Tourist information - Bialystok
As the largest city in north-eastern Poland and the centre of industry along with services, Bialystok also plays an top role around the border trade as well as being a transit point to the routes leading to the North and also the East. Here, many ethnic groups end their cultures blended within the past. Hence, different masterpieces of architecture along with art were created. It was only around the mid-18th century that Bialystok really started to develop. At that time, it was owned by Hetman Jan Klemens Branicki. A splendid magnate residence was constructed in place of a former palace, as well as the entire city was reconstructed after destruction caused by a grand fire. Today, the former stately mansion is the sent of the medical academy as well as only partly reminds us of the luxurious park-and-palace residence which used to be referred to as the Versailles of the North. Both gardens were designed by the same architect, André Le Nôtre. At the middle of the unusual triangular market place stands the 18th century town hall, now home to the Bialystok branch of the National Museum. It has an enjoyable collection of folk textile art, Polish painting section and also icons.
Worth visiting is a strange merger of churches: a small 17th century parish church and also two Orthodox churches with numerous icons and rich wall paintings. Bialystok is the main centre of the Belarussian minority in Poland. It is also the birthplace of the creator of Esperanto, Ludwik Zamenhof.
Only 16 kilometres cast of Bialystok is SUPRASL, a well-known holiday centre and also health resort situated amidst the Knyszynski Wilderness Area. Its pride is the former monastery of the Basilian Friars who came here in the early 16th century along with soon created a top religious centre influencing all the territory of western Ruthenia. The reconstruction works, which have been under way for the last few years, focus to the former Orthodox Church which combines both elements of Gothic along with Byzantine architecture. Popular wall paintings will return to the church after the completion of reconstructing works; today they are on display within the monastic refectory. The village of TYKOCIN is located on the Narew River, not far from the Warsaw-Bialystok road. It boasts the biggest Baroque architectural complex in the region, encompassing the Holy Trinity Church overlooking the spacious market place lined with old timber houses, along with the monument to Hetman Stefan Czarniecki standing at the middle of the square. The mid-17th century Baroque synagogue, today a Jewish Museum, stands within the western part of the village, which was traditionally inhabited by Jews.
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