|
Białowieża National Park |
|
|
A day in the Białowieża National Park The visit to the BNP should begin at the Palace Park in Białowieża. At the gate there is a tourist information desk. You can buy souvenirs, maps, guide-books and obtain information about the attractions of the BNP and the surrounding region. While walking through the alleys of the Palace Park, you will see some historic buildings dating back to the time the Tsars ruled the area. There is also the wooden historic building of the Nature Education Centre. The next stage should involve a visit to the Nature-Forest Museum. Also when visiting the national park proper, you are urged to visit the Orłówka Protected Area (a strict reserve) and walk along a trail to the ”Jagiełło Oak” co-named after a Polish King. You can have lunch in Białowieża and then drive to the Demonstration Reserve of European bisons, stopping on your way in a ”Power Spot” site in the Białowieża Forest district reputed to be a source of positive energy. To finish the day, we recommend another trail entitled „The Oaks of Polish Kings and Lithuanian Dukes, before having a rest in a stylish ”Sioło” boarding house in the Budy village, and visiting the open-air museum of the narrow-gauge forest railway in Zwierzyniec.
A historic obelisk
Basic information about the Park Location: eastern Poland, south of Białystok, near the border with Belarus Accommodation Guest rooms in the Hunters’ Lodge and Hotel IWA (both belonging to the Park).
Białowieża National Park |
The oldest building in Białowieża (1845) – now housing the Nature Education Centre.
A week in the Park (and its vicinity) Day one: Visit to the Nature-Forest Museum, getting to the top of an observation tower, watching natural history documentaries. Then take a little stroll in the Palace Park, before walking along the educational trails: ”Trees of the Palace Park” and ”The History and Culture”. After a lunch in Białowieża, one can go biking or take a horse-driven chaise ride to the forest site ”Old Białowieża”, before crowning the day with a feast at a bonfire (6 hrs and 8 km in all). Day two: visit (with a licensed guide) to the Orłówka Area of Strict Protection (O.O.Orłówka). After a lunch in Białowieża, a little stroll along the streets of this charming locality, a visit to an exhibition in the Białowieża Cultural Centre and to the Skansen (open air museum). Day three: biking or hiking trip from Białowieża to the Demonstration Reserve of European bisons, through ”the Bison’s Ribs” footbridge (its Polish name is a pun). You then return, following the yellow marked path across the Landscape Reserve to Białowieża (some 6 hrs – 8 km). After lunch, there are visits to historic churches in Białowieża and the Forestry Vocational School with interesting natural history exhibitions. Day four: hiking or biking trip the ”Power Spot” site from where, freshly charged with positive energy, you return to Białowieża (some 10 km). The trip can still be extended on a bike to include the Czerlonka – Zwierzyniec (you can lunch there) – Budy – Teremiski – Pogorzelce – Białowieża route (some 28 km). Day five: a biking trip from Białowieża via the Pogorzelce village, “Stara Białowieża” old forest stand, following the “Carska Tropina” path to the Hwoźna. Protected Area. It is advised to take some sandwiches for the trip (some 40 km).You can reach the place by car from Białowieża, by driving to the Masiewo village whilst the visit to the Hwoźna protected area is reached on foot along the Głuszec (7.2 km) or Wilczy trail (11.5 km) (some 8 hrs – 15 km). There is also a wealth of natural history knowledge to be obtained during the day. Day six: trip by car to the Hajnówka town, and from there to the forest settlement at Topiło by a narrow-gauge railway. There a feast at a bonfire (some 6 hrs and 11 km). The route of the railway may also be followed on foot or on bike. Day seven: a biking trip or walk to the Forest Education Centre at “Jagiellońskie”, return via the “Białowieża Towarowa” railway station, footbridge over the Narewka, and the Wysokie Bagno bog reserve (some 12 km). Viewing natural history documentaries and visits to the exhibitions in the Nature Education Centre.
The new headquarters of the Białowieża National Park. |
|
Text: Jarosław Sawicki Consultation: Józef Popiel |
|
