Bakałarzewo

The municipality of Bakałarzewo, located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship within Suwałki County, is a place rich in natural and cultural heritage. The seat of the municipal authorities is Bakałarzewo, and the area of the municipality encompasses many picturesque lakes, such as Głębokie, Karasiewek, and Okrągłe. An interesting feature of the landscape is the hills, the Rospuda River, and other smaller watercourses. The municipality is known for its tourist attractions, including bunkers from World War II, a 400-year-old altar in the local church, and monuments commemorating Bakałarz (the Teacher) and the Defenders of Bakałarzewo. Several educational trails, known as "the trails in Bakałarzewo," have been marked out in the municipality, including the Jatvingian Route with the Lovers' Bridge, as well as the patriotic and Jewish trails. It is also worth noting the local World War I cemeteries, the Jatvingian hillfort in Malinówka, and the remains of the Old Believers' prayer house in Aleksandrowo. The municipality offers tourist settlements where visitors can enjoy saunas, agritourism farms, and campsites. In 2014, the municipality celebrated the 500th anniversary of Bakałarzewo, which is an interesting part of its history. According to data from 2005, the area of the municipality is 123.01 km², of which almost 75% is agricultural land. In terms of demographics, the municipality has a diverse population structure, and its villages include Aleksandrowo, Gębalówka, Maryna, and Stare Chmielówka. Neighboring municipalities are Filipów, Olecko, Raczki, Suwałki, and Wieliczki. Bakałarzewo Municipality combines natural, historical, and cultural values, making it an attractive place for both tourists and residents.