Thirty bunkers that were never blown up — complete with an underground tunnel, a museum and a lookout tower above Lake Mamry. In a separate pavilion, a 1:1 replica of the Amber Room.
Mamerki — bunkers that survived the war, and the Amber Room in the forest above Lake Mamry
The complex of the former headquarters of the German Army High Command, approx. 15 km from Ostoja Dwa Jeziora. History you can walk around, step inside and view from the height of the treetops.
Many places linked to the Second World War are seen today as ruins — shattered blocks, rubble overgrown with moss. Mamerki is different — and that is its greatest strength. German soldiers withdrew from here in January 1945 without a fight and did not manage to destroy the shelters. As a result, you walk into rooms that look almost exactly as they were left: heavy doors, firing slits closed from the inside and traces of the original installations.
From Ostoja it is a short drive, so Mamerki fits easily into a single morning — or can be the start of a whole “history day” in northern Masuria.
Why it's worth a visit
- The shelters stand intact. Thirty reinforced-concrete bunkers have survived to this day — a rarity in Poland.
- An underground tunnel. The lit passage, roughly thirty metres long, between bunkers no. 28 and no. 30 is the moment children remember longest.
- The Amber Room at 1:1 scale. A separate pavilion houses a full-size replica of the famous chamber — since April 2025.
- A museum on a grand scale. A model of the Battle of Kursk (described as the largest in the world), a model of Stalingrad and a replica of a submarine interior.
- A lookout tower. Almost 40 metres high, offering a sweeping view of the forests and Lake Mamry.
- Close to Ostoja. Approx. 15 km — half a day is enough, leaving the afternoon free for the beach, the SPA or another attraction.
- Good in any weather. Much of the visit takes place indoors.
The “Anna” headquarters — a secret town in the forest
Between 1940 and 1944, around 250 structures were built in the forest above Lake Mamry. The headquarters bore the code name “Anna” and housed the German Army High Command. Around forty generals and field marshals worked here, along with roughly one and a half thousand officers and soldiers.
Day to day, it functioned as a self-sufficient small town: there were kitchens and mess halls, a post office, a cinema, a hospital, and even a sauna and stables. The site was surrounded by barbed-wire entanglements, and along them, every three hundred metres, stood concrete posts fitted with telephones and lamps — several of them still stand beside the paths. Guardhouses and anti-aircraft positions protected the headquarters on every side.
Touring the Mamerki bunkers — what you will see inside
The route leads through the interiors of the shelters. You can see traces of air filters, electrical and telephone installations and even central heating — details that show how thoroughly this place was prepared for a long stay by the command.
The highlight is the walk through the underground, lit corridor from bunker no. 28 to bunker no. 30. For adults it is an engineering curiosity, for children a real underground adventure.
The museum section holds models of great battles on the Eastern Front, uniforms, weapons and historical displays. The twenty-five-metre replica of a U-boat interior also stirs plenty of emotion: narrow passages and bunks show how cramped life on board was.
The Amber Room in Mamerki — how it got here
It is no coincidence that the replica was built here of all places. In 2016–2017 a search for the original was carried out in Mamerki — the media broadcast live the blasting of the foundations of bunker no. 31, which Erich Koch, the former Gauleiter of East Prussia, was said to have pointed to. The treasure was not found, but the legend remained.
Today, in a separate pavilion, you can see the chamber recreated at 1:1 scale: walls, ceiling and floor, in a room measuring approx. 10 by 10 metres and approx. 8 metres high. After the raw concrete of the bunkers, its glow makes a huge impression.
The lookout tower above Lake Mamry
To finish, it is worth climbing the tower, which is almost 40 metres high. From the top you can see a sea of forest, the surface of Lake Mamry and, when visibility is good, Węgorzewo too. It is a good moment to show the children where Ostoja is and how big the lake you are staying by really is.
Mamerki or the Wolf's Lair?
Ideally both — because they are two completely different experiences. At the Wolf's Lair (Wilczy Szaniec, approx. 32 km from Ostoja) you see the ruins of Hitler's blown-up headquarters and the site of the assassination attempt of 20 July 1944. At Mamerki — intact shelters you can walk into. Many people start with Mamerki, as it is closer, and in the afternoon carry on towards Kętrzyn.
At a glance
- Distance: approx. 15 km from Ostoja Dwa Jeziora (by car).
- Season: the site is accessible all year round; full visitor services from May to October.
- How long: 2–3 hours for the whole complex and museum.
- Who for: families with children, history lovers, school groups and companies.
- For bad weather: yes — much of the visit is indoors.
A sample day from Ostoja
- Morning: breakfast at Ostoja and a drive to Mamerki (approx. 15 km).
- Late morning: the bunkers, the tunnel, the museum, the Amber Room and the tower (2–3 hours).
- On the way: the Masurian Canal and Guja Lock — an unfinished canal whose mighty locks stand in the forest (approx. 14 km from Ostoja).
- Afternoon, option 1: Sztynort and the Lehndorff Palace (approx. 23 km from Ostoja).
- Afternoon, option 2: the Wolf's Lair (approx. 32 km) — for those who want to round off their “history day”.
- Evening: dinner at Qchnia Dwa Jeziora and a rest in the SPA.
Practical information
- Hours and tickets: check current opening hours and prices with the organiser — www.mamerki.com, tel. 698 793 104.
- Clothing: inside it is dark, cool and damp — bring an extra warm layer even in summer, and comfortable closed-toe shoes (the floors are uneven and there are thresholds).
- Torch: useful in the shelters.
- With children: watch out for steps and low lintels.
- With a dog: Ostoja welcomes dogs (a dog's stay is charged extra), but check the rules for bringing a dog onto the site with the organiser.
- Help: Ostoja's reception will gladly help plan your day and combine Mamerki with other places.
Frequently asked questions
What can you see at Mamerki?
Thirty preserved reinforced-concrete shelters of the former “Anna” headquarters, an underground tunnel between bunkers, a museum featuring battle models and a replica U-boat interior, a 1:1 replica of the Amber Room and a lookout tower above Lake Mamry.
How far is Mamerki from Węgorzewo and from Ostoja Dwa Jeziora?
Mamerki lies approx. 15 km from Ostoja Dwa Jeziora. It is one of the closest destinations for a trip from Kal.
Is Mamerki a good idea for a trip with children?
Yes. Children love the walk through the underground tunnel, the submarine and climbing the tower most of all. In the bunkers, watch out for steps and low lintels.
How much time do you need to visit Mamerki?
Allow 2–3 hours for the whole complex, including the museum and the tower.
Is Mamerki open in winter?
The site is accessible all year round, and full visitor services operate from May to October. Check the current opening hours on the organiser's website before you set off.
Is there really an Amber Room at Mamerki?
There is a 1:1 replica of it, open since April 2025 in a separate pavilion. The original was searched for at Mamerki in 2016–2017, but it was not found.
How does Mamerki differ from the Wolf's Lair?
At the Wolf's Lair you see the ruins of Hitler's blown-up headquarters, while at Mamerki the shelters survived intact and you can go inside. It is best to see both places.
What should you bring for a bunker tour?
A torch, comfortable closed-toe shoes and an extra warm layer — the shelters are cool and damp even in summer.
Is Mamerki a good attraction for a rainy day?
Yes, much of the visit takes place inside the shelters, the museum and the Amber Room pavilion.
What else is there to see around Mamerki?
The Masurian Canal and Guja Lock, the palace in Sztynort and — a little further away — the Wolf's Lair. Ostoja's reception will help you turn it all into a full day.
