Iława

Iława is a town in the Masurian Lakeland of northern Poland, stretched along Lake Jeziorak and linked by several waterways to the surrounding lakes. The center sits on a gentle rise above the shore and includes a compact old town quarter, residential areas from different decades, and a network of parks and green spaces reaching down to the water.

The settlement appears in 13th-century records of the Teutonic Knights, who built a castle here and colonized the area after subduing the Old Prussian tribes. In the 15th century the town joined the Prussian Confederation and fought against the Order, before later falling under Polish and then Prussian rule again.

The local culture center hosts the Golden Tarka Festival every year, drawing jazz fans from several countries who fill outdoor stages along the old town streets during summer. The town's name comes from Lake Jeziorak, whose shoreline shaped the historic core where pedestrian lanes now lead past small cafés and shops.

The town lies about an hour by car from larger settlements and is well connected by regional roads that pass through forests and open fields. The railway station sits close to the center, and many sights are within walking distance, while bike paths along the lake offer a quiet way to explore the surroundings.

A short signal tune rings daily at noon from the town hall tower, composed by a local musician who wanted to express the town's connection to jazz with just a few notes. The melody shifts slightly with the seasons, as the tower clock is mechanically controlled and moves fractionally with temperature changes.