"Post-Camaldolite Monastery at Wigry" Suwalki Things to Do Tip by evaanna

The Order of Camaldolites came to Poland from Italy in 1605. Of their seven monasteries here, the one on Lake Wigry was the richest. The monastery in its present form was built in 1704 - 1745 when a fire destroyed the pre-existing wooden buildings. The complex consisted of a church, the monastery with a dining-room, the monks' house and a hospital, and the hermits' houses. There was also a clock tower, which can now be climbed to get a view of the lake and the area around. To prevent landslide, as the monastery is situated high up on a hill, enormous cellars were constructed under the building for support. Those were used by the monks to store wine, mead, beer and, according to a legend, may still hide the monks' treasures. The monastery was dissolved in 1800 by the order of the Prussian government. The monks are said to have left, despairing, walking on their knees in a procession. Local people say the track they made with their knees has been bare ever since. The buildings of the monastery were badly damaged in the course of the numerous wars. Re-built from ruin after WWII, it now houses a hotel. On the lower terrace, from which you can admire the view of the lake. there is an inn serving local dishes, quite expensive from what we have heard.

Address: Wigry
Directions: 18 km east of Suwalki