Discover Biesal: Railway history and cycling routes

A railway complex with many features

Biesal’s railway complex was built between 1871 and 1873 in connection with the construction of the so-called Thorn–Insterburg main line. It was entered in the register of monuments in 2012. The protected ensemble includes not only the railway station building but also a water tower with a pumping station and storage room, a well and a freight forwarding building. Residential buildings with outbuildings, an access road and green spaces near the station building, the water tower and the level crossing on the road to Podlejki are also part of it. This variety makes the complex as a whole interesting: railway buildings, ancillary structures and homes all feature together here.

The station building is made of brick and stands on a stone base. The original window and door fittings that have survived are another architectural detail. Access to the complex is restricted: the interiors of the buildings can be visited by arrangement with their respective owners and users. The ground floor of the station building is an exception and is open to the public. As access conditions may change, check them before your visit.

Chapel and older homes

The former Protestant chapel also tells part of Biesal’s history. It was built in 1924 on land donated by the estate owner Hugo Striewski. After the Second World War, the chapel became the property of the Catholic Church. A simple soldiers’ grave dating from 1945 is located in the adjacent cemetery. The year of construction, the change of ownership and the grave point to different historical periods that meet at this site.

Biesal’s historic buildings also include several detached houses built between the two world wars. They are known as “kochówki” or “zydlung”. Together with the railway complex and the former chapel, they broaden the view of the village’s history beyond a single building.

Cycling routes of varying lengths

The Black Cycling Route starts in Biesal, passes through Tomaryny, Śródka, Guzowy Piec, Salminek and Jadaminy, then returns to Biesal. Its stated length is 15.6 kilometres. For anyone planning a clearly defined loop, it offers a specific route with named stops. The “Śladami leśnych osad” route, by contrast, starts at the bus stop in Biesal. It is listed as having 17- or 19-kilometre options. At first, it follows a paved road through the village; the other surfaces include firm forest tracks that are sandy in places.

The estimated riding time for “Śladami leśnych osad” is around two to two and a half hours at a leisurely pace. Its distances can therefore be compared with the Black Cycling Route’s 15.6 kilometres, while the surface and riding-time details provide a different basis for planning. Another cycling route, “Ścieżkami mazurskiej puszczy”, completes its loop in Biesal. A cultural and historical guide from 2021 also describes Route 5 as a 23-kilometre car or cycling loop from Gietrzwałd via Tomaryny, Biesal and Guzowy Młyn and back to Gietrzwałd.

Getting there and choosing where to stay

Biesal lies on the Toruń–Olsztyn railway line. The local tourist information service lists travelling by train as an option for reaching the start of the Black Cycling Route; check the current timetable before travelling. When choosing a holiday apartment in Biesal, the focus of your planned activities may guide your decision: the history of the railway complex and chapel offers a cultural way to discover the village, while the different cycling routes vary in length and characteristics. Compare these details and check current conditions before deciding on your cycling route.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Wadąg, Pluski, Rzeck, Siła, Giławy, Naterki, Tumiany, Dorotowo.

Back to the main travel overview: Olsztyński.