Wysoka Wieś is a pastoral corner of Western Masuria. It is here that the Hotel SPA Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie is located, along with other welcoming retreats of the same brand – Siedliska. What is the history of this village? And why is it the perfect place to truly unwind?

Wysoka means the highest
The tiny settlement that eventually became Wysoka Wieś in the Dylewskie Hills was founded in 1834 by Johann Heinrich Kern, a judge from Lubawa (then Löbau), who owned these lands. He named it Kernsdorf after himself. Settlers were brought in from declining Prussian villages and granted a four-year exemption from duties. In return, they were required to restore and cultivate the farms they received. But this was no easy task. The area – wooded, rocky, and uninhabited since the Swedish wars of the 17th century – resisted their efforts. The settlers voluntarily planted orchards and took up beekeeping. They were also required to participate in wolf hunts. By 1861, Kernsdorf had a population of 388. At the end of the 19th century, a school was built in the village, and there was also a tavern. Today, almost nothing remains of the original village centre. The few historical remnants include the old school building from 1890 – now a guest house – and a former cemetery with graves of the local Masurians. Near the Hotel SPA Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie, among grass and moss, you can still see the foundations of old buildings. The homes of today’s residents are located in a different part of the village, and there are only a few of them – just a few dozen people live in Wysoka Wieś year-round.

Closer to the sky
Wysoka Wieś lies near the highest elevation in northeastern Poland – Dylewska Góra (Dylewska Hill), which reaches 312 metres above sea level. Several hiking and cycling trails lead to its summit. At the top, a wooden viewing tower offers a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding Dylewskie Hills. On the slopes of the hill, visitors can explore a unique rock museum. This open-air lapidarium features a selection of the most geologically interesting glacial erratic boulders, brought to this region from Scandinavia during the last Ice Age. One of the most impressive is a piece of granite called the Blue Maiden, named after a small Swedish island. This boulder is estimated to be around 1.6 million years old.

Remarkable residents
With a bit of luck, visitors to the Dylewskie Hills might spot mouflons – majestic wild mountain sheep introduced to Poland in the early 20th century from Corsica and Sardinia. Today, around 3,000 of them live in Poland.

The legend of the lake
Following the “Dylewska Góra” nature trail, you can reach Jezioro Francuskie (French Lake), located about 2 km from the highest peak of the Dylewskie Hills. There is a certain legend related to  the lake’s name. According to it, during the Napoleonic campaign, soldiers stationed nearby harmed local women and were drowned in the lake by local peasants in retaliation. In response, Napoleonic troops residing in nearby Pietrzwałd razed the village that once stood here, and the inhabitants involved in the soldiers’ deaths were executed. Though the story is grim, the place itself is full of charm – the lake has crystal-clear waters, and its southeastern shore is covered by a 140-year-old beech forest.

Luxury beside the hills
The Hotel SPA Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie offers guests a comfortable five-star stay amidst nature. Well-equipped rooms, the opportunity to enjoy beauty treatments and a swimming pool, and the closeness of nature – all this allows one to break away from everyday life. A feast for the palate completes the stay. The hotel restaurants – the all-day Oranżeria and the slow-food Restauracja Romantyczna (with tasting menu dinners) – serve, among other things, traditional Polish and European dishes in new interpretations. Those who wish to spend time in a homely, rustic atmosphere can rent one of the Siedliska – villas with architecture resembling Masurian cottages. The Siedliska are located away from other buildings and roads, which allows for unrestricted relaxation. Guests renting them can take advantage of all the attractions offered by the Hotel SPA Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie.

To Masuria... for skiing!
In the 1930s, Dylewska Góra was a bustling ski resort. Before World War II, the slopes here were frequented by residents of Prussia, and after the war – by Poles. Locals were involved in ski production and hosting visitors. Today, you can still enjoy snow adventures, for example, at Kurzętnik, located 40 km away, home to the Kurza Góra ski station, or you can go cross-country skiing right on site.

Let’s go on an excursion
Wysoka Wieś is a perfect starting point for exploring the many tourist attractions offered by Western Masuria. Just under 3 kilometres away lies the 15th-century village of Glaznoty, featuring historic churches and the remnants of an old Evangelical cemetery. Within a 50-kilometre radius, you will find several noteworthy destinations, including the Grunwald Fields, with a museum dedicated to the largest battle of medieval Europe, the Teutonic Castle in Nidzica, and the Museum of Folk Architecture – Ethnographic Park in Olsztynek.