Wopity is a small village in the municipality of Rychliki, near the former Rejsyty estate. Its local history can be explored in particular through historic trade routes, a railway line and the development of its name. Skarpeta (Strömpchen), a junction of several old routes, was located in the southern part of the village. This perspective connects the village’s location with its transport history: first, the routes that converged at Skarpeta, then the railway line that ran alongside an old trade route and changed its significance. Linden trees along another old road and former rides on horseback add landscape and leisure in the past to the picture.
Historic Trade Routes near Skarpeta
One trade route led from Myślice to the port on the Dzierzgonka in Stare Dolno. Another connection ran from the Komornictwo in Kiersyty towards Pasłęk or Dzierzgoń, and on to Elbląg. These different directions give the former crossroads a concrete context: on one side was the connection to the port, while on the other, routes led via Pasłęk or Dzierzgoń as far as Elbląg. Skarpeta was in the southern part of Wopity. This precise location helps place the crossroads within the village, while the names of the connected places show the reach of the trade routes. These were historic connections, not a single road leading to just one destination. What shaped the local history in particular was the interplay between the location and the different directions: Wopity appears as part of a network of routes that intersected at Skarpeta.
The Railway Line and the Changing Role of the Old Route
The Elbląg–Kwietniewo–Myślice railway line opened on 1 September 1893. Near Skarpeta, it ran directly alongside the old trade route. With the opening of the railway, the route lost significance. This makes it possible to place a change in transport history in its historical context: the old trade route and the railway line belong to different periods, but are directly connected geographically at the same location. The railway ran alongside the road, while its opening changed the route’s historic significance. The date, the name of the railway line and its connection to Skarpeta make this transition tangible. Together with the trade routes described above, this creates a clear timeline: first the crossroads, then the railway line and the decline in the old route’s significance. The change therefore concerns not just a single date, but also the role the route played in the history of the village.
Linden Trees and Former Rides on Horseback
Another old trade road led from Wopity towards Giśle (Geißeln) and Kiersyty (Kerschitten). Monumental linden trees stood along this road. In summer, their dense crowns once formed a cool, tunnel-like passage. The description of the linden trees adds the road’s former appearance to its history: the focus is on the trees and the canopy of shade they formed over the road, as described in the past. Some residents also used the old trade road for rides on horseback towards Giśle and Kiersyty. Two different aspects thus come together: the linden trees shape the traditional image of the road in summer, while the rides tell of former leisure activities enjoyed by some residents. Both are part of the old road’s history, without equating trade with leisure.
Wopity, Opitten and Opijowo
The place name, too, reflects several layers of history. Until 1945, Wopity was called Opitten. After the war, the village was colloquially known as “Opijowo” until around 1948; later, it was called Wopity. The sequence places the names in chronological order: Opitten belongs to the period up to 1945, Opijowo was the colloquial name used in the postwar period until around 1948, and Wopity is the later name. Together with the trade routes and railway line, this offers a way to explore the village’s history, connecting place names, transport links and past uses.
Discover more destinations: Pilona, Rychliki, Kadyny, Komorowo Żuławskie, Bogdaniec, Godkowo, Pasłęk, Plajny
For the main travel overview: Elbing.
