Karolewo

Karolewo, formerly known as Carlshof, is a settlement located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, within the administrative district of Kętrzyn. Established in the late 19th century as a workers' settlement, it was part of the Olsztyn Voivodeship from 1975 to 1998. In 1882, a Care Institution was opened here, run by the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, which by 1910 had around a thousand residents, including people with epilepsy and other conditions. The institution operated like a small town, with its own church and a farm that ensured self-sufficiency. During the interwar period, Karolewo was also the seat of a Preachers' Seminary. World War II brought a tragic turn of events; in 1939, the Gestapo shut down the institution, and many residents were subjected to euthanasia. After the war, Karolewo came under the control of the Soviet Army, and after their departure, archaeological collections from Königsberg were discovered in the church. The church, designed in the Neo-Gothic style, was consecrated in 1900 and was later dedicated to Catholic worship in 1949. In the 1970s, a parish was established, with St. Stanislaus Kostka as its patron. Karolewo also developed its educational institutions; an Agricultural School Complex has been operating here since 1948, and today it functions as the School Complex of Agricultural Education Centre. The settlement offers various public facilities, such as a shop, a park, a stadium, and a fire station. In 2000, 592 people lived here, and by 2016 the number had grown to 1,020. Karolewo is also notable for its rich cultural and historical heritage, which combines both Evangelical and Catholic traditions, creating a unique community profile.