Bialowieza and Podlasie (pictures of beautiful sites in Poland)

If you want to escape the bustling city life, there is no better place in Poland to go than to Białowieża Forest in the eastern Polish region of Podlesia.

Known as the home of the Zubr, the European bison, The Bialowieza National Park protects a rare remnant of the primeval lowland forest that once covered most of Eastern Europe. And Podlesia, a region who cherishes its age-old ties to the east, is an interesting place in itself.

The Polish part of the Białowieża forest comprises of over 10,000 hectares of land, of which almost half is under strict protection.

The natural starting point for the tour into the depth of the forest is the village of Bialowieza. With only 2000 inhabitants, the village lives out of the people visiting the reserve. Depending on taste you could accommodate yourself in a small pension in a traditional yard-house, which I recommend, a hostels or even a modern hotel. Here you can visit the Nature Education Center or the Museum, and also have a look at the bisons – in a breeding center that also houses tarpans, wild boars and other large mammals.

The village is located at the place of the old hunting manor of king Sigismund the Old, who also issued the first piece of legislation protecting the forest in 1538. Throughout the centuries, the forest has served as hunting grounds for the Kings, Tsars and aristocrats that have been ruling the area. For long periods, the locals were hired as tax-relieved foresters to take care of the forest for the Kings. Times of uncontrolled hunting, such as World Wars took their toll on the forest an the large mammals living there. The National Park of today, which became listed as a UNESCO World heritage in 1992, was established in 1921.

So, what are we waiting for, let's go for a trek inside the forest, where the trees reaches heights over 45 meters, even the oaks.

I think the most interesting thing is that it is actually the last as natural forest in the European lowland, so we can't find anywhere else that kind of natural forest in Poland or in this region of Europe, preserved and in so good condition. You can imagine here that the forest one thousand years ago looked very similar. Actually there is some kind of fight to enlarge the natural park to the whole of the forest. Who knows what will happen, but if it would be it would be pretty good because then all of the Bialowieza forest would be under protection.

On the walk we can see that the forest is being leaved to take care of it self. Fallen branches of the mighty tree becomes fertile ground for new trees. Spruces, pines and mighty oaks are a few of the trees in this species-rich forest. The overwhelming green light makes a special impact on most visitors. Dave and Lina are Brits, and visit the forest for the first time:

It's a beatiful forest, it is really nice to hear all the birds singing. It's nice that it is no litter anywhere, it's really natural.

I agree completely, I was very surprised at the amount of trees that had fallen down, it was kind of strange to see all of those. But it is kind of nice to see all new life coming up from the dead tree, all the moss and everything. Yeah, here it is really peaceful and beautiful.

But it is not only nature that captures the imagination of the senses in Podlesia, so let's go for some cultural sightseeing. Some of the unique character of this part of Poland can be viewed from the windows of the local buses, where the traditional roadside houses and the many stork nests pass by. The bus from Bialowieza to the nearby town of Hajnowka passes many Orthodox churches, in fact, in this area of Poland there are more Orthodox than Roman Catholic believers.

The inhabitants cherish their ties with the east, dating many centuries back. The typical wooden sculptures are one evidence of this, another is the recurring Festival of Orthodox Church music in Hajnowka.

So – there is no better place to seek refuge from the busy life of modern society than in this the most sparsely populated part of Poland.

Bialowieza National Park is located in the eastern part of Poland, in Podlaskie Voivodeship, at the border with Belorussia. The Park lies in the central part of Bialowieza Primeval Forest, which is the most natural forest complex in the lowland part of Europe.

The history of Bialowieza National Park goes back to 1921. It is one of the oldest in Europe. The Park area is 10,502 ha. Its oldest part, "Strict Preservation" (Rezerwat Scisly) occupies 4,747 ha. The Park is dominated by forest ecosystems which take up over 90% of its area.

In 1977 the Park was recognised by UNESCO as the Biosphere Reserve, and in 1979 designated as World Heritage Site, as the only natural site in Poland. In 1992 UNESCO enlarged the World Heritage Site to adjacent part of Belorussian National Park "Belavezhskaya Pushcha".

Female European bison with its offspring

"Ribs of a bison" path

Meadow of anemonem

Colours of spring

Palace Park

"Upper bog" reserve

Sculptured by nature

"Pogorzelce" reserve

"Carska Tropina" Trawl

Young tree

Primeval Royal Oak

The Augustowska Primeval Forest is one the biggest forest complexes in Poland, and together with its immediate neighbours the forests in Lithuania and Belarus, it constitutes one of the largest compact complexes in Europe.

The area of the Augustowska Primeval Forest is over 1100 sq.km. The forest clearings are occupied by village enclaves and forest settlements. You can also meet numerous lakes, waterlogged meadows and peatbogs here.

The abundance of forests and green areas predestined this region to be called the Green Lungs of Poland whose area significantly exceeds the Augustowska Primeval Forest itself. The forest and Augustow lakes together with the valley of the Rospuda river are included in the area of protected landscape.

Augustowska Primeval Forest

Full basket

Fragment of Marycha River

Beautiful nature

Pine Trees

Czarna Hancza River is a tributary of Niemen River. It is 142 km long (108 km of its length is located within Polish borders). Czarna Hancza river is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and beautiful canoeing trails in Poland.

Czarna Hancza River originates in Hancza Lake, within the borders of Suwalki Landscape Park. It flows past Suwalki straight to Lake Wigry, then Czarna Hancza meanders across Augustow Primeval Forest towards Mikaszowka and Polish - Belorussian border.

Canoeing trip on Czarna Hancza

Czarna Hancza River

Waters of Czarna Hancza

The Biebrza National Park is located in northeast Poland, in the Podlaskie Voivodship. The northeastern boundary of the park is near the Belarus border. The Narew River and its confluence with the Biebrza River form the southern boundary of the park.

The park was established in 1993. Total area of 59 233 ha makes it the largest of Polish national parks. The famous Biebrza marshes are the most valuable habitats of the park. The area of 3 936 ha is under strict protection ha, including the Czerwone Bagno or Red Bog at the Grzedy Forest District.

The park’s marshes, as well as its highly diversified fauna, make it unique in Europe. The Park is under the protection of the RAMSAR Convention.

Artistic view of Bialy Grad

Bialy Grad

Woznawiejski Canal

Landscape of Biebrza National Park

Winter in the park

Vicinity of Burzyn village

Tejsowo Lake

Wagtails on the shore

Biebrza swamps in Winter

Landscapes of Biebrza National Park

Living in Biebrza forest
The wooden house from the beginning of the 20th century is located in Biebrza National Park. All the equipment gathered inside the house comes from that period.

House from the beginning of the 20th century

Picture of the Virgin Mary

Wooden household equipment

Living room

A stove

Kruszyniany village is situated 40 kilometers east from Bialystok (Podlaskie Province). It was erected in XVI century. In 1679 Polish king Jan III Sobieski gave it to the commander of Tatar regiment Samuel Murza Krzeczkowski.

Kruszyniany is not the only settlement in this region of Poland given by king Sobieski to Tatars. As their payment for fighting the Turks together with the Polish army Tatars received Malawicze, Bohoniki, Nietupe, Luzany.

The biggest attraction of Kruszyniany is the mosque built in the XVIII century. To the east of the small wooden building there is a mizar – Muslim cemetery. Among the tombstones there may be found the oldest Muslim grave in Poland – a grave from 1704 with inscriptions in Arabic and Polish.

According to Muslim tradition the deceased are buried with their head pointing towards Mecca. Old graves were usually marked by two gravestones – a big one, situated over the head and a smaller one, situated over the feet.

The citizens of Kruszyniany are Muslims who after the WWII emigrated there from Byelorussia. Today there are just a few families left in Kruszyniany, while several years ago 230 people lived there.

Another mosque in the neighbourhood is located 40 km north from Kruszyniany - in Bohoniki village (going from Krynek to Sokolka). It is also wooden but its much younger. The mosque in Bohioniki was built in XIX century.

Kruszyniany mosque

Muslim cemetery - mizar

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