Olsztynek

Coat of arms

Olsztynek

Country

Area

• Total

7.69 km² (2.97 sq mi)

Population (2006)

• Total

7,591

• Density

990/km² (2,600/sq mi)

Postal code

11-015

Website

Olsztynek [ɔlʂˈtɨnɛk] (German: Hohenstein) is a town in Olsztyn County, in Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship of Poland. It is the administrative seat of Gmina Olsztynek.

Olsztynek is located about 28 km (17 mi) south of Olsztyn in the western part of the Masurian Lake District, where it borders on the Prussian Uplands (Prusy Górne), part of the Baltic Uplands.

Olzstynek station is a stop on the railway line from Olsztyn to Działdowo. The expressway S7 running from Gdańsk via Olsztynek to Warsaw, currently under construction, is part of the European route E77. A direct link to Olsztyn will be provided by the expressway S51

Several decades after the subjugation of the Old Prussians, Hohenstein Castle was erected from 1351 to colonize the Sasna lands at the behest of Günter von Hohenstein, Komtur of the Teutonic Knights at Osterode commandry. A parish church was mentioned for 1348. Grand Master Winrich von Kniprode granted the surrounding settlement town privileges according to Kulm law in 1359. Olsztynek became the seat of the local administration within the State of the Teutonic Order.