Bartosze brings together two clearly distinct themes for a stay: a war cemetery with an older historical layer, and a nature reserve focused on the beaver and wetlands. When planning your trip, it is worth considering these themes separately. At the cemetery, history, layout and access via a staircase shape the visit; the nature theme is defined by a specifically named species, its habitat on the shore of Lake Szarek, and the protection of ecological processes. This can help you decide whether your time in Bartosze should focus primarily on cultural history or whether you would also like to consider its connection to wetlands.
Nature in Bartosze: Beavers and wetlands
The “Ostoja bobrów Bartosze” nature reserve is located in Bartosze. It protects the European beaver, which lives in marshy terrain on the shore of Lake Szarek. The nature theme is therefore tied to a specific animal species and its habitat. The “Bartosze” nature reserve covers 190.46 hectares; its conservation objective was established in 2018 and is to preserve and protect ecological processes in wetlands. The area and conservation objective provide different perspectives: one describes the size of the reserve, while the other sets out the aim of wetland protection. The beaver and its marshy shoreline habitat make species protection tangible; the conservation objective broadens the focus to ecological processes in wetlands. Your choice is therefore not just about the natural environment itself, but also whether you are particularly interested in a protected species or in the broader protection of wetlands.
War cemetery: History and layout
The starting point for the war cemetery in Bartosze was a small First World War cemetery named “Golgota Prus Wschodnich.” Eighty-four German soldiers were buried there. The first people buried there had taken part in the so-called Winter Battle of Masuria in February 1915. Three large, highly visible crosses define the overall layout of this First World War cemetery. This history should be distinguished from that of the later war cemetery: according to the German War Graves Commission, around 20,000 Second World War dead rest at the German soldiers’ cemetery in Bartossen (Bartosze). The cemetery was established through cooperation between the Polish Pamięć Foundation and the German War Graves Commission in Kassel. It was inaugurated on 9 August 2003. The timeline thus leads from the small First World War cemetery to the later site, whose connection to the Second World War is also reflected in the markers on the grave sections.
Design and access
The cemetery is situated on a plateau, covers around five hectares and can be reached by a staircase. This access arrangement is a practical consideration when planning your visit; the stated area also gives you a general idea of the site’s size. Groups of symbolic crosses mark the grave sections of those who died in the Second World War. A rest area is located by the access road, offering views of three large, highly visible wooden crosses. The perimeter wall is made of natural stone and incorporates elements of East Prussian architecture. The site is therefore shaped by several features: the historical background of those buried there, the orientation provided by the symbolic crosses, and an architectural connection to the region. Visitors interested in the design will find both a clear arrangement of the grave sections and a specified architectural reference.
Choose the focus of your stay
To understand Bartosze, it helps to compare the two themes: the war cemetery offers a clear historical timeline and specific features of its layout; the nature conservation theme focuses on the European beaver, its habitat on Lake Szarek and the protection of ecological processes in wetlands. You can plan your stay around your interest in history or nature conservation without combining the two themes into one.
Discover more destinations: Orzechowo, Stare Juchy, Rękusy, Mrozy Wielkie, Szeligi, Ełk, Kalinowo, Bogusze
For the broader travel overview: Lyck.
