Hajnowski: Primeval Forest, Trails and Culture

The Białowieża Forest is the most important forest complex in Hajnowski County. It is considered the best-preserved lowland forest in Europe in the deciduous and mixed forest zone. The Białowieża National Park lies within the forest: it covers 10,500 hectares and was established in 1921. Nature experiences here range from marked routes to trails with special access requirements.

Forest trails with different levels of difficulty

In Hajnówka, the “Kraina Puszczy i Żubra” Nordic Walking Park has seven marked routes equipped with maps. They range from 3 to 21 km in length. The routes start at the water park in Hajnówka or at the “Zwierzyniec” car park on regional road 689 between Hajnówka and Białowieża. When choosing a route, you can first take its stated length into account. The “Pętla Żubra” is 15 km long; it is estimated to take about three hours.

At Białowieża National Park, it is important to distinguish between the rules for each trail. The “Do Dębu Jagiełły” route passes through a strictly protected area and may only be walked with a tourist guide licensed by the park director. Individual visitors, by contrast, can walk the “Carska Tropina,” “Wilczy Szlak,” “Wokół Uroczyska Głuszec” and “Tropem Żubra” trails, as well as the “Przez trzy zbiorowiska” educational trail, without a guide. When planning your outings, you can choose between these explicitly different access requirements.

Crafts, music and regional culture

In Hajnówka, the Museum of Blacksmithing and Locksmithing tells the story of a family forge founded in 1927. The museum has 586 exhibits. Experiences there include blacksmithing demonstrations; visitors can try striking red-hot iron with a hammer themselves. The visit thus combines the history of the craft with a hands-on experience.

Music and cultural traditions are also part of what Hajnówka has to offer. Since 2002, the International Festival Hajnowskie Dni Muzyki Cerkiewnej has been held as a week-long competition in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. The Museum and Cultural Centre of Belarusians organizes craft and art workshops, as well as the recurring ethnographic festivals “Kultura na schodach muzeum” and “I tam żywuć ludzi.” Those interested in traces of the town’s history can also follow the Szlak Pamięci Hajnówki: the route leads to traces of past cultures and events that shaped Hajnówka and its residents.

At the Podlachia Monument Miniature Park, information boards beside the models explain the history of the buildings depicted and related details. A visit can thus focus on architectural and historical themes, alongside the craft and cultural attractions in Hajnówka.

Narrow-gauge railway from Hajnówka

The tourist narrow-gauge railway runs 11 km from Hajnówka to Topiło. Since 2001, another route has run 6 km from Hajnówka into the valley of the Leśna River. An audio guide in Polish and English covers topics related to the railway, the Białowieża Forest and the forest settlement of Topiło. This offers another way to discover the region through its forest and railway history. When looking for a hotel in Hajnowski, you can consider whether your trip will focus more on nature trails, cultural sites in Hajnówka or the narrow-gauge railway.

Discover more places

More places at this level: Dubicze Cerkiewne, Bialowieza, Postołowo, Narewka, Janowo, Krynica, Hajnówka, Tarnopol, Kruhlik, Leśna, Pogorzelce, Kleszczele, Łuka, Orzeszkowo, Siemianówka, Nowoberezowo, Lewkowo Stare, Trześcianka, Gruzka, Wiluki and Czeremcha.

For the overview of the wider region: Podlachia.