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History
It is certain that in the place where Mikolajki are situated, there were some Old-Prussian settlements. Those times, Sniardwy, Mikolajskie, Luknajno lakes were one. Forests and bogs gave good defensive conditions. The first note concerning Mikolajki is dated on 1444. The village patron was St. Nicholas from the beginning. According to some legends, he was the patron saint of sailors and crossing. Near Mikolajki there was Koniec village, Kozlowo village was on other lakeside. People use boats for communication. In wintertime they went on ice. Not earlier than in 1516, they built the first wooden bridge which linked the two sides. It was set in today foot bridge place. It was based on a wooden support and lain near the water surface so that some kind of hatches had to be opened for bigger boats to pass.
Mikolajki was progressively growing. Unfortunately, it was hit by some calamities such as Black Death and plagues in fish and grain.
Mikolajki as a town
Mikolajki became a town in 1726, according with Frederyk Wilhelm King of Prussia's order. The town was divided into three parts, i.e. Targ, Koniec, Kozlowo. The first mayor was Kopetsch. Mikolajki had 850 residents then. The following years the town experienced fires after which it had to be rebuilt almost in the whole (1729, 1749, 1767). Some armies went through the town (Prussian-Russian War of 1756 – 1763, Napoleon's Campaign of 1807-1812). In 1932, a census was done. Mikolajki had 178 houses and 1948 residents whose jobs were in fishing, brewing, weaving and farming mainly. A new, stone bridge was build in 1834. It changed the old wooden one. People of East Prussia experienced both hunger and abundance in the 19th century. Some families ate acorn bread because of food scarsity of 1853 and 1858. In 1842, however, fishermen caught 2200 tons of fish near Dybowo and Luknajno. In the late 19th C. the interest in tourist attractions of Mazury became more popular. The King of Prussia Frederyk Wilhelm IV took the cruise from Ryn, through Mikolajki to Sniardwy and Beldany lakes on the board of Masovia, a steamer, in 1854. Masovia started regular cruising on Ryn – Mikolajki – Pisz line in 1843. Tourism was growing in Mikolajki. Max Rosenheim, the then Mikolajki visitor, said 'Mikolajki has 1600 residents, 10 distilleries and 25 inns'. Regular cruises on Mazury Great Lakes started in 1868. The Gizycko – Mikolajki line started in 1891. The road Mragowo – Mikolajki – Gizycko was built more less in the same time. The railway Olsztyn – Mragowo – Mikolajki – Orzysz was completed seven years later.
The 20th century
Mikolajki had 2267 residents in 1901. It became the goal of tourist visits. Some writers and journalists came there (Stefania Sempolowska, Alfons Mankowski, Roman Zwalinski) and wrote books and feature articles about Mazury and Mikolajki.
World War I stopped the town develpment. German army blew up the bridges. Mikolajki suffered much from the artillery, however it wasn't captured by Russian at all. The town rebuilding was an impulse for yet more changes. They built a big mill and sawmill in the harbour. In a couple of years time some guest houses, restaurants, cafes and sailing centres were established.
After the Nazi rule taking, the situation changed completely. Separation from Poland caused the trade collapse. Visitors stopped coming and terror appeared. The Nazi wanted to destroy every sign of Polishness. Mazury towns and villages were becoming poorer and poorer as the government maximum effort was on fortification system building and propaganda.
In 1935, Melchior Wankowicz visited Mikolajki (he published the impressions in his 'Na Tropach Smetka' a year later). Thanks to Wankowicz Mikolajki emblem name was changed to 'Sielawowy Krol'.
The World War II did not touch Mikolajki much, except for a lack of workforce because of the mobilisation. To counteract it, the Nazi government took forced workers from occupied Poland to work in the area. The end of the World War II was the key time of changes. East Prussia was included into Poland, some local people left and Polish settlers came.
Today Mikolajki
These days, the town is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mazury. The some 4000 people town is called Mazury Venice and it offers many attractions in every season of the year. In winter, you can catch fish under ice or sail an ice-boat. Wheras in summer, it is the time for water sports. You can participate in many regattas, or go walking, cycling, ride a horse, play tennis or do many others. Mikolajki invites you to check its sport and cultural attractions, excellent accomodation as well as to get to know the nature.
photos Robert Wróbel
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