12 643 23 64 M. Kopernika 31 643
37 86 Rynek Zygmunta Augusta 8 643 36 12
OCULIST SURGERY
L. Waryńskiego 32 643 54 67
DENTAL SURGERIES
Łazienna 16 643 27 40 Kościelna 5 643 08 31 3 Maja 5 644 77 28
AMBULANCE SERVICE
Szpitalna 12 999; 643 29 99
CHILD CLINIC
Hoża 2a 643 51 27
REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Szpitalna 12 643 34 41
Hiking
and biking trails
Blue
trail: Augustów - the Rospuda valley - Bakałarzewo (44,6 km).
Green trail: Augustów - along the Augustów Canal - Mikaszówka
(39,4 km).
Blue trail: Augustów - across Augustów Primeval Forest -
Mikaszówka (55 km).
Yellow trail: Augustów - on the edge of Ełk Lakeland - Borzymy
(33 km).
Green trail: Augustów - on the edge of the Biebrza valley
- Lipsk (78,3 km).
Kayak
routes:
see "the Augustów Canal" page.
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