Poland Traveller [#06] - The Charms of Polesie – is it worth visiting the eastern borders of Poland?

Uroki Polesia – czy warto odwiedzić rubieże Polski wschodniej? Polesie Lubelskie, located in the eastern part of Poland, is just a small fragment of the entire Polesie region. A significant part of it lies within Ukraine and Belarus. This area is beloved by nature and history enthusiasts. If we were to list the most beautiful and interesting places in Poland, Polesie would be in the TOP 5! What is worth seeing there? Poleski Park Narodowy The idea of creating Poleski National Park at its current location was proposed by Professor Dominik Fijałkowski. His project was the first in the country to aim at protecting wetland and marshy areas. In 2002, the area of Poleski National Park gained the additional status of a Biosphere Reserve. The park encompasses numerous marshes, karst lakes, and peat bogs, giving it a unique character. There are several nature trails, cycling routes, and even a campsite. Horse riding trails are also available. The nature trails lead over wooden walkways through the marshes to beautiful lakes. Along the way, one can encounter interesting forest inhabitants, but one must show angelic patience and calmness. This park is mainly visited by those who enjoy direct contact with nature and desire to find peace and detach from the world. What is worth visiting near Poleski National Park? Włodawa is one of the larger towns near Poleski National Park. It is known as the city of three cultures. This name is associated with the fact that representatives of three cultures (Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews) have lived harmoniously in Włodawa for centuries. Among the town's monuments, numerous temples can be mentioned that are worth seeing. One of them houses the Museum of the Łęczna-Włodawa Lakeland. In this town, a thematic Festival of Three Cultures is organized in September (to cultivate the tradition of multiculturalism), so everyone who happens to be in the area during that time should definitely visit. Where can you find the oldest state stud farm? Janów Podlaski is a town famous primarily for breeding purebred Arabian horses. This breeding is conducted by the Janów Podlaski Horse Stud, which is the oldest state stud farm, established in 1817. The town also has a baroque palace of the Łuck bishops from 1770 and a landscape park. Janów is home to one of the oldest petrol stations in Poland (established in 1928). Trail "Poleska Dolina Bugu" This is a kayaking trail where you can see many attractions, including the huge oak tree Bolko, the "Trójstyk granic" (the point where the borders of Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus meet), and the remains of a 19th-century railway bridge on the Chełm – Brest line (located near the village of Orchówek). This trail starts in the village of Świerże and ends in Kuzawka (32 km away from Włodawa). There are many different sections of the trail that vary in difficulty. It is also possible to determine the route individually. In addition to multi-hour kayaking trips, multi-day trips are also organized. Author of the text: Łukasz Stachurski