A few years ago, I was already planning a trip to Pułtusk to see this small town that so many people spoke highly of. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to go, as other destinations were also on my list, such as Bydgoszcz, Rzeszów, and Białystok. Eventually, the opportunity arose, and my wife and I finally paid a visit to Pułtusk.
This year, my wife celebrated an important milestone, and I decided to give her something unusual and a little crazy (perhaps not for everyone, but certainly for us), something she would remember for a long time. It took me quite a while to find the right gift, but eventually I found it on the Wyjątkowy Prezent website.
The gift that caught my attention was a Sightseeing Flight for Two – a 30-minute flight aboard a light Cessna aircraft. The flight was scheduled to depart from Grądy Airfield, located near Ostrów Mazowiecka, not far from Pułtusk.
At first, I considered staying overnight in Ostrów Mazowiecka, but I concluded that there would not be enough attractions to keep us busy. Instead, I booked accommodation through Booking.com at Hotel Baltazar, located fairly close to the town center. The attractive price, breakfast included, and available parking made it the obvious choice. In fact, accommodation options in Pułtusk are quite limited, as I only found three places to stay.
We booked both the flight and the hotel for October 1st and set off for Pułtusk around noon that day. Before our flight, scheduled for 4:00 PM, we wanted to check into the hotel and possibly have some time to explore the town.
We arrived at the hotel shortly before 2:00 PM, before check-in time. I went to the reception desk to ask whether we could check in early. Unfortunately, our room was not yet ready, but we were told it would be available in 10 to 15 minutes. We left the car in the hotel parking lot and went for a walk around town. It was the last warm weekend of the year, so spending our free time outdoors seemed like the perfect idea.
During our hour-long walk, we first came across the old and unfortunately now heavily vandalized open-air amphitheater on Baltazara Street. Nowadays, it seems to serve mainly as a place where local teenagers can “blow off steam.”
We then walked along Bernardyńska Street, passing between the renowned Piotr Skarga High School and the Gothic Collegiate Basilica of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, eventually reaching what is known as the longest paved market square in Europe.
The high school in Pułtusk is one of the oldest secondary schools in Poland. It was founded in 1440 by the Bishop of Płock, Paweł Giżycki. The building is enormous, and the surrounding wall looks more like it encloses a prison than a school. I wonder whether the students and alumni have the same association.
The basilica is only a few years younger than the school. Like the school, it was founded by Paweł Giżycki, in 1449. The church immediately catches the eye, which may be one reason why many young couples choose it as the location for their wedding ceremonies. Its white facade undoubtedly contributes to its appeal, especially since white is not typically associated with Gothic architecture.
The market square in Pułtusk is a unique place, although I personally think it is poorly organized. It consists of two sections separated by the Town Hall and its tower. Together, these sections form a somewhat chaotic arrangement.
The part closest to the basilica serves both commercial and parking purposes. Unfortunately, the colorful market stalls clash with the character of the historic cobbled square surrounded by renovated townhouses. In my opinion, the stalls should be standardized to better fit their surroundings, and parking should be relocated elsewhere.
The second section of the square is also largely used as a parking lot, though a small area is occupied by restaurants and beer gardens. As a result, outdoor seating areas stand right next to parked cars, creating an odd and somewhat mismatched atmosphere.
The Town Hall currently houses the Regional Museum. The building combines a Renaissance structure with a Gothic tower, creating an interesting architectural contrast. Inside, visitors can see archaeological artifacts discovered during excavations on the castle hill, relics of local craft guilds, old maps, and objects related to the folk culture of the White Forest region. Particularly interesting are fragments of the Pułtusk meteorite, which fell near the town in 1868.
At the eastern end of the market square, we found a small square with a fountain that looked particularly picturesque in the sunshine. Its setting adds to the charm: on one side stands the bishop’s castle, and on the other stretches the market square lined with historic buildings, although the atmosphere is somewhat spoiled by cars parked nearby.
Our next destination was the Renaissance-style Bishop’s Castle. Located on a small hill near the Narew River, the castle is surrounded by a park on the town side, making its elevated position less noticeable from a distance.
Today, under the name Dom Polonii, the castle serves as a hotel and recreation center. The grounds are open to visitors, although only the main gate remains open overnight, while the others are closed. This helps protect the site from vandalism, although the area still requires maintenance. In particular, the overgrown flowerbeds are not very attractive.
Initially, I wanted to book this hotel because it advertised a weekend package for two at a promotional price. However, after reading the fine print, I discovered that the advertised price was actually per person. A classic marketing trick.
On the river side of the castle, there is a marina where visitors can rent gondolas, kayaks, pedal boats, and rowing boats. It must be a fantastic attraction on warm summer days. There is also a tennis court nearby and a seasonal beer garden, as well as riverside pavilions overlooking the water.
Walking through the castle park and alongside the marina, we reached the gate near the newly built footbridge crossing the Narew River. It was the longest footbridge I had ever seen. At night it is illuminated in a simple yet elegant way. The bridge connects Popławy with Pułtusk and is clearly very useful, judging by the number of people using it.
Since we needed to return to the hotel to collect our room key, unpack our luggage, and then drive to our sightseeing flight, we headed back along Canal A. Small boats were moored along the entire length of the canal, all the way to Benedyktyńska Street. It was obvious that the locals enjoy spending their free time on the water.
Another pleasant detail we noticed were flower pots hanging from the railings of the bridges crossing the canal. It is a simple but brilliant idea that greatly improves the town’s appearance and makes walks along the canal more enjoyable.
After returning to the hotel, I collected the key and we quickly dropped off our luggage. The hotel looked well-maintained from the outside, and the interior was also quite pleasant. The room itself was nicely furnished. Unfortunately, there was one major problem: the overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke. I had never stayed in a hotel room that smelled so strongly of smoke. Even the Ibis hotel in Toruń had not smelled anywhere near as bad.
At that point, we had no time to request another room or find a different hotel. We simply had to endure it for one night. After leaving our belongings in the room, we got back into the car and headed toward Ostrów Mazowiecka for our long-awaited flight.
We travelled along national road 61 to the town of Różan, and then continued on road 60 toward Ostrów Mazowiecka. The road wound through rows of trees whose leaves had already turned golden with the changing season. It was one of those early Polish autumn days, full of golden colors, whose beauty would sadly be spoiled by rainfall just a few days later.
We reached the airfield in less than an hour. After checking in, we were asked to wait for the pilot, who still had to complete the necessary formalities. While waiting, we took a few photographs, filmed several shots, and watched the airplanes.
When the pilot, Mr. Mateusz Iwański, was ready, he escorted us to the aircraft, helped us fasten our seatbelts, showed us where the sickness bags were located in case we felt unwell, and handed us headsets for onboard communication. Once all the procedures were completed, it was finally time for the long-awaited flight.
The pilot began the engine start procedure, which unfortunately failed. The engine simply would not start. Our pilot and his colleague tried several times, even manually turning the propeller, but without success.
At that moment, we started wondering what we had gotten ourselves into. If the engine refused to start on the ground, what would happen if it stopped in mid-air? Our adrenaline levels rose before we had even left the ground. Thoughts crossed our minds about whether we should cancel the flight altogether.
We were asked to leave the aircraft because it became clear that the engine could not be started. It turned out that the previous pilot who had rented the plane had damaged the starter motor by engaging it while the engine was already running. All that remained was to wait for another aircraft.
After several minutes, we learned that all planes normally used for sightseeing flights were still in the air and would not be returning anytime soon. As a result, we would be flying in an aircraft usually used for skydiving operations. It was slightly larger than the previous one, so after an additional seat was installed, we were able to settle comfortably inside.
At last, it was time to leave the ground. The pilot started the engine. The noise level rose instantly. After checking the instruments, he received clearance and we taxied to the beginning of the runway. A few minutes later, we lifted into the sky and began admiring the world from a bird’s-eye view.
Only a few minutes after takeoff, we were already flying over Ostrów Mazowiecka. Shortly afterward, we reached Brok, where we admired the Bug River and its picturesque meanders. The scenery in that area was absolutely stunning.
Above Brok, we made a large circle and started heading back toward the airfield. The pilot made a hand gesture indicating that we would soon be descending and climbing. I smiled because earlier I had joked that he could perform a barrel roll.
A dozen minutes later, we were beyond the runway and began descending rapidly. We flew just above the runway when suddenly the pilot pulled the aircraft up at a steep angle. We were pressed firmly into our seats and felt slightly unwell for a moment, but fortunately it passed quickly. For people used to a rather quiet life, our adrenaline must have reached maximum levels. It was an incredible feeling.
We flew around to the far end of the airfield once more and this time began our landing approach. I had expected landing to be much rougher, but it was surprisingly smooth. The pilot did his best to ensure there was no hard impact with the runway.
It was my first flight and, so far, my last. However, I highly recommend such an experience to everyone at least once in their lifetime. A sightseeing flight not only reveals the beauty of the surrounding world but also provides an unforgettable thrill. It does not have to be with Grądy Airfield, but it is definitely worth experiencing because it remains in your memory for a very long time.
Personally, I can recommend the sightseeing flights organized by Targor-Truck Sp. z o.o. from Grądy Airfield. Professional pilots and a very friendly staff make you want to return. Judging by the many smiling customers coming back from their flights, we were not the only ones who felt that way. In addition to sightseeing flights, tandem skydiving jumps are also organized at this airfield. That must be an even greater adventure, so perhaps I will try it in the future.
After taking a moment to relax, we continued our journey. Our next stop was Pułtusk, where we left the car at the hotel and went looking for a place to spend the evening.
Once in Pułtusk, we searched for a bar or restaurant near the market square. It turned out that there were only three dining establishments to choose from. We visited all of them before finally settling on Magdalenka, where we ordered pizza, fries, and draft beer.
Magdalenka was a simple bar, and at first we worried that troublemakers might show up later, especially since there was a Legia Warsaw football match that day. Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened. Friendly people arrived, everyone was having a good time, and we enjoyed a tasty pizza and a pleasant evening.
After finishing our meal and drinks, we went for a walk around town. We spent some time at the marina and along the Narew River. We listened for a while to music drifting from the castle’s beer garden and, after a very enjoyable day, returned to the hotel for the night.
We started Sunday with a delicious breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Breakfast was included in the room rate. Afterward, we packed our belongings and drove to the market square to spend a little more time exploring the town and relaxing by the water.
On that warm October day, sitting beside the water in Pułtusk was a real pleasure. The sun provided gentle warmth, and the peaceful atmosphere was wonderfully relaxing. Spending free time outdoors is one of the best ways to unwind.
Soon it was time to move on. I still planned to visit Serock and Zegrze. Since both towns are located on Lake Zegrze, our day by the water was far from over.
We began our walk through Serock with a waffle and a cup of traditional filter coffee. Then we crossed the market square and headed to the pier, where we sat watching the water, sailboats, and occasionally the swans swimming toward people who were feeding them bread.
After a long and relaxing break, when more people started gathering by the waterfront, we followed Nadbrzeżny Boulevard toward Zegrze.
The boulevard is well designed, with benches placed at regular intervals, allowing visitors to sit and enjoy the view. Eventually, we reached Rybaki Street and began climbing toward the town center. Along the way, we came across the site of the former Barbarka stronghold. Today, only an earth mound remains, along with a model of the original fortification. From the top of the hill, visitors can enjoy views of the lake, although some of the scenery is partially hidden by trees.
The final destination of our trip was Zegrze. We stopped at the edge of town and did not actually explore the town itself. Instead, we headed straight for the lakeshore in search of a pleasant place to have lunch. Unfortunately, we found nothing particularly appealing.
It is easy to see that Zegrze attracts sailing enthusiasts. There were sailboats, motorboats, and other watercraft everywhere. At one point, I even found myself wondering how people in our supposedly modest country can afford such an expensive hobby.
Unlike Serock, however, we did not come across many places where visitors could simply sit and relax by the water. At least we did not find any, despite walking along the lakeshore from the main marina past the large ammunition bunker.
Between the marina and the bunker, we passed a small snack bar and eventually returned there for lunch. Although it was little more than a wooden kiosk, it occupied a fantastic location right beside the water. It also appeared to be quite popular, so we decided to stay. We ordered typical snack-bar food: hamburgers and fries.
Our wonderful weekend came to an end in Zegrze. During that warm October weekend, we experienced the thrill of a sightseeing flight and enjoyed plenty of time relaxing by the water. Now all that remained was to wait for the next adventure.
I still do not know where it will take us, but I think we will eventually visit Płock. It is not far from where we live and offers several interesting places that are definitely worth seeing.
Our Travels
I encourage you to read my posts about the trips I take with my wife, including our hikes to the peaks that make up the Crown of Polish Mountains. Descriptions of our journeys are available at: likoton.pl/en/category/podroze.
Leave a Reply