Silginy

Silginy, formerly known as Zelginy, is a village located in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, with a rich history dating back to 1422, when it was established as a knight's estate. The place held strategic importance, situated between the castle in Barciany and the guard post in Sępopol. Initially, the village belonged to the Teutonic Order. Over the centuries, it changed owners, including the von Kreytzen family and the counts von und zu Egloffstein, who owned around 1,300 hectares of land here in the 19th century. In 1836, a neoclassical palace was built, set within a landscape-style park and inspired by Italian palace architecture. After World War II, the palace passed into the hands of various institutions but gradually fell into ruin. Today, only the ruins of the palace and other farm buildings remain. Silginy was once home to a dairy, a school, and a shop, all of which eventually ceased to exist. Interestingly, in the 19th century, two oxbow lakes were created as a result of land drainage works, which now serve as village ponds. The village also witnessed significant demographic changes after the war, when it was settled by displaced persons from the Vilnius region and Ukrainian populations as part of Operation Vistula. The surviving historical monuments include the palace ruins, a neglected park, a brick bridge over the Liwna River, and several half-timbered houses. Despite its ruins and decay, Silginy carries a rich history and interesting architectural heritage.