Visit and attractions in Białystok

in the foreground a woman and a boy, behind them an illuminated palace — The lights soften the contours of the buildings. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

In my opinion, Podlasie is a region similar to Warmia and Mazury. It is picturesquely situated with lazy rivers and lakes, idyllic landscapes and charming towns. There are 4 national parks within it, and the Białowieża Forest was entered on the UNESCO list in 1976. Podlasie is not contaminated with industry, big cities, crowded streets and traffic jams. It is a land where you can rest, relax, take a break from the hustle and bustle of cities, get some fresh air, be closer to nature, slow down your rhythm and not rush. This does not mean, however, that there is nothing to see in Podlasie. There are plenty of attractions here, maybe slightly different than those offered by Warsaw, Krakow, Gdańsk or Wrocław. It is worth seeing the Castle in Tykocin, the Museum of Icons in Supraśl or the Branicki Palace in Białystok.

a French-style garden in front of the palace, the fountain close up — South side of the Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The main goal of our trip to Podlasie was its capital. Białystok (is called the Green Lungs of Poland, almost 1/3 of its area is occupied by green areas) has a lot to offer. In the foreground is the Branicki Palace, called the Polish Versailles or the Versailles of the North. It is also worth visiting the Planty City Park, the Orthodox Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Kościuszko Market, the Great Gate "Gryf" or the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit.

As I wrote above, probably the most important attraction of the city is the Branicki Palace. The palace is one of the best-preserved aristocratic residences of the Saxon era in the lands of the former Poland in the late Baroque style. Its origins date back to the 16th century. In the beginning, it was a brick castle in the Gothic-Renaissance style, over time it was completely rebuilt in the late-Baroque style by three architects: Tylman of Gameren, Jan Zygmunt Deybel and Jakub Fontana. In the 17th century, the castle became the seat of the Branicki family, Gryf coat of arms.

entrance to the palace complex in the form of a large gate with a griffin on top, the gate is white and yellow — The Great Gate “Gryf” leading to the Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Branicki family gathered around them many outstanding artists, poets and scientists. There was a theatre, a court orchestra and a ballet group, and Italian actresses came for guest performances. At Branicki's court stayed for instance: King August II, King August III with his family, Charles Krystian Wettyn, Duke of Courland, Bishop Ignacy Krasicki, King of Poland Stanisław August Poniatowski, Emperor Joseph II Habsburg, Grand Duke Paul, later Tsar, and his wife, King Louis XVIII. After the fall of the I Republic of Poland, the heirs sold the residence to the Prussian king in 1802. After the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807, the palace passed into the hands of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. The palace survived World War I without major damage but during World War II, the palace was destroyed in 1944 and after the war it was rebuilt in 1946–1960. Currently, there is the Medical University of Bialystok.

Noteworthy are also the wonderful gardens located at the Palace. In the upper part there is a French garden, and in the lower part there is an English-style garden. Visit Białystok with me.

More information about Białystok you can find on Wikipedia

How far is is from Warsaw to Białystok?

The distance from Warsaw to Białystok is 200 km.

What to see in Białystok?

I highly recommend visiting the Branicki Palace, the Orthodox Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Kościuszko Market and the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit.

I invite you to see Bialystok through my eyes :)

the family is walking along the park towards the gate leading to the park — We are heading to the Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two boys are standing on the path leading to the palace which is in the background. The facade is yellow and white. In front of the palace, on both sides of it, there are two fountains. — The Branicki Palace called the Polish Versailles. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

entrance to the palace complex in the form of a large gate with a griffin on top seeing from inside, the gate is white and yellow — The Great Gate “Gryf" seen from inside. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a man is leaning against a stone sculpture, on the pedestal there is a stone statue of a man killing a snake with a club — A large monument in the palace complex. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy is standing in front of the castle, close up photo — The Branicki Palace in all its glory. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a statue of Sisyphus and two boys who flex their biceps to show that they are strong too — I think that they would like to be so strong as Atlas :) The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a model of the Branicki Palace — A model of the Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy is sitting on a stone, in the background trees and a church — Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Białystok emerges from among the trees. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two boys are standing by a large red and white striped flowerpot, behind them is a French-style garden — Fantastic garden with many sculptures. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two men and a woman are standing in front of the palace, they are in the garden — The Branicki Palace seen from the garden. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman and a man are standing by the monument expressing the zodiac sign of fish — We are standing by the zodiac sign of Pisces, which refers to our surname. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by M. Rybczyński

a palace garden in the foreground and the palace in the background — The garden is in a French style. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a black great gate with a gold statue of a bird on top, on the gate there are gold ornaments, a woman is standing in front of it — The so-called "Pavilion under the eagle" looks very impressively. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman and two boys are walking along the paths in the palace garden — A walk along the palace paths. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman is standing in the garden belonging to the palace, she is standing next to a figure of putti eating grapes — These sculptures are really cute. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman is walking along the paths in the palace garden, a golden gate with gold bird on top and a palace in the background, behind the trees two church towers loom — I saw all the sculptures. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman is standing by the monument expressing the zodiac sign of twins — Finally, I found my zodiac sign - Gemini :) The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two boys are standing by the monument expressing the zodiac sign of capricorn — My kids are twins. Their zodiac sign is Capricorn. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Before I started my great adventure with traveling, my friend told me: "You have to visit the city at night. Such a city looks completely different". She was absolutely right. Since then, I always try to see my targets at night.

a family is standing in front of the castle, the palace is illuminated because it is already evening — The illuminations begin in the evening. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a man and a boy are standing in front of the castle, the palace is illuminated because it is already evening — In the courtyard of the Branicki Palace in Białystok. Photo by A. Rbczyńsks

there is an evening, a man is standing on a path leading to the palace, the palace is in the background — My husband seems to be in a good mood :) The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

small trees in the foreground, a palace in the background — Beautifully illuminated of the Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a fragment of the palace visible from the outside, several columns topped with capitals in the Ionic style, men and a boy standing next to the columns — Look at the column capitals in the Ionic style. The Branicki Palace. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

We also wanted to see the heart of Białystok….. the market square so we went for a walk.

a statue of John of Nepomuk on a pedestal stands on the street — On the way we passed the statue of Jan Nepomucen in Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a statue of priest Jerzy Popieluszko on a pedestal, two boys are by the statue — We also saw the statue of priest Popiełuszko in Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a gothic church made of red bricks — We went to the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the main altar in a gothic church — The main altar in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

decorative altar in a gothic church — The altar of Our Lady of Czestochowa. In the heart of the altar there is an image of Our Lady of Czestochowa. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a family is on the old market — The market square in Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

Ludwik Zamenhof was a Polish doctor of Jewish descent. He was also the creator of the Esperanto language. Esperanto was supposed to be an international language. Currently, this language is used mainly by its enthusiasts, who associate in Esperanto clubs all over the world. Esperanto has not been recognized as an official language in any country in the world. Zamenhof was nominated eight times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

two boys are near the statue of the little man who was the creator of the Esperanto language — The monument to young Ludwik Zamenhof and scattered letters next to him. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a view of a Orthodox Church with a large dark dome — Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the entrance to the Orthodox Church, brown door and white wall of the church — I couldn't take a photo inside because the mass was being celebrated (but the atmosphere was incredible). Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

the family is in the square, in the foreground a pot with white and purple flowers, in the background restaurants with outdoor gardens — Sometimes even we need rest. We stopped for a drink. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman is taking a selfie, behind her are umbrellas from outdoor restaurant — Behind me is the tower of the town hall in Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The next day we went to see orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit.

very large Orthodox Church close up — The temple is the largest Orthodox church in Poland. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

very large Orthodox Church — The size of the temple makes an impression. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a panoramic photo of an Orthodox Church — The panoramic photo. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

a woman and a boy are on the stairs leading to the Orthodox Church — In front of the entrance. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

the boy is standing by the image of christ, which is placed in a rectangular pillar made of bricks — A mosaic decorates the base of the bell tower. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the boy is standing by the openwork gate leading to the orthodox church — An openwork gate leading to the orthodox church area. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The iconostasis was built for ten years. Four artists from Minsk and four from Pochaev worked on the sculpture. The icons for the iconostasis - 260 in total - were written by Wiktor Downar and Aleksander Łoś.

an iconostase in an orthodoxe church — I shouldn't have taken photo inside - but I couldn't resist. The interior is so huge. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The belfry is located near the temple, it also serves as a gate leading to the orthodox church area. The tower is 70 m high and has ten bells. The bells differ in weight - the largest weighs 800 kg, the lightest - 18 kg.

a woman and a boy are near the huge orthodox church, behind them there is a big tower — The building is decorated with motifs of Greek crosses and mosaics. Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyński

The monument of Archangel Michael, several meters high, stands on a small mound in the orthodox church square.

a boy is standing in front of a statue of an angel with wings — Piotrek and Archangel Michael in Białystok. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

How to get to Białystok

Cities