Augustów

Augustów is a town in Podlaskie Voivodeship in northeastern Poland, stretching along the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. Nine lakes encircle the center, while the wide Augustów Primeval Forest lines the eastern side.

King Sigismund II Augustus founded the settlement in 1550 and granted it Magdeburg rights in 1557, naming it after himself. The canal was developed in the 19th century under Prussian rule to create a navigable link between the Vistula and Neman rivers.

The ring of lakes and waterways provides the setting for summer regattas and swimming contests that draw residents and visitors to the shore. The town takes its name from King Sigismund II Augustus, whose Polish first name is reflected in the local place name.

National roads 8, 16, and 61 connect the town to larger Polish centers and run through the surrounding forest area. The train station sits on the Sokółka–Suwałki line and offers connections in both directions along the route.

The canal extends 101 kilometers (63 miles) through Poland and Belarus and features a system of locks that allow boats to pass between the Vistula and Neman rivers. A wooden church from the 18th century stands in the center, one of the oldest surviving timber structures in the region.

Location: Augustów County

Inception: 1550

Founders: Sigismund II Augustus

Shares border with: Gmina Augustów, Gmina Nowinka, Gmina Płaska

Website: http://urzad.augustow.pl

GPS coordinates: 53.85000,22.96667

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02