Żuławki: Village History, Arcaded Houses and Waterways

Żuławki combines a rural village layout with a history that can be read in its architecture and religious traces. The village and Drewnica are former Mennonite villages, separated by the Szkarpawa. Several themes can guide your exploration: the history of the villages, the architectural history of individual houses and the waterways. Together, they offer a way to discover Żuławki that goes beyond any single building.

The Szkarpawa and the waterways

The Szkarpawa separates Żuławki from Drewnica and flows into the Vistula Lagoon. Near Żuławki, the Gdańska Głowa lock connects the Vistula with the Szkarpawa. This places the lock within the context of the three waterways: the connection runs from the Vistula to the Szkarpawa, which flows on to the Vistula Lagoon. For travellers interested in waterways, this is a specific geographic landmark in the area around the village.

A walk through the rural village layout

A two-kilometre walk along a road running parallel to the riverbank offers another way to see Żuławki. Along the way, you can see eight notable sites. The walk sets these viewpoints within the context of the rural village layout rather than focusing on a single building. Its stated length gives the walk a clear scope for planning a visit; the road’s parallel course along the riverbank is also a useful orientation feature.

Arcaded houses and architectural history

Żuławki and Drewnica have unique ensembles of historic buildings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Several arcaded houses have also survived in Żuławki, including two that have been restored. The arcaded house in Żuławki is a Baroque-Classical building from the 18th century that underwent extensive alterations in 1825. Its construction date and alterations mark different stages: the century places the building in its historical period, while 1825 refers to its later, extensive modification. In nearby Drewnica stands a grain mill of the koźlak type, also known as a post mill, built in 1718. The architectural history therefore extends beyond individual houses to include a historic structure of this distinctive type of mill.

Religious traces in Żuławki

The religious history can also be viewed across several periods. In the 16th century, Żuławki had three places of worship: one Catholic, one Lutheran and one Mennonite. Other religious buildings and sites in the village include a Neo-Gothic Catholic church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a chapel and a Protestant cemetery. The historical number of places of worship gives an overview of the 16th century; the church, chapel and cemetery identify other specific religious features of the village.

Practical information

The village has a grocery shop and a marina for sailors. Those travelling on the Szkarpawa are advised to moor at the Żuławki Marina and explore the area. The shop is a useful landmark in the village; the mooring recommendation is specifically for travellers on the river. Village life and the waterway thus offer different starting points for exploring the area.

Discover more destinations: Kobyla Kępa, Jantar, Junoszyno, Krynica Morska, Nowa Cerkiew, Stegna, Sztutowo, Jazowa.

For the main travel overview: Nowy Dwór Gdański.