Sightseeing and attractions in Supraśl

different icons in a room stylized as a hermits cave — I think this room made the biggest impression on me. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Supraśl was the second town that I decided to include in my itinerary to Białystok. Just like Tykocin, Supraśl is a small, charming town beautifully situated by the river called also Supraśl. What is interesting, Supraśl is located near rich deposits of healing mud. Thanks to the purity of the air, lack of industrial centers, microclimate and ecological values of the town, in 1999 Supraśl was recognized as a health resort.

My attention was particularly drawn to the Orthodox male monastery of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Apostle John the Theologian and Museum of Icons.

very rich interior of the orhodox church, with a golden chandelier and image of Christ on a ceiling — The image of Christ on the ceiling. Monastery in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

In my opinion these are the biggest attractions of Supraśl. The Monastery is one of the five orthodox male monasteries in Poland. Its history dates back to the 15th century. In the 16th century, the monastery in Supraśl became one of the most important Orthodox centers in the First Polish Republic. The monks also collected and copied books. In the monastery, the Supraska Icon of the Mother of God became particularly important. It was believed to have the power to create miracles. Unfortunately, its fate was tragic. In 1915, when the Supraśl monks went on a mass evacuation, they took the image with them, along with many other valuable pieces of equipment. Bishop of Bialystok Włodzimierz, who was also the superior of the monastery, took the image to the Church of the Protection of the Mother of God on the Moat in Moscow. The icon was never brought back to Supraśl, finally it was lost. Today, a copy of it is worshiped in the monastery. Worth seeing is also the Church of St. John the Theologian and the Museum of Icons.

If you have never seen iconostases or icons, or if you want to expand your knowledge on this subject, Supraśl will be perfect for you. It was here that I learned that icons are not painted, icons are written. The magic and beauty of the icons shown in the interactive museum enchanted me. Anyway, look at my photos and see for yourself. Visit Supraśl with me.

More information about Supraśl you can find on Wikipedia

How far is it from Warsaw to Supraśl?

The distance from Warsaw to Supraśl is 213 km.

How far is it from Białystok to Supraśl?

The distance from Bałystok to Supraśl is only 16 km. It is really worth going to this charming town and seeing everything it has to offer.

The entire monastery complex seen from the outside.

the monastery complex seeing from outside, from the parking place — The parking in Supraśl was for free in 2021. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Museum of Icons in Supraśl is a branch of the Podlaskie Museum and is located in the Orthodox monastery in Supraśl. In the collection of the Podlaskie Museum there are about 1.200 icons. A large part of this collection consists of icons confiscated by customs officers during attempts to smuggle them to Poland from across the eastern border. Those icons were donated to the museum after the court proceedings were completed.

old icon of the image of Christ from the 18th century — For me it's a masterpiece. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The exhibition has a multimedia character. The exhibits are enriched with light, visual and sound settings. All this, as well as the decorations in each of the 9 rooms (referring to, among others, the interior of an Orthodox church, a hermit's cave or a country hut, are supposed to put the viewers in a contemplative mood and help to understand the role (not only religious, but also historical and moral) icons in Orthodoxy.

Unusual stylization of the hermit's cave - just amazing!!!

a woman and a boy are watching an exhibition of icons in a room stylized as a hermits cave — We are in hermit's cave. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

three icons close up in a room stylized as a hermits cave — Icons in this incredibly charismatic place. Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the boy is looking at the model of the monastery — In the movie you can see how the icon is created. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

In the museum you can see, for example, icons related to Christ, the Mother of God, the 12 most important church holidays, icons depicting individual saints (including St. Nicholas and St. George)

an old icon with the image of Christ — Some of the icons are very old. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

icon of mary with the baby in a silver frame — Some of the icons are very old. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a wall with icons of saints — Images of saints. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

In February 2007, the first permanent exhibition entitled “Icon. The image and the word – between what is ephemeral and eternal” was opened. The exhibition includes about 300 icons, sacral objects (like crosses below) and unique frescoes.

old Orthodox crosses from Russia dating from the 18th to the 19th centuries. — Orthodox crosses from the 18th-19th century. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Look at this icons….. aren't they wonderful?

full of colour icon of mary with the baby — Pure beuaty. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by. A. Rybczyńska

icon of mary with the baby covered with gold paint — Pure beuaty. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by. A. Rybczyńska

Visitors can also see the so-called "holy corner", a home altar with an icon, placed in the window of an original window from one of the old houses in Podlasie.

two boys are standing in front of an old wooden window, inside there is a stylized chamber with icons — The original window from an old house. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by. A. Rybczyńska

the family is looking at the exhibits in one of the halls of the museum of icons — We found out a lot of useful and interesting information. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a man is standing on the stairs inside the museum, behind him an exhibition in the form of a small church — Another interesting exhibit. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the boy is standing by the large poles on which the icons are hung — The exhibition of frescoes. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by. A. Rybczyńska

a woman stands in front of a wall on which images of saints are painted — Painted images of saints. The Museum of Icons in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyński

The Orthodox male monastery of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Apostle John the Theologian makes an impression.

a woman is standing in the foreground, a lawn with pine trees behind her, and a monastery can be seen from behind the trees — The whole complex is amazing. There is even a souvenir shop where you can buy, for example, an icon. Monastery in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyński

We were just after the feast in honor of the Supraska Icon of the Mother of God. This is one of the most important holidays celebrated in the Supraśl Monastery of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. It is celebrated every year on August 10. That is why the icon is so beautifully decorated with flowers.

image of Our Lady of Supraska — The Supraska Icon of the Mother of God. Monastery in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

very rich interior of the orhodox church, with a golden chandelier and images of saints on the walls, in the foreground there is a man and two boys — The interior is outstanding. Monastery in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a man and a boy in the orthodox church highly decorated — Despite the time of the pandemic, there were many visitors. The guide was a monk. Monastery in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian was built in the years 1889-1891 during the partitions. It served the Orthodox monks until 1915.

a building of a orthodox church — The area of the complex is very well maintained. Orthodox Church in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

richly decorated iconostasis — The iconostasis in all its glory. Orthodox Church in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy and a woman are standing in front of the richly decorated iconostasis — The interior full of splendour. Orthodox Church in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyński

an image of the Mother of God behind glass, placed on a wooden altar — The icon beautifully decorated with flowers because of the feast. Orthodox Church in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Real Podlasie smells of flavors of traditional dishes. Kartacze, potato cake, potato sausage, Lithuanian cold soup and even podpiwek are available in an excellent restaurant with regional specialties.

a woman and a man are eating traditional Podlasie dishes, on the plates there are grapeshot, potato cake, potato dumplings and boiled beets — My father took “plate with regional specialties”. It was so tasty! A restaurant in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

An interesting exhibition in an old building.

on the old brick building there are huge black-and-white photos depicting the former inhabitants of the town — One of the street in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the boy is standing by the street, behind him a brown wooden house — Buildings typical of small towns in the Podlasie region. Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The historic weavers' houses were built on the initiative of Wilhelm Fryderyk Zachert. He was the owner of the first textile factory in Supraśl. Factory workers lived in the houses.

a boy and two men are standing on the sidewalk, behind them a brown wooden house — In the photo one of the weavers' houses in Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

Magnificent building The Buchholtz Palace is a historic palace in Supraśl, erected at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. It was a noble residence of a German factory owner's family (they were engaged in the textile industry). Currently, there is a State Secondary School of Fine Arts named after Artur Grottger. Unfortunately, when we were in Supraśl, the Buchholtz Palace was under renovation.

renovated building with a white facade — In the photo you can see fantastic entrance to the building. Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman is standing on a pier, a river flows below her, a monastery is visible in the background — I am on the Supraśl River, the monastery looms in the background. Photo by A. Rybczyński

the family is heading to the pier, there is a red kayak in front of the pier on the river bank — A walk in Supraśl along the riverbank. Photo by A. Rybczyński

three Indian tents stand on the lawn, the family watches the llamas — There was even an Indian village with llamas. Supraśl. Photo by A. Rybczyński

How to get to Supraśl Orthodox Monastery?

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