Stone Circles in Węsiory

In a pine forest by Lake Długie, 5 km from Sulęczyno in Kashubia, a burial ground of the Goths and Gepids from about two thousand years ago has survived — probably established in the 70s AD, with the people living in Pomerania for nearly 200 years.

Circles, barrows, graves

Visitors will see 4 stone circles (including the Guardian Circle and the Meeting Circle) and 20 barrows — mounds of stones 4 to 16 metres in diameter — sheltering more than 100 graves. The largest circle is 26 metres across, built of stones about 1.5 m high; stone stelae stand in the middle of some circles. The Goths raised the circles first, marking the place of future burials.

Kashubian mysteries

The function of the circles remains unexplained — some speak of gatherings of tribal elders, others of an ancient astronomical calendar. The mystery of the place earned it the nickname of the Kashubian Stonehenge. Węsiory lies on the tourist Stone Circles Trail.

A trace of Nienacki

The excavations are recounted in Zbigniew Nienacki's youth novel "Skarb Atanaryka" ("Atanaric's Treasure") from 1960. Nearby, the Goth Stronghold (founded in 2007) hosts the annual Gothic Feast in the second week of July.

In practice

The cemetery lies about 1.5 km south of Węsiory, on the northern shore of Lake Długie. Use existing paths, do not move stones or excavate; this is a protected archaeological site.