Stara Rudówka

Stara Rudówka is a village in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, located in Giżycko County, within the administrative district of Ryn. It boasts a rich history dating back to the 16th century. Its origins are traced to October 11, 1550, when Andrzej and Paweł Ziperken were granted land to establish a feudal rent village. In the 18th century, Rudówka was known for its bog iron smelting, and the education of its inhabitants was fostered by local schools, including a Lutheran school operating between 1720 and 1740 and an Arian school from the late 17th century, where teaching was conducted in Polish. The main part of the village is a characteristic linear settlement (ulicówka), surrounded by hamlets, which acquired its name following the establishment of the neighboring Nowa Rudówka. In 1663, the village became the property of the poet and Arian Zbigniew Morsztyn, who invested in its development by building a manor house and a mill. Stara Rudówka was the site of synods of the Polish Brethren, underscoring its cultural significance in the region. After World War II, the village underwent dramatic changes, including Germanization campaigns that led to its name being changed to Alt-Hammerbruch in 1938. Before 1945, there were 48 residential buildings here, with remnants of 17th-century black kitchens. After the war, Rudówka became a place from which the Masurians disappeared, and the population declined. Cemeteries in the area, including burial sites for victims of World War II, bear witness to the village's turbulent history. The ruins of a Dutch windmill, which was in use until 1946, have also been preserved. Over the years, the village has undergone various transformations, and in 1976 the last elementary school was closed. Today, Rudówka is a place where tradition and history meet a new reality, and regional culture remains very much alive.