Culture of Bialystok. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Bialystok and its neighborhoods have much to offer to tourists. There are many unusual places of interest that attract tourists from all over the world to the city. Start your acquaintance with Bialystok from the central market. It has an unusual triangle shape and is one of the oldest markets not only in the city but also in the whole country. It is possible to buy virtually everything there, from fresh food and pastries to handcrafts and souvenirs. One of the most prominent landmarks of Bialystok, the City Hall building, is located in the center of the market. After a thorough restoration, a museum appeared there, so all tourists can now take a look at priceless historical artifacts and get acquainted with the history of one of the oldest cities in Poland.

Podlasie Museum is one more landmark that tourists will find interesting to attend as the venue exhibits a rich collection of ethnographic and archeological artifacts. One of the museum’s halls is dedicated to a collection of art with “portraits of great Polish personalities”, so fans of art will also not be disappointed with the museum. The city’s neighborhood is the location of one more museum that is worth visiting – the Bialystok Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture. This is a large open-air complex that greets thousands of tourists every year. Other interesting cultural venues of the city are the Military Museum and numerous art galleries, the majority of which are located in the historical district of the city.

Gorgeous historical buildings remain the main treasure of Bialystok. There are more than two hundreds of them in the city. Absolutely all vacationers should see Branicki Palace – the magnificently elegant building even has an informal name “Polish Versailles”. A large park area surrounds the building, so tourists are welcome to make a peaceful stroll in the shade of century-old trees. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

It is possible to see many old mansions and villas during a walk in the historical district of the city. Many of these eye-catching buildings have a rich history full of interesting stories and legends. Out of religious landmarks of Bialystok, it is important to mention an ancient church that was formed by merging two ancient churches. There are also several old cathedrals that keep many precious relics. Having explored Bialystok, consider visiting the small town of Tykocin that is also famous for its architectural landmarks and stunning natural attractions.

Bialystok is an old city, so a mere walk on its central district can easily replace an excursion. Such buildings as Dom Koniuszego or the House of the Equerry, both of which belong to the 18th century, have become true architectural landmarks of the region. The Palace of the Lubomirski family and the magnificent Dojlidy Park that is adjacent to the building is also a popular destination for both local people and guests of the city. The eye-catching 20th-century building belonged to the famous family of factory owners in the past. When it comes to religious landmarks of the city, it is important to mention the Holy Mary Cathedral, the Masonic lodge, and the fabulous Orthodox church of St Nicolas the Miracle-worker. Fans of architecture will also find it interesting to visit the Church of Christ the King and St Roch Church as they are famous as the first modernist churches in the world.

Fans of art will find it incredibly interesting to attend the Alfons Karny Museum of Sculpture that is open in a beautiful historical villa that once belonged to General Mikołaj Fiedorowicz baron von Driesen. This museum exhibits a large collection of works by the famous sculptor and regularly hosts interesting temporary exhibitions, for example, the INTERGRART International Meeting of Sculpting in Granite in Maćkowa Ruda.

If we talk about religious monuments located on the territory of Bialystok, then the following should be emphasized. Firstly, there is the Bazylika archikatedralna Wniebowzięcia Najświętszej Maryi Panny. This temple is huge and is considered the most beautiful temple in the region. The old building was built in the 17th century. A new extension was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The church is famous for its magnificent interior decoration – especially the altars, stained glass windows, as well as the organ. The cathedral also has an attractive exterior, hence you should ensure not to miss such a building.

There are also Orthodox churches in the city, called Parafia Prawosławna p.w. św. Mikołaja and Cerkiew więtego Ducha. The former shrine was built in the Byzantine style and is famous for its crypt, in which important Orthodox saints are buried – for example, the relics of the infant Gabriel. There are also very beautiful frescoes here, and a visit to the temple will leave nothing short of the brightest memories. Cerkiew więtego Ducha is the largest Orthodox Church in the city. It is built with the observance of modern trends and tendencies, and has the shape of flames. The construction of the church began in the 1980s and was completed in 1999.

Parafia Rzymskokatolicka Sw. Rocha is another beautiful Catholic cathedral in Bialystok. The building looks rather unusual if you get to know that it is a religious monument. One notable thing in the church is the tower, which is definitely worth climbing to – at least to enjoy superb views of the city. The church was built in the year 1925. Its interior is rather ascetic, and its most important asset is the sculpture of Jesus Christ. It is also worth noting that a memorial in honor of those killed during the Holocaust is installed in Bialystok. The sculpture is very beautiful – especially so that people pay attention to it and do not forget the happenings of World War II.

In addition to the Podlasie Museum, there are several other institutions in the city that are worth visiting. One of them is Muzeum Historii Medycyny i Farmacji, where exhibits such as medical instruments, ancient recipes, and alcohol preserved parts of the body affected by various diseases are presented – thus explaining how medicine has developed. Be sure to visit Podlaskie Muzeum Kultury Ludowej, in order to get closer acquainted with the life of the local residents. On the territory of the open-air museum you will discover interesting sculptures, houses in which the ancestors of locals lived at one time or the other, as well as buildings necessary for life support in the countryside – a mill, granary, hangar, bakery, and cheese-making factory.