Editing Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship

{{Short description|Province in Poland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship
| native_name        = Województwo warmińsko-mazurskie
| native_name_lang   = pl
| settlement_type    = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 150px
| image_flag         = POL województwo warmińsko-mazurskie flag.svg
| flag_border        = no
| image_blank_emblem = Woiwodschaft Ermland-Masuren.png
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Brandmark]]
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
| image_shield       = Warminsko-mazurskie_herb.svg
| image_map          = Warmian-Masurian in Poland (+rivers).svg
| map_caption        = Location within Poland
| image_map1         = Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship administrative map.svg
| map_caption1       = Division into [[powiat|counties]]
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = Poland
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Olsztyn]]
| parts_type         = [[Powiat|Counties]]
| parts              = 2 cities, 19 land counties *
| p1                 = [[Elbląg]]
| p2                 = [[Olsztyn]]
| p3                 = [[Bartoszyce County]]
| p4                 = [[Braniewo County]]
| p5                 = [[Działdowo County]]
| p6                 = [[Elbląg County]]
| p7                 = [[Ełk County]]
| p8                 = [[Giżycko County]]
| p9                 = [[Gołdap County]]
| p10                = [[Iława County]]
| p11                = [[Kętrzyn County]]
| p12                = [[Lidzbark County]]
| p13                = [[Mrągowo County]]
| p14                = [[Nidzica County]]
| p15                = [[Nowe Miasto County]]
| p16                = [[Olecko County]]
| p17                = [[Olsztyn County]]
| p18                = [[Ostróda County]]
| p19                = [[Pisz County]]
| p20                = [[Szczytno County]]
| p21                = [[Węgorzewo County]]
| governing_body     = [[Voivodeship executive board|Executive board]]
| leader_title1      = [[Voivodes of Poland (since 1999)|Voivode]]
| leader_name1       = [[Radosław Król]] ([[Polish People's Party|PSL]])
| leader_title2      = [[Voivodeship marshal|Marshal]]
| leader_name2       = [[Marcin Kuchciński]] ([[Civic Platform|PO]])
| leader_title3      = [[European Parliament|EP]]
| leader_name3       = [[Podlaskie and Warmian-Masurian (European Parliament constituency)|Podlaskie and Warmian–Masurian]]
| coor_pinpoint      = Olsztyn
| coordinates        = {{Coord|53|47|N|20|30|E|type:city_region:PL-28|display=inline}}
| area_total_km2     = 24191.8
| total_type         = Total
| population_total   = 1425967
| population_as_of   = 2019
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban   = 844177
| population_blank1_title = Rural
| population_blank1  = 581790
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €18.441 billion (2023)
| demographics1_title2 = Per capita
| demographics1_info2 = €14,100 (2023)
| blank_name_sec2 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec2 = 0.848<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/POL/?levels=1%2B4&interpolation=1&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0&years=2019|title=Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI - Global Data Lab|website=globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=13 December 2021|publisher=[[Radboud University Nijmegen]]}}</ref><br/>{{color|green|very high}} · [[List of Polish voivodeships by Human Development Index|16th]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = Primary airport
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Olsztyn-Mazury Airport]]
| blank2_name_sec2 = [[Highways in Poland|Highways]]
| blank2_info_sec2 = [[File:S5-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S5 (Poland)]] [[File:S7-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S7 (Poland)]] [[File:S16-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S16 (Poland)]] [[File:S22-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S22 (Poland)]] [[File:S51-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S51 (Poland)]] [[File:S61-PL.svg|32px|link=Expressway S61 (Poland)]]
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:PL|PL-28]]
| registration_plate = [[Polish car number plates|N]]
| website = {{URL|www.olsztyn.uw.gov.pl}}
| footnotes = * further divided into 116 [[gmina]]s
* [[NUTS statistical regions of Poland|NUTS 2]]: PL62
}}

'''Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship'''{{efn|{{langx|pl|Województwo warmińsko-mazurskie}}, {{IPA|pl|vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ varˈmij̃skɔ maˈzurskʲɛ|pron|LL-Q809 (pol)-Poemat-województwo warmińsko-mazurskie.wav}}.}} is a [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeship]] ([[Administrative divisions of Poland|province]]) in northeastern [[Poland]]. Its capital and largest city is [[Olsztyn]]. The voivodeship has an area of {{convert|24192|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} and in 2019 had a population of 1,425,967.

Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship was created on 1 January 1999 from the entire [[Olsztyn Voivodeship]], the western half of [[Suwałki Voivodeship]], and part of [[Elbląg Voivodeship]], pursuant to the [[Polish local government reforms]] adopted in 1998. The province's name derives from two historic regions, [[Warmia]] and [[Masuria]], although also parts of other regions are located within the province, i.e. of [[Chełmno Land]], [[Powiśle (region)|Powiśle]], [[Mazovia]], [[Bartia]] and [[Natangia]].

The province borders [[Podlaskie Voivodeship]] to the east, [[Masovian Voivodeship]] to the south, [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]] to the southwest, [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]] to the west, the [[Vistula Lagoon]] to the northwest, and the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] (an [[exclave]] of Russia) to the north.

== History ==
The region was originally inhabited by several pagan [[Old Prussians|Old Prussian]] clans, including the [[Bartians]], [[Pogesanians]] and [[Warmians]], from whom the name ''Warmia'' originated. During the northern Crusade, the Old Prussians were conquered by the Catholic [[Teutonic Order]]; their land was granted to the order by the pope, and the region became part of the theocratic [[State of the Teutonic Order]]. The Order encouraged colonization by German settlers in Warmia (''[[Ostsiedlung]]'') and Polish colonists from the region of [[Masovia]], called [[Masurians]] (''Mazurzy''), hence the name [[Masuria]]. The Old Prussians were heavily decimated during the crusade and the following revolt. What remained of them became Christianized and assimilated into the newcomers and thus became extinct.

[[File:Jan Matejko, Bitwa pod Grunwaldem.jpg|thumb|left|[[Battle of Grunwald]], painting by [[Jan Matejko]] (1878)]]

During the Teutonic rule, the region experienced a process of urbanization and economic boost due to the expansion of the [[Hanseatic League]] into the region. The Order later attacked their former ally [[Kingdom of Poland (1025-1385)|Poland]] and conquered the region of [[Pomerelia]], beginning a long-lasting conflict with Poland, which subsequently entered into an alliance with [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|Lithuania]]. In Masuria, the Poles and Lithuanians defeated the Order at the [[Battle of Grunwald]]. The wars eventuated in a rebellion by the urban populations of Pomerelia and Warmia, who were affected by the Teutons' numerous wars; upon the urban populations' request, the region was incorporated into Poland by King [[Casimir IV Jagiellon]], and after the [[Thirteen Years' War (1454–1466)|Thirteen Years' War]] it remained under Polish suzerainty, but was divided into two parts: [[Elbląg]] and [[Prince-Bishopric of Warmia|Warmia]] were incorporated directly into the Kingdom of Poland, while Masuria became a Polish [[fief]] under the control of the Teutonic Order, also considered an integral part of "one and indivisible" Kingdom of Poland.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Górski|first=Karol|title=Związek Pruski i poddanie się Prus Polsce: zbiór tekstów źródłowych|year=1949|publisher=Instytut Zachodni|location=Poznań|pages=96–97, 214–215|language=pl}}</ref>
[[File:Elbląg- miedzioryt z XVIII wieku.jpg|thumb|left|[[Elbląg]] was one of the main port cities of the [[Crown of the Kingdom of Poland|Kingdom of Poland]] and one of the largest and most influential cities in the entire [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].]]
The state of the Teutonic Order ceased to exist in 1525 when Grandmaster [[Albert, Duke of Prussia|Albert Hohenzollern]] introduced secularisation, proclaimed the [[Duchy of Prussia]], and became a vassal of [[Sigismund I of Poland]]. The Prussian Hohenzollern line became extinct in 1618 with the death of Albert Frederick, and the Duchy was inherited by the Brandenburgian line; Prussia simultaneously entered into a [[personal union]] with the electorate of Brandenburg known as [[Brandenburg-Prussia]], remaining under Polish suzerainty until the [[Treaty of Oliva]] in 1660. The throne was inherited by Frederick I of Prussia who wanted to unite the Duchy with Brandenburg and also wanted to proclaim himself king of Prussia and therefore participated in the Russian-initiated [[Partitions of Poland]] in which Warmia was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia, and henceforth became part of the newly established province of [[East Prussia]]. Together with the rest of the Kingdom, the region became part of the North German Confederation and the [[German Empire]].

[[File:Działdowo - Monument to victims of KL Soldau.jpg|thumb|Monument to victims of the German Nazi [[Soldau concentration camp]] in [[Działdowo]]]]

In 1914, the province turned into a battlefield, seeing notable battles such as the [[Battle of Tannenberg]] as part of the [[Eastern Front (World War I)|Eastern Front]] of [[World War I]]. Later, the region became part of the [[Weimar Republic]], and [[Nazi Germany]], whereas some areas in the south became again part of Poland, following the restoration of its independence in 1918. In the interbellum, the Polish population was subjected to persecution from both the pre-Nazi and Nazi authorities of Germany. With the German [[invasion of Poland]] at the start of [[World War II]] in 1939, the Germans eventually carried out mass arrests of local Poles, shut down or seized Polish newspapers and libraries,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Cygański|first=Mirosław|year=1984|title=Hitlerowskie prześladowania przywódców i aktywu Związków Polaków w Niemczech w latach 1939-1945|journal=Przegląd Zachodni|language=pl|issue=4|pages=41–42}}</ref> and occupied the pre-war Polish areas of the present-day province, in which they established the [[Soldau concentration camp]], and carried out massacres of Poles, including at [[Bratian]], [[Nawra, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Nawra]], [[Malinowo, Działdowo County|Malinowo]] and [[Komorniki, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Komorniki]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Wardzyńska|first=Maria|year=2009|title=Był rok 1939. Operacja niemieckiej policji bezpieczeństwa w Polsce. Intelligenzaktion|language=pl|location=Warsaw|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|IPN]]|pages=177, 228–229, 235–236}}</ref> Several subcamps of the [[Stutthof concentration camp]] were located in the region. [[Stalag I-B]], a major [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|German prisoner-of-war camp]] for Polish, Belgian, [[French prisoners of war in World War II|French]], [[Italian Military Internees|Italian]], Serbian and Soviet POWs,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Megargee|first1=Geoffrey P.|last2=Overmans|first2=Rüdiger|last3=Vogt|first3=Wolfgang|year=2022|title=The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Encyclopedia of Camps and Ghettos 1933–1945. Volume IV|publisher=Indiana University Press, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|page=390|isbn=978-0-253-06089-1}}</ref> and [[Wolf's Lair]], [[Adolf Hitler]]'s first [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Eastern Front]] military headquarters were located in Masuria. After the end of World War II, the German population was expelled in accordance with the [[Potsdam Agreement]], whereas many Masurians emigrated in the following decades.

===Ethnic and religious structure===
In year 1824, shortly before its [[Province of Prussia|merger]] with [[West Prussia]], the population of East Prussia was 1,080,000 people.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://obc.opole.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=8541|title=Jeografia wschodniéy części Europy czyli Opis krajów przez wielorakie narody słowiańskie zamieszkanych: obejmujący Prussy, Xsięztwo Poznańskie, Szląsk Pruski, Gallicyą, Rzeczpospolitę Krakowską, Krolestwo Polskie i Litwę|last=Plater|first=Stanisław|publisher=u Wilhelma Bogumiła Korna|year=1825|location=Wrocław|pages=17|language=pl}}</ref> Of that number, according to [[Karl Andree]], Germans were slightly more than half, while 280,000 (~26%) were [[Polish people|ethnically Polish]] and 200,000 (~19%) were [[Prussian Lithuanians|ethnically Lithuanian]],<ref name="Karl Andree">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xgUEAAAAYAAJ&pg=P218|title=Polen: in geographischer, geschichtlicher und culturhistorischer Hinsicht|last1=Andree|first1=Karl|publisher=Verlag von Ludwig Schumann|year=1831|page=218|language=de}}</ref> however large portions of its German and Lithuanian populations lived in the northern half of the region, outside of the present Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship. As of year 1819 there were also some 2,400 Jews, according to Georg Hassel.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Statistischer Umriß der sämmtlichen europäischen und der vornehmsten außereuropäischen Staaten, in Hinsicht ihrer Entwickelung, Größe, Volksmenge, Finanz- und Militärverfassung, tabellarisch dargestellt; Erster Heft: Welcher die beiden großen Mächte Österreich und Preußen und den Deutschen Staatenbund darstellt|last=Hassel|first=Georg|publisher=Verlag des Geographischen Instituts Weimar|year=1823|pages=41|language=de}}</ref> Similar numbers are given by [[August von Haxthausen]] in his 1839 book, with a breakdown by county.<ref name="Haxthausen">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gsj1FBg0gvUC&pg=PA75|title=Die Ländliche Verfassung in den Einzelnen Provinzen der Preussischen Monarchie|last1=Haxthausen|first1=August|year=1839|pages=75–91|language=de}}</ref> But the majority of East Prussian Polish and Lithuanian inhabitants were [[Lutheranism|Lutherans]], not [[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholics]] like their ethnic kinsmen across the border in the [[Russian Empire]]. Only in Southern [[Warmia]] [[Catholic Church in Poland|Catholic Poles]] – so called [[Warmiak]]s (not to be confused with predominantly [[Masurians|Protestant Masurians]]) – comprised the majority of population, numbering 26,067 people (~81%) in [[Landkreis Allenstein|county Allenstein]] (Polish: [[Olsztyn]]) in 1837.<ref name="Haxthausen"/> Another minority in 19th-century East Prussia, were ethnically Russian Old Believers, also known as [[Philipons|Philipponnen]] – their main town was Eckersdorf ([[Wojnowo, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Wojnowo]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wojnowo.net/wojnowo-history|title=Monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Wojnowo (Eckersdorf)|website=wojnowo.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Die Slawen in Deutschland: beiträge zur volkskunde der Preussen, Litauer und Letten, der Masuren und Philipponen, der Tschechen, Mährer und Sorben, Polaben und Slowinzen, Kaschuben und Polen|last=Tetzner|first=Franz|publisher=Verlag von F. Vieweg|year=1902|location=Braunschweig|pages=212–248}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.inne-jezyki.amu.edu.pl/Frontend/Language/Details/28|title=Old Believers in Poland – historical and cultural information|website=Poland's Linguistic Heritage}}</ref> The Polish population was subjected to [[Germanisation of Poles during the Partitions|Germanisation]] and ''[[Kulturkampf]]'' policies.

In year 1817, East Prussia had 796,204 [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christians]], 120,123 [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]], 864 [[Mennonites]] and 2,389 Jews.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb10001094?page=57|title=Übersicht der Bodenfläche und Bevölkerung des Preußischen Staates : aus den für das Jahr 1817 mtlich eingezogenen Nachrichten|last=Hoffmann|first=Johann Gottfried|publisher=Decker|year=1818|location=Berlin|pages=51}}</ref>

The Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship has the largest number of ethnic [[Ukrainian minority in Poland|Ukrainians living in Poland]]<ref>{{in lang|pl}} [http://www.mswia.gov.pl/portal/pl/61/37/ Mniejszości narodowe i etniczne w Polsce] on the pages of [[Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration]]. Retrieved on 9 September 2007</ref> due to forced relocations (such as [[Operation Vistula]]) carried out by the Soviet and [[Polish Communist]] authorities.

[[Pasłęk]] in the western part of the voivodeship is considered the first place in present-day Poland where [[Dutch people|Dutch]] immigrants settled (in 1297).<ref>{{cite book|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich, Tom III |url=https://archive.org/details/slownik-3 |year=1882|language=pl |location=Warszawa |publisher=nakł. Filipa Sulimierskiego i Władysława Walewskiego |page=96}}</ref> There is a claim that they were participants in the killing of [[Floris V, Count of Holland]] in 1296, who then fled east, which is alluded to by Dutch poet [[Joost van den Vondel]] in his work ''Gijsbrechcie van Aemstel'' (1637).<ref>{{cite book|last=Morciniec|first=Norbert|title=Historia literatury niderlandzkiej do końca 19. wieku|year=2019|language=pl|publisher=Oficyna Wydawnicza ATUT|location=Wrocław|page=106|isbn=978-83-7977-424-1}}</ref>

== Cities and towns ==
[[File:Olsztyn 2023 015.jpg|thumb|[[Olsztyn]] is the capital of the Voivodeship and the largest city of [[Warmia]]]]
[[File:SM Elbląg Brama Targowa (1) ID 644716 (cropped).jpg|thumb|The former [[Royal city in Poland|royal city]] of [[Elbląg]] is the largest city in the western part of the Voivodeship, and largest city of [[Powiśle (region)|Powiśle]]]]
[[File:Ełk i Ełk 003.jpg|thumb|[[Ełk]] is the largest city of [[Masuria]]]]
[[File:Skyline of Ostróda.jpg|thumb|[[Ostróda]] is the largest city in the western part of Masuria]]
[[File:Mikołajki miasto.jpg|thumb|[[Mikołajki]] with its well-known marina]]

{{historical populations|1988|1397997|2002|1428357|2011|1452147|2021|1382232|align=right|cols=1|source=<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistics Poland - National Censuses|url=https://bdl.stat.gov.pl/bdl/dane/podgrup/temat/}}</ref>}}The Voivodeship contains three cities and 47 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2019):<ref name="population">{{Cite web|last=GUS|title=Population. Size and structure and vital statistics in Poland by territorial division in 2019. As of 30th June|url=https://stat.gov.pl/en/topics/population/population/population-size-and-structure-and-vital-statistics-in-poland-by-territorial-division-in-2019-as-of-30th-june,3,26.html|access-date=11 September 2020|website=stat.gov.pl|language=en}}</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
'''Cities (governed by a city mayor or ''prezydent miasta''): '''
# [[Olsztyn]] (172,194)
# [[Elbląg]] (119,760)
# [[Ełk]] (62,006)

'''Towns:'''
# [[Iława]] (33,322)
# [[Ostróda]] (32,947)
# [[Giżycko]] (29,335)
# [[Kętrzyn]] (27,212)
# [[Bartoszyce]] (23,482)
# [[Szczytno]] (23,267)
# [[Mrągowo]] (21,656)
# [[Działdowo]] (21,279)
# [[Pisz]] (19,277)
# [[Braniewo]] (17,040)
# [[Olecko]] (16,442)
# [[Lidzbark Warmiński]] (15,728)
# [[Morąg]] (13,793)
# [[Nidzica]] (13,762)
# [[Gołdap]] (13,716)
# [[Pasłęk]] (12,160)
# [[Węgorzewo]] (11,328)
# [[Nowe Miasto Lubawskie]] (10,891)
# [[Biskupiec]] (10,598)
# [[Lubawa]] (10,387)
# [[Dobre Miasto]] (10,208)
# [[Orneta]] (8,772)
# [[Lidzbark]] (7,794)
# [[Olsztynek]] (7,561)
# [[Barczewo]] (7,513)
# [[Susz]] (5,560)
# [[Orzysz]] (5,546)
# [[Reszel]] (4,532)
# [[Ruciane-Nida]] (4,454)
# [[Korsze]] (4,206)
# [[Biała Piska]] (4,024)
# [[Górowo Iławeckie]] (3,951)
# [[Mikołajki]] (3,826)
# [[Jeziorany]] (3,190)
# [[Wielbark, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Wielbark]] (3,035)
# [[Ryn]] (2,851)
# [[Pieniężno]] (2,721)
# [[Tolkmicko]] (2,689)
# [[Miłakowo]] (2,548)
# [[Pasym]] (2,503)
# [[Miłomłyn]] (2,436)
# [[Bisztynek]] (2,370)
# [[Frombork]] (2,332)
# [[Zalewo]] (2,145)
# [[Kisielice]] (2,098)
# [[Sępopol]] (1,958)
# [[Młynary]] (1,772)
}}

== Administrative division ==
[[Image:Olsztyn, ul. Emilii Plater 1.jpg|thumb|Warmian-Masurian Provincial Assembly building in [[Olsztyn]]]]

Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship is divided into 21 counties ([[powiat]]y): two city counties and 19 land counties. These are further divided into 116 [[gmina]]s.

The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population).

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-bgcolor="D0D8DD"
| align="center"|'''English and<br /> Polish names'''
| align="center"|'''Area<br /> <small>(km<sup>2</sup>)</small>'''
| align="center"|'''Population<br /> <small>(2019)</small>'''
| align="center"|'''Seat'''
| width="30%" align="center"|'''Other towns'''
| align="center"|'''Total<br /> [[gmina]]s'''
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|colspan=6|'''City counties'''
|-
| [[Olsztyn]]
| align="right"|88
| align="right"|172,194
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-
| [[Elbląg]]
| align="right"|80
| align="right"|119,760
| colspan=2 |
| align="center"|1
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|colspan=6|'''Land counties'''
|-
|[[Olsztyn County]]<br /> powiat olsztyński
| align="right"| 2,840
| align="right"|126,334
|[[Olsztyn]] *
|[[Dobre Miasto]], [[Biskupiec]], [[Olsztynek]], [[Barczewo]], [[Jeziorany]]
| align="center"|12
|-
|[[Ostróda County]]<br /> powiat ostródzki
| align="right"| 1,765
| align="right"|104,526
|[[Ostróda]]
|[[Morąg]], [[Miłakowo]], [[Miłomłyn]]
| align="center"|9
|-
|[[Iława County]]<br /> powiat iławski
| align="right"| 1,385
| align="right"|92,933
|[[Iława]]
|[[Lubawa]], [[Susz]], [[Kisielice]], [[Zalewo]]
| align="center"|7
|-
|[[Ełk County]]<br /> powiat ełcki
| align="right"| 1,112
| align="right"|91,446
|[[Ełk]]
|
| align="center"|5
|-
|[[Szczytno County]]<br /> powiat szczycieński
| align="right"| 1,933
| align="right"|69,678
|[[Szczytno]]
|[[Pasym]], [[Wielbark, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Wielbark]]
| align="center"|8
|-
|[[Kętrzyn County]]<br /> powiat kętrzyński
| align="right"| 1,213
| align="right"|62,536
|[[Kętrzyn]]
|[[Reszel]], [[Korsze]]
| align="center"|6
|-
|[[Działdowo County]]<br /> powiat działdowski
| align="right"| 953
| align="right"|65,288
|[[Działdowo]]
|[[Lidzbark]]
| align="center"|6
|-
|[[Bartoszyce County]]<br /> powiat bartoszycki
| align="right"| 1,309
| align="right"|57,642
|[[Bartoszyce]]
|[[Górowo Iławeckie]], [[Bisztynek]], [[Sępopol]]
| align="center"|6
|-
|[[Pisz County]]<br /> powiat piski
| align="right"| 1,776
| align="right"|56,328
|[[Pisz]]
|[[Orzysz]], [[Ruciane-Nida]], [[Biała Piska]]
| align="center"|4
|-
|[[Giżycko County]]<br /> powiat giżycki
| align="right"| 1,119
| align="right"|56,661
|[[Giżycko]]
|[[Ryn]]
| align="center"|6
|-
|[[Elbląg County]]<br /> powiat elbląski
| align="right"| 1,431
| align="right"|57,395
|[[Elbląg]] *
|[[Pasłęk]], [[Tolkmicko]], [[Młynary]]
| align="center"|9
|-
|[[Mrągowo County]]<br /> powiat mrągowski
| align="right"| 1,065
| align="right"|49,970
|[[Mrągowo]]
|[[Mikołajki]]
| align="center"|5
|-
|[[Braniewo County]]<br /> powiat braniewski
| align="right"| 1,205
| align="right"|41,223
|[[Braniewo]]
|[[Pieniężno]], [[Frombork]]
| align="center"|7
|-
|[[Nowe Miasto County]]<br /> powiat nowomiejski
| align="right"| 695
| align="right"|43,900
|[[Nowe Miasto Lubawskie]]
|
| align="center"|5
|-
|[[Lidzbark County]]<br /> powiat lidzbarski
| align="right"| 924
| align="right"|41,311
|[[Lidzbark Warmiński]]
|[[Orneta]]
| align="center"|5
|-
|[[Olecko County]]<br /> powiat olecki
| align="right"| 874
| align="right"|34,281
|[[Olecko]]
|
| align="center"|4
|-
|[[Nidzica County]]<br /> powiat nidzicki
| align="right"| 961
| align="right"|32,940
|[[Nidzica]]
|
| align="center"|4
|-
|[[Gołdap County]]<br /> powiat gołdapski
| align="right"| 772
| align="right"|26,825
|[[Gołdap]]
|
| align="center"|3
|-
|[[Węgorzewo County]]<br /> powiat węgorzewski
| align="right"| 693
| align="right"|22,796
|[[Węgorzewo]]
|
| align="center"|3
|-bgcolor="F0F8FF"
|colspan=6 style="text-align:center;font-size:90%"|* seat not part of the county
|-
|}

== Sights and tourism ==
[[File:Olsztyn 2023 086.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Bust of [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] with the [[Olsztyn Castle]] in the background]]
Amongst the most visited sights is the [[Masurian Lake District]], which contains more than 2,000 lakes, including the largest lakes of Poland, [[Śniardwy]] and [[Lake Mamry|Mamry]]. [[Giżycko]], [[Iława]], [[Mrągowo]], [[Mikołajki]] and [[Ruciane-Nida]] are thus popular summer destinations.

Other recognizable landmarks are the Warmian castles ([[Lidzbark Warmiński Castle]], [[Olsztyn Castle]], [[Reszel Castle]], Pieniężno Castle) and the [[Frombork Cathedral|Cathedral Hill]] in [[Frombork]], where Polish astronomer [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] lived and worked, and which contains his tomb. In collections of the Warmia and Mazury Museum in [[Olsztyn]], visitors can find numerous tokens from the time when [[Nicolaus Copernicus]] lived in Warmia.<ref>{{cite book|title= Polska — Rozwój Regionów |date=2010 |author=Związek Województw Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (Union of the Voivodeships of the Republic of Poland)}}</ref> The Lidzbark Warmiński Castle was later the residence of [[Ignacy Krasicki]], nicknamed ''the Prince of Polish Poets'', whereas [[Smolajny]] hosts a [[Rococo]] palace, his former summer residence. There are also multiple other [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] castles and palaces in various styles in the voivodeship. [[Święta Lipka]] in Masuria and [[Gietrzwałd]] in Warmia are popular pilgrimage sites, and other notable historic churches include the Gothic collegiate church in [[Dobre Miasto]] and churches in [[Orneta]] and [[Kętrzyn]], which delight visitors with the uniqueness of their architectonic details, and the [[Baroque in Poland|Baroque]] Sanctuary of Saint Mary in [[Stoczek Klasztorny]].<ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 19 grudnia 2022 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Stoczek Klasztorny - Sanktuarium Matki Pokoju"|year=2022|number=2764}}</ref> Several towns contain entirely or partly preserved medieval town walls with towers and gates, i.e. [[Lidzbark Warmiński]], [[Nowe Miasto Lubawskie]], [[Pasłęk]].
[[Image:Panorama Lidzbark.jpg|thumb|The [[Lidzbark Warmiński Castle]] is considered to be a great artistic and historical value]]

The [[Elbląg Canal]] is considered one of the greatest landmarks of the western part of the province. The [[Battle of Grunwald|Grunwald]] battlefield in Masuria is site of the annual reenactment of one of the largest battles of Medieval Europe. [[Gołdap]] is a [[spa town]] in the north-eastern part of the province. There is a museum dedicated to composer [[Feliks Nowowiejski]] at his birthplace in [[Barczewo]].

There are multiple World War II memorials in the voivodeship, including at the site of the [[Soldau concentration camp]] in [[Działdowo]], at the locations of Nazi massacres of Poles, and the war cemeteries in [[Sudwa]] and [[Bogusze, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship|Bogusze]], where victims of [[German prisoner-of-war camps in World War II|German prisoner-of-war camps]] were buried. The [[Wolf's Lair]], Adolf Hitler's first Eastern Front military headquarters in World War II is located in [[Gierłoż, Kętrzyn County|Gierłoż]].

There is a small cemetery of the [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] in [[Markajmy]] at which British and Commonwealth [[World War I prisoners of war in Germany|prisoners-of-war of Germany]] from [[World War I]] are buried.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/5001703/lidzbark-warminski-war-cemetery/|title=Lidzbark Warminski Cemetery|website=Commonwealth War Graves Commission|access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

==Protected areas==
[[File:20080730-1758-mazury 6448pano2.jpg|thumb|Seksty Lake in the [[Masurian Landscape Park]]]]

[[Protected area]]s in Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship include eight areas designated as [[Landscape Park (Poland)|Landscape Parks]], as listed below:

* [[Brodnica Landscape Park]] (partly in [[Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
* [[Dylewo Hills Landscape Park]]
* [[Elbląg Upland Landscape Park]]
* [[Górzno-Lidzbark Landscape Park]] (partly in Kuyavian-Pomeranian and [[Masovian Voivodeship]]s)
* [[Iława Lake District Landscape Park]] (partly in [[Pomeranian Voivodeship]])
* [[Masurian Landscape Park]]
* [[Puszcza Romincka Landscape Park]]
* [[Wel Landscape Park]]

The [[Łuknajno Lake]] nature reserve (part of Masurian Landscape Park) is a protected wetland site under the [[Ramsar convention]], as well as being designated by [[UNESCO]] as a [[biosphere reserve]].

==Cuisine==
In addition to traditional nationwide [[Polish cuisine]], Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship has its variety of [[traditional food]]s and drinks, specific to its Warmia and Masuria regions, officially protected by the [[Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Poland)|Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland]]. Masuria produces several types of various meat products, especially [[kiełbasa]], and a plethora of traditional Polish honey. Masuria also shares with neighboring [[Podlaskie Voivodeship]] the tradition of producing [[sękacz]], a traditional spit cake of northeastern Poland.

The protected traditional alcoholic beverages of the province are ''Okowita miodowa warmińska'', a beverage of 42% [[alcohol by volume]] made from Warmian [[honey]], the Warmian [[Porter (beer)|porter]], a local type of [[Polish beer]], and Masurian [[nalewka]] ''niedźwiedziówka''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.pl/web/rolnictwo/okowita-miodowa-warminska|title=Okowita miodowa warmińska|website=Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi - Portal Gov.pl|access-date=23 May 2024|language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.pl/web/rolnictwo/porter-warminski|title=Porter warmiński|website=Ministerstwo Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi - Portal Gov.pl|access-date=23 May 2024|language=pl}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie.jpg|thumb|[[University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn]]]]

The chief institutions of higher learning in the voivodeship are the [[University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn]] and Higher State College of Vocational Education in Elbląg. [[Kortowiada]], one of the largest annual university students' holidays in Poland, is held in Olsztyn.

The Police Academy in [[Szczytno]], the main police academy in Poland, is located in the voivodeship.

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}}
28 towns are members of [[Cittaslow]], more than in any other province of Poland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cittaslow.org|title=Welcome to Cittaslow International|access-date=21 May 2024}}</ref>

===Twin towns – sister cities===
The Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:

* '''[[Podolsk]]''', Russia<ref name="Podolsk twinnings">{{cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fadmpodolsk.ru%2findex.php%3fcategoryid%3d126|title=Podolsk sister cities|access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref>

==Sports==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
|+ Professional sports teams
|-
!Club
!Sport
!League
!Trophies
|-
|[[AZS Olsztyn (volleyball)|AZS Olsztyn]]
|[[Volleyball]] (men's)
|[[PlusLiga]]
|5 Polish Championships<br>7 [[Polish Men's Volleyball Cup|Polish Cups]]
|-
|[[Start Elbląg]]
|[[Handball]] (women's)
|[[Polish Women's Superliga (women's handball)|Superliga]]
|2 Polish Championships (1992, 1994)<br>3 Polish Cups (1993, 1994, 1999)
|-
|[[Olimpia Elbląg]]
|[[Association football|Football]] (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Stomil Olsztyn]]
|[[Association football|Football]] (men's)
|[[II liga]]
|0
|-
|[[Stomilanki Olsztyn]]
|[[Association football|Football]] (women's)
|[[Ekstraliga (women's football)|Ekstraliga]]
|0
|-
|[[Constract Lubawa]]
|[[Futsal]] (men's)
|[[Ekstraklasa (futsal)|Ekstraklasa]]
|1 Polish Cup (2020)
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" widths="155px" heights="140px" caption="Popular attractions and tourist destinations">
Image:647372 Olsztyn zespół zamku 05.JPG|[[Olsztyn Castle]]
Image:Olsztyn Katedra noc.jpg|St. James' Cathedral in [[Olsztyn]]
Image:Oberländischer Kanal2.jpg|[[Elbląg Canal]]
Image:Reszel. 018.JPG|[[Reszel]] historic town center
Dobre Miasto - kolegiata.jpg|Collegiate church in [[Dobre Miasto]]
Image:Frombork 019a.jpg|[[Brick Gothic]] fortified [[Frombork Cathedral|cathedral]] in [[Frombork]], burial place of astronomer [[Nicolaus Copernicus]]
Image:Święta Lipka Kościół Pielgrzymkowy 072.jpg|Sanctuary of Saint Mary in [[Święta Lipka]]
Image:Barczewo muzeum Feliksa Nowowiejskiego.jpg|Birthplace of composer [[Feliks Nowowiejski]] in [[Barczewo]]
Image:Kanal Giżycki i most obrotowy.jpg|Łuczański Canal and the swing bridge in [[Giżycko]]
Image:Grunwald - pomnik.JPG|[[Battle of Grunwald|Grunwald]] battlefield
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Masurian dialects]]
* [[Nidka]] river<!--- place here for now. Future, may be moved into a Geography/Rivers section --->

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Warmińsko-Mazurskie}}
* [http://www.wm.24.pl/ Official website of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship]

{{Geographic location
| Northwest = 
| North     = {{flag|Kaliningrad Oblast}}, Russia
| Northeast = {{flagicon image|Marijampole County flag.svg}} [[Marijampolė County]], Lithuania
| West      = {{flag|Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
| Centre    = {{flag|Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship}}
| East      = {{flag|Podlaskie Voivodeship}}
| Southwest = {{flag|Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship}}
| South     = {{flag|Masovian Voivodeship}}
| Southeast = 
}}
{{Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship}}
{{Voivodeships of Poland}}
{{Authority control}}{{Coord|53|51|N|20|50|E|region:PL-WN_type:adm1st|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship}}
[[Category:Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1999]]