OUR REGION

PODLASIE

Podlaskie Voivodeship is the most northward

voivodeship of Poland. It borders on

two countries: Belorussia on the east (260km) a Lithuania on the north (104km).

Within Podlaskie voivodeship there are the following mezoregions: the

Suwałki Lake District, the Augustowska Plain, Kolno Plateau, Biebrza Basin, Białystok Plateau,

Sokólskie Hills, Wysokomazowiecka Plateau, The Narew Valley, Bielsk

Plain, the Drohiczyn Plateau. 

At the end of 2009 in Podlaskie Voivodeship there were 1189.7 thousand inhabitants. Podlaskie is the most diverse of all Polish voivodships. The area has been inhabited for centuries by members of different nations and religions: Belarusians, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Russyns, Gypsies, Tatars, Jews and Filipons.

Many places of religious worship remain:- An 18th-century former Carmelite monastery on Wigry Lake- A former jesuit monastery complex in Drohiczyn - Christ's Transfiguration Orthodox church on the Holy Mount of Grabarka- Saint Nicolaus the Miracle Worker Orthodox church in Białystok - A 17th-century synagogue in Tykocin- The oldest Polish mosque in Kruszyniany

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- Białystok -

The capital city Białystok is the largest industrial, cultural and scientific centre of the region.

Most of educational and cultural institutions such as universities, higher economic schools, a philharmonic hall, several theatres and various museums have their sites here.

It is one of the most distinguished centres of puppetry in Poland with the Białystok Puppet Theatre and the Puppetry Art Department, teaching young puppeteers and puppetry directors.

The city owns its name to the Biala River ("white river"). It is surrounded by the wild woods of the Bialowieza Forest and the Narwianski Park Narodowy, making the region particularly attractive for active leisure activities.

Bialystok's climate is a bit colder than Poland’s average. The average temperature in January is about -4'C, but it can fall as low as -35'C. In the summer months of June, July and August the average temperature is about 18'C; the maximum summer temperature is 40'C/104'F.

The land of green and blueIn Podlasie the colour green is everywhere. Both green and brown – the colours of nature – are shades that can be found in abundance in every single nature reserve of Podlasie Voivodship .

The land’s inhabitants are warm and cheerful with open, artistic souls.

The Biebrza National ParkThe Biebrza National Park was established in 1993, it is the largest of the Polish national parks. The Park includes 15 547 ha of forests, 18 182 ha of agricultural land, and 25 494 ha of wetlands - the most valuable habitats of the park - the famous Biebrza marshes.

The area of 3 936 ha is under strict protection ha including the Czerwone Bagno or Red Bog at the Grzędy Forest District. Unique in Europe for its marshes and peatlands, as well as its highly diversified fauna, especially birds.

Białowieża ForestBiałowieża Forest is the last, on Europe’s depression, natural forest of a primeval character, like the one stretched out in the area of deciduous and mixed forest ages ago.

It is characterized with high biological diversity. Old, primeval forest stands of the Białowieża National Park and Białowieża Forest are distinguished by abundance of lifeless wood in different stadiums of decay and by the presence of species characteristic for natural forests.

Białowieża National Park is the only one Polish natural object which is listed by UNESCO as a part of World Heritage. What is more, it is the most important, central zone of Białowieża Biosphere Reserve.

Our Traditional food

Traditional Polish dishes have a lot in common with the cuisine of West Slavic and Central European nations. Characteristic of Polish cuisine are cereal dishes and flour, like kluski, soups, breads and groats.

Here is a list of the most famous traditional Polish dishes.

Bigos - There are many ways of preparing bigos. Its main ingredient is cabbage, meat and cold cuts along with dried wild mushrooms, onion and spices are common. It is interesting that the longer it is stored, the better the taste. It is typically served as a starter with bread.

Zrazy - Beef roulades are a traditional old Polish cuisine dish, especially for the nobility and hunters. Currently, they are made of beef, cut into slices and wrapped with bacon, pickled cucumbers, onions and red peppers. Served with gravy and often with potatoes and salads.

Golonka - This is traditional Polish dish. Pork knuckle rind is boiled in water until tender with vegetables and spices. When cooked, fried or baked and served with horseradish or mustard, golonka tastes exceptionally good with beer.

Gołąbki (Doves) - This is a dish of minced meat with rice or grits, wrapped in cabbage leaves and baked covered. Meat, depending on one’s preference, can be pork, poultry or lamb. Gołąbki are served with tomato sauce.

Pierogi (Pierogies) - Pierogies have been known in Poland since the seventeenth century. The Poles have achieved perfection in preparing dumplings and it became a traditional Polish dish. This is a dish of pastry with stuffing, boiled in water. Ways of cooking are a dime a dozen, in fact as far as your imagination takes you, fillings can be so varied, from sweet fruit, vegetable, mushrooms or meat and cheese.

Placki Ziemniaczane (Potato pancakes)This is a delicious and very simple dish made from potatoes. Grated raw potatoes with onions and eggs are fried in a pan with oil. Potato pancakes can be served with various sauces, goulash, sour cream and sugar.

Makowiec (Poppyseed cake)Yeasty dough, or sponge wrapped with poppy filling and raisins. Often served on Christmas Eve.

Pączki - a deep-fried piece of dough shaped and filled with confiture or other sweet filling. Pączki are usually covered with powdered sugar . A small amount of grain alcohol  (traditionally, Spiritus ) is added to the dough before cooking.

Szarlotka (Apple pie)A cake which is very popular in Poland and famous in the whole country. Short crust pastry dough stuffed with apples and cinnamon, called pulp. Yummy…

Tree Cake - Sękacz - this cake a unique flavor and aroma is amazing, because it is an unusual way of preparing it.

Our FolklorePoland remains one of the few European countries in which with the onset of the 21st century one can still encounter some "living" manifestations of folk culture. The traditional costumes usually people are wearing on festive occasion

Podlaskie and Łowickie costumes