The Old Town, with the atmosphere of a pre-war summer resort, is surrounded by the waters of three lakes, included in the Augustów Canal system. It was built at the place of the crossing by Netta River, which was guarded by the Teutonic castle erected in 1392, soon destroyed by prince Vytautas. At the beginning of the 15th century, the vicinity of Augustów was in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, then it passed into the possession of the Radziwiłł family, who built an inn on the trade road from Grodno to Prussia. In its place in 1555, the starost of Knyszyn Piotr Chwalczewski founded the town, and two years later Zygmunt August granted it city rights and numerous privileges.
The development of Augustów was interrupted by wars, which also squandered the second chance of prosperity, which was the construction of the Augustów Canal. In the interwar period, the city was hailed as the “Venice of the North” – the most popular holiday destination in the lowlands. Augustów as a resort is famous to this day.
Worth seeing are, among others, the Sigismund Augustus Market Square, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Old Post Office, the lock on the Augustów Canal and the Museum of the Augustów Canal.
We also recommend a boat trip on the Augustów lakes.