Mragowo

Szestno, formerly known as Seehesten, is a village located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in Mrągowo County, distinguished by its rich history and architecture. Situated between Juno and Salęt lakes, the village boasts several valuable monuments, including a late Gothic church and the ruins of a Teutonic Gothic castle. Originally built of wood in the 14th century, the castle was later reconstructed in brick. After the secularization of the Teutonic Order in 1525, Szestno became the seat of the starostwo (district administration). In the 16th century, the village began to decline in importance in favor of nearby Mrągowo, which obtained town rights. The church, constructed in the second half of the 15th century, underwent numerous changes, including reconstruction after a fire in 1618. It features a Baroque interior and a Mannerist altar with statues of saints. Elements of the parish cemetery have also been preserved. Szestno was also home to a Classicist manor from the second half of the 19th century, surrounded by a landscape park, which served as the center of the former Teutonic farmstead. After World War II, the estate passed into private hands, and its buildings were repurposed for office and residential use. Szestno is a place where Polish and German cultural influences intertwine, highlighted by the presence of former parishes and a diversity of historical monuments. The castle ruins and preserved elements of historical structures serve as valuable testaments to local history, dating back to medieval times and the era of the Teutonic Knights.