Natural and cultural jewels of the Poloniny and Bieszczady Moutains
Practical information: 3-day tourism product
Locations: Poloniny – Medzilaborce – Sanok
Recommended mode of transport: car, bus
Product description:
The Slovakia-Poland border region of the Prešov region and Podkarpackie Voivodeship with its natural values and cultural sites is unique in both countries. Peace and quiet that you find here in the lap of the Carpathian landscape is underlined by the occurrence of the extraordinary European terrestrial mammal, the European bison. You can get enchanted by a number of protected landscape areas that are registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In addition to the unspoiled wilderness you can enjoy the cultural and technical sites that present testimony to the great maturity of people living on both sides of the border. The Carpathian Arc is a place where different ethnic groups have lived together for several hundreds of years. The Rusyns, and Lemkos on the Polish side, are a dominant minority ethnic group. One of the most prominent figures coming from this region is a founder of pop art, world known Andy Warhol. However, the history has apart from light also shade, which is testified by remembrance places commemorating the tragic events of World War I and II.
Itinerár:
1. day
9.00 – 09.30 ➡️ Info centre – Poloniny National Park management centre
In the information centre in Nová Sedlica you can get basic information about the protected area of the Poloniny National Park. S
It also serves for scientific purposes, holds many conservationist events, workshops and competitions focused on conservation. The Poloniny NP is the only territory in Slovakia where the European bison lives in the wild. The encounter with this biggest European terrestrial mammal is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience. In the region there are about 40 of them. Recommended time for tour: 30 minutes
9.30 – 12.30 ➡️ Hiking in the nature /Bicycle trip – Meadow of Honey Woman
Meadow of Honey Woman is situated on the route from Nová Sedlica to the peak of Riaba skala. It is a large meadow with a monumental statue of a woman – Honey Woman that is 7 metres tall and illustrates a modest and humble female beekeeper who became famous due to her quality mountain honey. Her statue was made by Marek Žitňan and was erected in 2002. Also today you can enjoy the beautiful wilderness, views, peace and quiet and obviously meadows full of flowers and herbs. Recommended time for tour: 2 hours
Lunch
13.15 – 13.30 ➡️ Uličské Krivé
The Wooden Greek Catholic Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Uličské Krivé is a national cultural monument and a unique wooden church in Slovakia. It was built in 1718. When entering the church, do not overlook the Baroque style gate with the original hinges and the iconostasis from the eighteenth century inside. Recommended time for tour: 15 minutes
13.45 – 14.15 ➡️ Ulič
Mini Wooden Church Open-Air Museum in Ulič is an interesting tourist attraction in one of the easternmost Slovak villages. It displays models of east-Slovak wooden churches that are intrinsic part of the national cultural heritage. You will find it outside in the pleasant municipal park and it is freely accessible to the public. Recommended time for tour: 30 minutes
14.40 – 15.00 ➡️ Starina Reservoir
The largest drinking water reservoir in Slovakia and also the largest source of drinking water in Central Europe. It is situated in the north-eastern Upper Zemplín and is also an important bird location and wintering ground for bats. In addition to its beautiful surrounding areas it also pays to visit the internal premises of this man-made reservoir. Recommended time for tour: 20 minutes
15.10 – 15.30 ➡️ Beskyd Pantheon
Symbolic cemetery of prominent figures from the Poloniny region. It commemorates people who lived, worked and created in the region or just went through it and left their footprints there. It is inextricably linked particularly with Rusyn cultural figures. Recommended time for tour: 20 minutes
* Tip around - Jalová
Greek Catholic Wooden Church of Sts. Juraj Veľkomučenik in Jalová is another unique work connected with the cultural legacy of people living in the region below Poloniny. It was built in 1792 and belonged to the so-called. "A fur coat temple" as it was plastered and whitewashed. The building, which is a national cultural monument, has a simple log construction built on a stone foundation. Recommended time for tour: 20 minutes
16.00 – 17.00 ➡️ Snina
Rholl Family Mannor House in Snina is a dominant historic building in the town. Its reconstructed premises house a museum exhibition, art gallery and library. When visiting you can learn a lot of interesting information, for example, about the Rholl family that came from the Gemer region to develop the region and pick its economy up. Recommended time for tour: 1 hour
Dinner
21.00 – 23.00 ➡️ Kolonické sedlo
In the astronomical observatory at the Kolonice Saddle you can experience an unforgettable observation of the night sky. This field office of the Vihorlat Observatory in Humenné in situated in the location with a very low level of light pollution. Its astronomical equipment includes the Vihorlat National Telescope (VNT), the second most powerful telescope in Slovakia with the diameter of the main mirror of 1 metre. It also includes a planetarium built under the project of Carpathian Sky. Recommended time for tour: 1 hour – or longer if agreed– observation only under good weather conditions
2. day
08.30 – 10.00 ➡️ Múzeum Zemplínske Hámre
Zemplínske Hámre Museum – the place which served to hammer mill workers turned into a museum in 2015. Do not miss the opportunity to learn about mining traditions in the region which is not known for such activities. The village houses more separate exhibitions (hammer mill, underground mine, replica of narrow-gauge railway). Recommended time for tour: 1,5 hour
10.30 – 10.50 ➡️ Osadné
Crypt in Osadné is a unique cultural site, where a crypt of 1,025 soldiers who died in fierce combats of World War I lies under the altar part of the Orthodox Church of Ascension of Lord. This is the only place in Slovakia with such a large burial ground under the church. Recommended time for tour: 20 minutes
11.30 – 11.50 ➡️ Krásny Brod
Monastyr of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Krásny Brod is one of the oldest and most significant Byzantine rite monasteries in Slovakia. Krásny Brod is the oldest place of pilgrimage of the current Prešov Greek Catholic Eparchy. The visit to the monastery will leave you with a deep spiritual experience. Recommended time for tour: 20 minutes
Lunch break
12.45 – 14.50 ➡️ Medzilaborce
➡️ Andy Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce
The museum hosts a permanent exhibition of Warhol works of art, especially, in the form of serigraphy. The most significant ones include a series of Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century, or a series of Ladies and Gentlemen. It also displays the artefacts linked with the life of Andy Warhol and his closest family members. For art lovers the visit to the Mecca of pop art is a great experience. Recommended time for tour: 1 hour
➡️ Good Soldier Švejk Statue in Medzilaborce is situated at the railway station. It was made during the international carver symposium in 2018 by the Czech artist Jakub Vlček. In the Slovakia-Poland cross-border region there are several statues of this humorous figure invented by the author Jaroslav Hašek (Humenné, Medzilaborce, Sanok, Przemysl, etc.). You can also find them in the Czech Republic, Russia and Ukraine and this way you have an opportunity to follow his footsteps, for example, also by taking a ride on the Švejk Train during the summer season between the towns of Medzilaborce and Sanok. Recommended time for tour: 10 minutes
Based in Medzilaborce will give you an insight into the traditional life of Rusyns in eastern Slovakia, particularly, in the Zemplín region. In addition to scale models of Rusyn houses and churches there is also a replica of the house of Andy Warhol´s parents of Miková. It offers an excellent opportunity to get insights into the way of life of the local inhabitants. The miniskanzen is only open seasonally during the summer monthsRecommended time for tour: 30 minutes
15.05 – 15.35 ➡️ Palota
World War I Cemetery in Palota is one of the locations that will make you think. It is located on the frequented road to Poland. 151 victims of World War I fights are buried in the cemetery. Altogether there are 28 graves. North-East Slovakia was the only territory in former Czechoslovakia that engaged in bloody clashes during World War I. A number of graves and war cemeteries commemorate the events. Recommended time for tour: 30 minutes
16.30 – 17.00 ➡️ Sobieň Castle
Sobieň Castle was built in the thirteenth century above the valley of the river San. From the ruins of the castle which is a protected area you can have a wonderful view of the entire surrounding areas. Time reserved for tour: 30 minutes
17.00 direction Sanok dinner + accomodation and free time
3. day
09.15 – 10.45 ➡️ Sanok - The Museum of Vernacular Architecture
The oldest facility of its kind in Poland. It was founded in 1958 and is also the largest Polish open-air museum. Over 200 wooden Carpathian type buildings are scattered in the area of 20 hectares and provide an insight into the life of the Polish and Rusyn ethnic groups in the region. Time reserved for tour: 1,5 hours
11.00 – 12.00 ➡️ Sanok city
Sanok is a town situated in the South-Eastern Poland and serves a s an entrance gate to the Bieszczads. It has a population of about 40,000. The historic town centre consists of well-preserved cultural and historic buildings including the royal castle with its historic museum with unique collections of icons and an open-air museum. The town lies on the banks of the river San that can be rafted down and offers many ways to relax but also for active learning. Recommended time for tour: 1.5 hour. More
Town established in the fourteenth century. When sightseeing you should not miss its most precious cultural site, the ruins of the Monastery of Discalced Carmelites dates back to the eighteenth century. Other sites of the town include the Parish Church of Assumption of Virgin Mary and Church of St. Michael. Recommended time for tour: 1 hour
Lunch break
14.30 – 15.00 ➡️ Turzaňsk
Turzaňsk – another place that was inhabited by Lemkos in the past. It has the Wooden Sacral Church of St. Michael the Archangel, built between 1801 – 1803, which is inscribed onto the UNESCO list. Recommended time for tour: 30 minutes
15.15 – 16.00 ➡️ Komaňcza
The village of Komaňcza lies on the territory inhabited by Lemkos in the past and is situated near Medzilaborce and Palota in the Slovakia-Poland cross-border region. The Wooden Church of Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1802, is a gem of eastern Lemko architecture. Another rarity is a Convent of Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth which looks as a Swiss style spa guesthouse. Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski was interned there between 1955 – 1956. Recommended time for tour: 45 minutes
Return home – dinner on the way to Prešov
