Augustow

Augustów, a town located in north-eastern Poland, is positioned along the banks of the Netta River and the Augustów Canal. With 29,305 people living in this little community spread across 80.90 square kilometers as of June 2022. Acting as the seat of Gmina Augustów and Augustów County within the Podlaskie Voivodeship, the town has developed into a multifarious location combining industrial strength with natural appeal.

Augustów first became known as a health and leisure destination in 1970 when it was formally given this unique reputation. This acknowledgement was reinforced in 1973 when nearby towns were included into the town, therefore offering a larger and more attractive resort location. Augustów’s strategic location, therapeutic services, and natural beauty have combined to make it a top choice for those looking for wellness as well as leisure.

The booming shipbuilding sector in Augustów is one of the pillars of her economy. Among the biggest companies of their type in Poland, the town has the Balt Yacht and Ślepsk yacht shipyards. These shipyards, which mostly export their output to Western European markets, have international reputation. Augustów’s maritime business is not confined to these big companies; smaller shipyards like Texas and Mirage also support the local economy. The town also has boat and kayak builders as well as material providers like Demex and Brunswick Marines, therefore reinforcing its standing as a center for watercraft manufacture.

Augustów’s industrial scene spans more than shipbuilding. The town welcomed the opening of an industrial tobacco plant in 1951; now, it is a major source of local income. Currently run by British American Tobacco, this facility generates several globally known cigarette brands including Nevada, Vogue, Viceroy, Kent, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall. Apart from creating job possibilities, the existence of this plant emphasizes the historical link of the area to tobacco farming, especially with regard to the mahorka variety.

The presence of a road firm, APB SA/BMTI and a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, POM, diversifies Augustów’s industrial sector even more. These businesses support the economic stability of the town by means of their necessary services to the sectors of infrastructure and agriculture. With a popular “Augustowianka” water produced by a carbonated water plant and a fish farm profiting on the region’s plenty of water supplies, the food sector also contributes to the local economy.

The town’s close proximity to forested areas has inevitably resulted in the growth of a lumber business. Using the simple access to raw materials, small-scale sawmills and carpentry workshops abound across the landscape. Operating since 1916, a big sawmill is evidence of the lifetime of this sector in Augustów. Although some businesses have had difficulties over time—such as the closing of a silicate brickyard and a shoe manufacturer—the general industrial base is strong and varied.

Augustów’s economy and character revolve around tourism in great part. Considered as the most significant tourist and pleasure center in the Augustów Forest, the town has made great use of its natural resources to generate a vibrant visitor business. With their many water-based activities and attractions, the several lakes in the area attract most visitors. Renting water equipment, immaculate beaches, and unusual experiences including a 740-meter long water ski track are just a few of the offerings for guests. Originally a marvel of 19th-century engineering, the Augustów Canal is now a popular path for seasonal visitor excursions so that guests may leisurely explore the rivers of the area.

Pope John Paul II’s choice to spend his “Day of Rest” at Augustów during his 7th apostolic visit to Poland on June 9, 1999, added even more interest to the town as a tourist destination. The Pope’s visit—which featured boating on the lakes and the Augustów Canal—brought the town’s natural beauty and leisure opportunities international recognition.

Augustów keeps adding more travel options, concentrating especially on summer attractions. The town comes alive in the warm months with lots of concerts and outdoor activities, therefore generating a lively environment for both people living here and visitors. Attracting participants and viewers from all throughout the nation, the Polish Championships in “Swimming on Anything,” held in Augustów at the end of July, is among the most unusual and fun yearly events.

The town’s identity and economy depend much on its reputation as a health resort. Augustów provides rheumatological therapies, peripheral vascular disorders, orthopedic and traumatic illness specific treatments, and osteoporosis. Adding to the town’s therapeutic offers, the health resort area features recorded peats from the “Kolnica” deposit, which are categorized as basic medicinal minerals.

Visitors of the health resort zone will find a natural medicine centre and a separate sanatorium. Comprising a 1000-meter long exercise path, the spa park of the Augustów health resort offers visitors chances for mild exercise in a peaceful setting. The town started its path to become a fully-fledged health resort in 1971 when it was acknowledged as having partial privileges for a health resort. In 1993, Augustów’s classification was raised to full health resort status, therefore reinforcing its reputation as a wellness destination.

Operating on the shores of Lake Necko since 1976, the Augustów Health Resort has become particularly specialized in peat compresses. This special treatment provides guests with a different and efficient kind of natural therapy by using the natural medicinal qualities of the local peat.