For a visit to Żuławki, architectural history, village layout and the Szkarpawa come together to create a clear theme. A two-kilometre walk follows a road parallel to the riverbank; along the way, you can see eight remarkable sites. The rural character of the village is also part of the picture. If you plan to explore on foot, this gives you a specific route, while the buildings and their history provide the cultural focus.
Mennonite Village History and Architecture
Żuławki and Drewnica are former Mennonite villages, separated by the Szkarpawa River. Both villages have unique ensembles of historic buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Several arcaded houses survive in Żuławki, including two that have been restored. One specific example is the arcaded house in the village: this Baroque-Classical building dates from the 18th century and underwent extensive alterations in 1825. The house reveals its original construction and subsequent extensive alterations as two distinct historical phases.
Nearby Drewnica adds another aspect to the architectural history: a 1718 grain mill of the “koźlak” (post mill) type stands there. For your visit, it is useful to distinguish the locations: the arcaded houses are in Żuławki, while the mill is in Drewnica. This makes it possible to compare buildings in the two neighbouring villages without attributing them to a single village.
Religious Traces in the Village Landscape
The religious history is also diverse. In the 16th century, Żuławki had three places of worship: a Catholic, a Lutheran and a Mennonite one. The village’s cultural landscape includes a Neo-Gothic Catholic church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a chapel and a Protestant cemetery. The former division into three denominations and the different buildings and places of remembrance offer several perspectives on the village’s history, extending the picture beyond residential architecture.
The Szkarpawa as a Point of Reference
The Szkarpawa is an important point of reference in the landscape. Near Żuławki, the Gdańska Głowa lock connects the Vistula with the Szkarpawa, which flows into the Vistula Lagoon. The river therefore serves different purposes for orientation: it separates Żuławki and Drewnica, while the lock connects it to the Vistula and the Vistula Lagoon marks the end of its course. The river’s location thus adds a distinct geographical dimension to the view of the villages and their architectural history.
Practical Information for Your Visit
The village has a grocery store and a marina for sailors. If you are travelling along the Szkarpawa, a stop at Marina Żuławki is recommended so you can explore the area. Check the current operating conditions in advance if you plan to use the marina. This gives you two different ways to plan your visit: the two-kilometre walk on land to see eight sites, and the recommended mooring point for travellers on the river.
Discover more destinations: Krynica Morska, Junoszyno, Jazowa, Stegna, Myszewko, Nowy Dwór Gdański, Jantar, Mikoszewo.
For the broader travel overview: Tiegenhof.
