Week 6 [22-28.05.2017] Bieszczady

I grew up in a small village in the Bieszczady mountains, near the town of Lesko. I was inspired to write this post by TV series such as "Wataha" and the Discovery Channel "Przystanek Bieszczady". These productions certainly increase the interest in this beautiful part of Poland which is Bieszczady. During holidays and long weekends, you can see a lot of tourist traffic. Personally, I would like to show you some places in the Bieszczady mountains, which are just as beautiful but less often visited by tourists. I have prepared for you an idea for a tour in Bieszczady.

Duszatyńskie Lakes - these lakes are located by a red trail (Główny Szlak Beskidzki - the main trail of the Beskidy), between Komańcza and Chryszczata Mount. The area on which they are located is protected - a nature reserve called "Zwiezło", covering 2,2 ha. The name of the reserve relates directly to the events of the year 1907, when the lakes were formed. The western slopes of Chryszczata were weakened by a long rainfall, which caused a landslide of ground and the forest, coming down in the direction of Olchowaty creek, blocking it and the water flow, forming 3 landslide lakes. It is worth mentioning that they are the largest landslide lakes in the Polish part of Beskidy. Two of them have survived to the present day - the third was drained to facilitate fishing (which was the passion of count Potocki, the then landowner).

Zagórz - according to a local tradition, King Casimir the Great rested here while traveling to Rus, founded a Gothic chapel and painting of the Annunciation, famous for miracles related to it. Since that time, Zagórz is an important pilgrimage center of Mary's cult. It was strengthened at the beginning of the 18th century, with the construction of Carmelite monastery defense complex. However, as of today remain only the impressive ruins, one of the few examples of a fortified monastery in Poland. Made from the local sandstone, it had an octagonal nave and two side chapels. From this large object, now remaining are the walls of the Church, the stairs to the choir and fragments of frescoes. In 1772, during a siege, part of the monastery was on fire, and the latter attempts to rebuild it failed to save it from a gradual descent into ruin. From the courtyard you can admire the wide panorama of the lower part of the Bieszczady mountains.

Sobień castle - ruins of the Sobień castle are located in the valley of San. The castle was the home of the Kmita family. It was destroyed in 1474 by Hungarian troops, in retaliation for the destruction in Upper Hungary caused by Pawel Jasiński. As of today, only fragments of the powerful defensive walls and the remains of towers and residential buildings remain of the medieval fortress. One of the most beautiful panoramas of the San river valley, unchanged despite hundreds of years of history, stretches from the terrace here.

Lesko town - it is a town often called the gate to the Bieszczady. Almost every tourist who goes to the Bieszczady mountains passes it. Very few tourists know that Lesko has one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Because of the age of preserved gravestones, the Jewish cemetery in Lesko is considered one of the most valuable necropolises in Poland. On about 3.2 hectares preserved to this day are over two thousand gravestones. The oldest preserved one is from 1548.

Not far from the Jewish cemetery located is a synagogue. The impressive building was built in the years 1626-1654. Although at first glance it resembles a castle rather than a temple, it is still a remnant of the Jewish place of worship. Its unique appearance made the experts of the subject acknowledge it as one of a kind in Poland. The defensive shape of the synagogue, however, has its historical roots. In the year 1526, King Zygmunt III Waza issued an edict in which he ordered the construction of fortified synagogues, to be included in the system of defensive walls of the country.

Kmita Castle - The construction of the castle began in 1538 on the site of a former wooden building. It was initiated by the Kmita family, which moved to Lesko from nearby Sobień. In the following years, the castle was the seat of the aristocratic families such as: Stadnicki, Mniszech, Ossoliński and Krasicki. Currently the castle serves as a guesthouse.

Another little-known attraction is the Lesko Stone. Lesko Stone is a protected monument of inanimate nature. The main rock is a 20-metre sandstone. Its top looks like it was carved by a sculptor. According to a legend, it is a girl cursed in stone. You can often see here stretched ropes - Lesko Stone is used as a climbing wall and more commercially - e.g. for Tyrolean rides. Due to the location along the main trail in the Bieszczady Mountains, Lesko Stone is mentioned in the literature several times. The beauty of the stone inspired Aleksander Fredro to write a special poem about it (Kamień nad Liskiem - A Stone above Lisko), the Stone is also featured in several other of his works. The Stone inspired also other writers, including Wincenty Pol, Oskar Kolberg and Stanisław Staszic.

Our trip ends in Uherce Mineralne. This village is one of the oldest towns in Bieszczady. The name of the village indicates the participation of the Hungarian population in setting it. At the railway station in Uherce Mineralne, tourists have the opportunity to rent a rail draisine. Bieszczadzkie Drezyny Rowerowe [Bike Draisines of Bieszczady] is a venture combining tourism and passion for the railway tradition. This - undoubtedly - most beautiful railway in Poland is over 140 years old! The railway line 108, which is used by the draisines, was built in 1872 on the order of the authorities of the Austrian Empire. It connected the First Hungarian-Galician Iron Railway with the railway line no. 96. You can admire it traveling this part of your trip with rail-cycle draisines, which are - like bikes-powered with the muscles of your legs. From the station in Uherce Mineralne, tourists can choose to ride (according to the timetable) in two directions: Ustrzyki Dolne or Zagórz.

1. Have you ever been in Bieszczady ?.

2. Would you like to move here ?.

3. Would you like to spend your next holiday in the Bieszczady ?.