Where Mazovia ends
Located at the northern boundary of Mazovia, Mława boasts nearly six hundred years of history. The town received municipal rights in 1429. Since its inception the town has been an important border center and customs chamber. Just as the entire region Mława declined after the Swedish Deluge. However, an advantageous location contributed to economic revival of the town during the period of Congress Poland. Contemporary Mława has over thirty thousand residents. While being an important industrial center (TV sets are manufactured in the town) it also retained the charm and glamour of bygone years.
The city hall and the parish church are located in the center of a large market square. The Holy Trinity Church was built in 15th century. In the second half of the 19th century it was rebuilt in the neo-baroque style. The Baroque town hall was erected in 1789 on the foundations of an older building. A distinctive clock tower was built in the middle of 20th century. The frontages of the market square retained a few interesting Art Nouveau houses. Near the market square, at ul. Żwirki, there is a pretty 19th century market hall. Lively trade activities are still conducted under the wooden ceiling of the building. On a hot day it is nice to relax in the city park (between Reymont and Wyspiański streets). Full of charm art nouveau fountain sculptures refer to the history of Mława. In July the city celebrates its feast. Interesting concerts, competitions and fairs are held on this occasion.
Mława boasts interesting museums. Museum of Zawkrzeńska Land is one of the oldest institutions of this kind in Mazovia. It continues the tradition of the institution founded in 1926. Although the collection gathered before 1939 was lost during the war, the museum can be proud of its current exhibits. The exhibition includes the following departments: history, nature and art collections. The collection includes a fully equipped prince’s tomb of the 1st century C.E., a granite statue of the pagan deity and a medieval dugout. The pride of the art department are numerous paintings by Wojciech Piechowski (1849-1911). A rich collection of landscapes of Mazovia, genre scenes and portraits is the only permanent gallery of works by this artist in Poland. Fragments of a forest elephant skeleton from one hundred thousand years ago deserves special attention in the nature department. The size of the giant was impressive. His front leg is three meters long!
In Mława the most important place for fans of militaria is a private museum of Juszkiewiczs with exhibits related to the history of national liberation struggles from 1863-1945. One can see many types of weapons, an anti-aircraft gun and a T-34 tank there. The collection also includes uniforms, portraits of commanders and documents and reports of soldiers including members of the 'Modlin' Army who fought near Mława in 1939.
A visit to a museum is a good introduction to the trip to the so-called ‘Mława Position’. A complex of several dozen bunkers along with the remains of trenches and antitank obstacles is the largest and best preserved Polish fortification complex from the interwar period. The fortifications were located north of the city, owing to favorable natural conditions. The wooded terminal moraine and the Mławka river at its feet constituted a natural barrier. Fortification works started on 14 July 1939 and were conducted in great haste. In the face of the impending war the fortifications were manned by units of the 20th Infantry Division of the ‘Modlin’ Army. The Mława Position was attacked by the 3rd German Army from the north as soon as on 1st September at 4 a.m. Even though Poles were greatly outnumbered by Germans who had the technical advantage and support from the air, attempts to break the Polish line of defense failed. However, in the face of the threat of complete encirclement and destruction by 'Wodrig’ Corps, who managed to pass the marshes east of the Mława Position the commander of the 'Modlin’ Army gave an order to leave the position and retreat towards Warsaw. The army retreating on 4 September suffered heavy losses as a result of air raids. In memory of these events a huge statue of the Soldier Running into Battle was built on the hill between Mława and Uniszki Zawadzkie in 1985. The monument was designed by K. Zieliński. In the shelter next to the monument a map showing the course of the war activities conducted in northern Mazovia in 1939 and plaques with names of the fallen were installed. Most of survived fortifications may be seen by hiking along the red trail. The loop starting in Mława is 24 km long.
A unique way to explore the area surrounding Mława is a trip by a narrow gauge railway. The narrow-gauge railway was launched in 1915. It carried passengers to Przasnysz and Maków Mazowiecki and served nearby sugar factories. After many decades the traffic was suspended in 2001. In spring 2006 the Local Tourist Organization of North Mazovia led to re-launching of the historic train.
Muzeum Ziemi Zawkrzeńskiej (Museum of Zawkrzeńska Land)
ul. 3 Maja 5, phone (23) 654-43-05
www.muzeum.mlawa.pl
Muzeum Juszkiewiczów (Juszkiewiczs’ Museum)
ul. Żwirki 32a, phone 023 6543347
www.mlawa.pl
