10 reasons to go to Bieszczady!

We were enchanted by Bieszczady and quickly realised that we don’t want to leave. We already plan a trip back there – maybe during winter, maybe next year in spring or in the summer so we can walk around the mountains more? Once again, we realised that the furthest spots on the map are the most magical and charming. Yesterday ,when I spoke with my cousin from USA and she asked me what to see in Poland I instantly named Podlasie, Suwalszczyzna and Bieszczady. Places that are the most distinct, not spoiled by mass tourism, plastic rubbish, kebabs and omnipresent cheating. We felt the difference even more, when 3 days after coming back from Bieszczady, we found ourselves on the other end of Poland. We drove around big and small resorts of Zachodniopomorskie province… No magic there, no wows, no “I want to get back!” thoughts. What is it about Bieszczady that this magic is so overwhelming and why should you go there?

After 4 days spent there, I already have 10 reasons It may not be that much, but for me, after just 4 days, it’s quite a lot. A lot of things that make me wanna get back there.

 

1) MOUNTAINS, VIEWS, NATURE

 

Do I really have to say how amazing it is? It’s quite an obvious thing isn’t it? Even if you go for a short walk only, you will find the views amazing. For us, a walk to the mountain shelter in Mała Rawka was enough to develop an urge for more mountain hikes! We didn’t have enough time on this occasion, but we’ll surely make it up on our next trip! The view from our hotel room made us cheerful in 2 minutes after a 7 hour long trip in the car! And if you go see Połonina Wetlińska then you’ll surely be amazed!

2) PEACEFUL AND QUIET

 

 

Peace, silence and relaxation are things that can fascinate anybody in Bieszczady. I guess that’s why so many people treat it almost as a refuge or a place to run away and hide when you need time for yourself. I guess that’s why people who fell in love with the mountains come here and start new lives. Tiny villages, total darkness at night, peacefulness, no crowded inns or loud discos like in highlander resorts in Tatra mountains. Here, you can really rest and forget about everyday race.

 

3) PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES

People are everywhere. You can listen to interesting stories and find soul mates everywhere. What’s so special about the stories from Bieszczady? Why are they so appealing? Maybe because each one shows the love for this place? 🙂

 

4) GIANT PANCAKE AND CHATA WĘDROWCA

 

 

I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t mention at least one culinary reason to pay a visit to a certain place! For me, the giant pancake from Chata Wędrowca in Wetlina is the main culinary reason to come to Bieszczady! We heard about it a long time before we came here. I looked forward to it, prepared for it, my mouth watered.. I even started thinking if I’m not exaggerating? Maybe It will disappoint me? ? But no! The pancake totally met my expectations – fluffy, with lots of blueberries and cream! Amazing! And don’t be scared by the price (PLN 38 for a pancake???), half of it for PLN 19 will do. Or even a half of a half. Charming Chata Wędrowca where you can eat the pancake makes it a strong reason to go there. You have to be quick though, since Chata Wędrowca as it is today, will only operate until the end of October. Next year it will come back brand new. I’m sure it’s going to be equally perfect. just DON’T KILL THE PANCAKE!!! 🙂

 

5) BEAR’S BEER AT URSA MAIOR

 

 

We all like local beers, don’t we? Apart from producing tasty beer, Ursa Maior amazes with the idea to run the brewery, with the design, beer labels, poetic names. The place itself is also remarkable. Ursa Maior is one of the musts when you’re in Bieszczady. Drink Deszcz w Cisnej, eat chocolate with hops and malts and have a bite on a pretzel.

 

6) PANCAKES WITH MOKED TROUT IN CARPATIA HOTEL

 

 

Fluffy pancakes with smoked trout and caramelised onion must have been the first meal that got to our must-eat list in Bieszczady. We didn’t expect such style of cooking somewhere at the end of the world! We already know that these pancakes aren’t only our must-eat in Bieszczady.

 

7) LOCAL GOAT’S CHEESE AND VENISON IN WILCZA JAMA

 

 

With trigonella, pepper, sundried tomatoes and basil. Ricotta or a smoked one, produced from a mysterious little smokehouse somewhere in the backyard. And you know when do they taste best? When you find such places accidentally. On a rainy Sunday, we knocked on the door of a lonely house somewhere off the road, only because there was a sign “Goat’s cheese. Kozi Wypas (Hefty Goats)”. One of the best moments of the trip! Look, search and ask! We came over the goat’s cheese on our way from Wilcza Jama, a restaurant known for venison. If you’re into deer goulash, boar pate or roast, you have to go there. And if you’re lucky, you could see the wolves in the neighbourhood!

 

8) CREATIVE WORKSHOPS IN ZAGRODA

Photo and pottery workshop, baking bread, gathering herbs, painting on glass, time lapse workshop… something for everybody. I don’t know about you, but we love all kinds of themed trips. Maks loves them too and he eagerly takes part in all the activities. Apart from the workshops, the place is located beautifully in a calm and peaceful surrounding, far from everyday problems.

 

9) BIESZCZADY FOREST RAILWAY

 

 

If you come to Bieszczady with children, thenthe forest railway is an absolute must. The train runs once or twice a day (check the schedule before going!) and departs from Majdan near Cisna. Bieszczady narrow-gauge railway has a really long history. The first steam locomotive arrived there in 1898! It’s usually a crowded place, but the kids will surely love it. When you arrive in Balnica, you can enjoy Bieszczady “street food” – bread with lard, grilled sausages, cakes and delicious fruit jellies!

 

10) FOREST MINI ZOO IN LISZNA

 

 

 

One more thing that will make any kid happy! We found ourselves in Liszna only because we made a mistake when we checked the train’s schedule! We had nothing much to do and the lady who sold us tickets suggested a trip to the mini zoo. We walked and walked for a while and finally got there. A modest entrance and a lot of interesting animals inside – deer, fallow deer, boars, raccoons, meerkats, chinchillas, various squirrels, swans and ducks. Great thing for all children! The mini zoo also includes a miniature reproduction of a tiny village in Bieszczady with a tiny orthodox church and wooden huts. Maks didn’t like it as much as the meerkats and raccoons but I loved it! Same as the road form Majdan to Liszna… magical!

 

 

 

And what do you like the most in magical Bieszczady:)

 

#MagicalBieszczady is a project that aims to show the extraordinariness of this region, the beauty of the nature and the stories of the locals. New TV series “Wataha” takes place in Bieszczady – it premieres on 12th October 2014 on HBO. More to come soon at hbo.pl/magicznebieszczady

 

 

*the entry was written in cooperation with