Things To Do in Bialystock
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Bialystock Attractions
Unlike a typical rynek (market square), the handsomely restored Rynek Kosciuszki isn't a square but an elongated triangle. To the south of the Rynek, you'll find the city's landmark: the baroque-style Branicki Palace (Kilinskiego 1), built for Count Jan Klemens Branicki in 1726 with the aim of outshining the Wilanów Palace in Warsaw. Nazis wrecked the building, and it was reconstructed after the war. The modernized interior is now a medical academy, but the surrounding manicured gardens are good for photo opportunities. Also a casualty of the Nazis was the Great Synagogue (Suraska 3A), burned down in 1941 with an estimated 2,000 Jews trapped inside. A monument, in the skeletal shape of a dome, stands in its place. You'll find it behind the BGZ Bank. To see the other historical sites and monuments, pick up A Stroll in Biaystok from the Tourist Information office.
Tykocin
From the 16th to 17th centuries, Tykocin was one of the most influential Jewish communities outside Kraków. In August 1941, 2,500 Jewish men, women, and children, 50% of Tykocin's population, were marched to the nearby Lupochowo forest and murdered by the Nazis. The victims were buried in mass graves. In the Jewish Quarter, the baroque-style synagogue, built in 1642, miraculously survived the war. Today, it is one of the oldest and finest examples of Polish Orthodox synagogues. Visitors tracing Jewish history tend to combine Tykocin with a visit to Treblinka on the same day.
- Religious Site
Church of the Annunciation
Built in the early 16th century, the church is a unique specimen of a fortified temple that merges Byzantine and Gothic architectural styles. The main cornice is lined with orifices that were used as rifle ranges, while the prayer chamber was richly decorated with icons and frescoes.…Suprasl
- Religious Site
Church of the Holy Spirit
The largest Orthodox Church in Poland was built in 1982, and it has a delightfully unconventional, modern design. Its one central dome flanked by four smaller ones resembles a rising flame from afar. As of this writing, a new tower was being constructed. The doors are closed except…Bialystok - Religious Site
Mosque and Cemetery
The oldest mosque in Poland is a late-18th-century wooden building hidden behind a patch of trees. It bears a striking similarity to small wooden Orthodox churches because carpenters of Orthodox faith built it for the Tatars. During Prince Charles' 2010 official visit to Poland, he…Kruszyniany - Religious Site
Orthodox Monastery
The main attractions in town are in the Monastery compound, located to the north of Suprasl's town center. Founded in the early 16th century, the monks here had substantial influence in the religious life within and beyond Biaystok's borders. It hasn't always been smooth sailing for…Suprasl
