Okartowo


Okartowo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Orzysz, within Pisz County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland. It lies approximately west of Orzysz, north of Pisz, and east of the regional capital Olsztyn.

History

Before 1945 the area was part of Germany. The Teutonic Order built a castle called Eckersburg here in 1340; it was subordinate to the castle of Balga. Several battles were fought here and sometime around 1361 it was destroyed by Lithuanian troops under the command of Kęstutis. Rebuilt, it was again destroyed by the soldiers of Kęstutis in 1378. After this, it was abandoned by the Teutonic Order as a fortification. The village grew up nearby the castle but suffered from history and never developed beyond a small settlement. In 1782, it had 121 inhabitants. After World War II, it became part of Poland.