1. The Strictly Protected Area of Wildlife Conservation

Covering the best preserved part of the Białowieski Forest, located north of Białowieża, in the fork of Hwoźna and Narewka Rivers where the processes occuring in the forest are not regulated or controlled by humans. The biggest attraction of this area is the great variety of the forest landscapes and huge number of immense size trees. This is the most precious part of the Białowieski National Park [BNP] where the oldest treestands of Białowieski Forest have been preserved. Entry to this area is possible only in the company of a licensed guide.

2. European Bison Display Reserve

Located 3 km from Białowieża, north of the road Hajnówka – Białowieża in the land lot number 425. It has been established in 1936 in order to conduct the restitution works for the tarpan horses. After the end of WWII there has been separated a pen for the bisons and made available to the tourists. At present the hoofed mammals living in the forest are presented in the separate pens, thus apart from the bisons also deer, wild boars and elks and the Polish tarpan horses, cross between the bisons and the domesticated cattle, so called żubroń as well as wolves in a separate enclosure. The reserve is open in the summer daily within 09.00 and 17.00 hrs (out of season within 09.00 and 16.00, on Mondays closed). To get to European Bison Reserve one should turn right on the third kilometre on the road Białowieża – Hajnówka (driving from Białowieża). On foot it can be reached by the footbridge "Bison’s Ribs" (approximately 4 km long) from the Zastawa Street or Krzyże Street following the yellow marked trail.

3. Natural – Forest Museum and Palace Park

Park in the English garden type has been established by the end of XIX century according to the design of Walery Kronenberg at the palace of the Russian tsars who came to visit here while going on hunts. In order to achieve faster effect the older trees were planted already in the park. In the bottom of the Narewka River valley at the foot of the park hill some ponds have been dug which add to the landscape of the Park. On the area of the Park there are several building dating back to the end of XIX century, amongst others a memorial obelisk to commemorate the hunting of Augustus III the Saxon held in 1752, monumental manor house from 1845 – presently the seat of the Centre of Natural Education of the Białowieski National Park.

In place of once tsar’s palace at present there is the Natural-Forest Museum of the Białowieski National Park and "Parkowa" Restaurant (www.restauracjaparkowa.pl).

Natural-Forest Museum of the Białowieski National Park is exceptionally modern object of this type. It has been designed by a group of specialists in the field of nature, architecture and arts which has been appreciated by the professionals in the museology. In their reviews they claim that the exposition equals the leading worldwide arrangements. Following the latest trends the contents are presented in programme blocks such as: forest communities, beasts of prey, human activities etc. All the elements are exposed by use of diorama which allows to use the various media – light, sound and space. The multimedia arrangement applied provide the opportunity to get acquainted with the presented subjects in an interesting and pleasant manner. The interior design based on spiral plan, shaping of the floor, dimmed lights, the day and night effects, sounds of wilderness make one feel that upon entering the exhibition one is in the midst of the virgin forest. Thanks to the guides the visitors impressions are enriched with a big amount of factual knowledge of nature and phenomena occuring in the Forest. Time spent in the museum seems to fly extremely fast and leaves unforgettable impressions. The museum is open daily within 09.00 and 16.00 hrs. The permanent exposition can be viewed only in the company of the licensed guide.

4. Conservation District Hwoźna - is one of the two districts of the Białowieski National Park.

It has been established on the basis of the forest complexes taken over from the State Forests in 1996 when the BNP has been enlarged. The Hwoźna district occupies the area of 5,158.21 ha and is divided into four protection zones: Cupryki, Gruszki, Masiewo and Zamosze. The name of the overall district has been taken from the picturesque little river Hwoźna which crosses the National Park thus separating the Conservation District Hwoźna from the Conservation District Orłówka within the Białowieski National Park. The area of the Hwoźna District is widely accessible for the purposes of both hikers and cyclists. Over 20 km of hiking trails and 14 km of bicycle routes shows the most interesting fragments of this part of the Białowieski Forest. Numerous touristic objects, ie sheds, viewing tower or beauty spots make the District touring easy and interesting and invite to commune with nature. The tourist are allowed to move along District trails without the guides. Three main access roads lead onto the District area:

• from Narewka River side – access (on foot or by car) by Narewkowska Road, then Morańska Road to the storehouse Przed Kosym Mostem [Afore Skew Bridge] where parking places are provided and the BNP information board
• from the Zamosze settlement side (1 km from the village of Masiewo) – parking places, tourist shed and BNP information board. At the edge of the Zamosze settlement there is also generally accessible bonfire area
• from the side of village of Stare Masiewo (at the end of the county road) – parking places, tourist shed and BNP information board.

The forest routes available:

• "Wokół Uroczyska Głuszec" [Around the Grouse Wilderness] – red colour; starting in the village of Stare Masiewo and leading around the wilderness called Głuszec [Eurasian grouse species]. 5.5 km long.
• "Wilczy Szlak" [Wolves Trail] - green colour – starting on the edge of the settlement Zamosze, 1 km away from Stare Masiewo village (access from Stare Masiewo via red trail). The trail leads through the entire area of Hwoźna District as far as Kosy Most [Skew Bridge] and is over 11 km long.
• "Carska Tropina" [Tsar’s Track] black trail starting at the storehouse in front of Kosy Most. It is 4 km long. The trail ends before shed at the storehouse of narrow-gauge railway where it joins the blue trail.

Trips along the education pathways of the Forest Promotion Complex "Lasy Puszczy Białowieskiej" [The Białowieski Forest Woods]

The Białowieski Forest since 8 November 1994 is the Forest Promotion Complex. As the first functional object of this type in Poland it plays a significant and unique role in the implementation and execution of the state new forestry policy. As the forest object that is best preserved where almost 6 thousand hectares of forests have remained as close to natural as practically possible and where almost 3.5 thousand hectares have been covered by preservation policy as nature reserves, apart from the area of Białowieski National Park, it is an excellent place to demonstrate the tasks of the modern forestry and the relevant implementation methods. Białowieża Forest District Office manages the central part of the Białowieski Forest of the area 12,613 ha. Approximately 80% of its area is occupied by the deciduous forests, and 20% by the coniferous woods. Almost 1/3 of the area consist the hardly accessible marsh and boggy habitats.

Thus the forest economy must use and take into account the natural potential in order to restore the original character of the parts of the forest which were deformed and damaged in the past.

The oldest educational pathways in Poland and Polish forests are "The Route of Kings and Lithuanian Dukes Oaks" [known in short as The Royal Oak Route] and "Bison’s Ribs".

The Royal Oak Route

6.5 km from Białowieża. This is a natural – historic pathway. It winds among several dozens of oak trees aged within 150 and 500 years in the wilderness known as Stara Białowieża which have been named after the rulers of Poland and Lithuania. According to the legend this place is related with the first Duke’s or royal court within the Forest, and the oldest oak trees have been planted most likely as the holy trees of the Lithuanians.
Another legend says that those oaks have been ordered to be planted by Polish King, Zygmunt Stary [Zigismundus the Old].
Walking along the trail one gets to know the history of Białowieski Forest, Lithuania and Poland within XII and XVIII centuries.

Footbridge "Bison’s Ribs"

The first forest pathway built within 1978 – 1980 to the design of the forester, Jacek Wysmułek.
Monumental trees grow along the path. It winds mainly through boggy woods and old overgrown meadows in the Narewka River valley. To facilitate the passage causeways and footbridges have been built. In the wilderness known as Knihinówka a small shed is situated. As the pathway leads through the domestic-use forests one can learn various methods of forest development and usage and nature active conservation in various natural-forest conditions. It is worth mentioning that works are conducted aiming at obtaining the natural trees restoration and their care. Footbridge length approximately 3.5 km, leading from open air ethnographic museum to the European Bison Display Reserve from where one returns either by yellow trail "Forest Trees" or green trail.

The Place of Power

Natural pathway formed in 1996. Its name originates from the expression used in water divining for the areas of positive radiation. There are several such places within the Forest. This one – located in the land lot number 495B is the best known and specially prepared for the tourists and all those who are interested in the past. According to some scholars there are some reasons to consider this area as the place of cult of the ancient Slavonic tribes or even the pre-Slavonic cultures. One of the Forest legends says about a secret place where the inner circle members used to gather in order to drive away the evil sprits and powers and all enemies using own powers and magic stones placed in a circle. Along the pathway many trees of strange and interesting shapes grow. Hawthorn and crab apple trees are abundant here – according to some scholars this proves that here used to be a periodical camp of cattle shepherds in XIX century. Close to the stone circle there is a water filled hollow. Next to the pathway our contemporaries erected an interesting concrete monument with Orthodox cross and human foot print. Some legends relate this object with some strange event which happened during the construction of the railway tracks to Białowieża over 100 years ago. The Place of Power is situated adjacent to wilderness Czerlon – eternal marsh where the huts of tar makers, charcoal burners and wood tar makers used to be located.

Forest Landscapes

The pathway shows a part of Białowieża Glade with arable lands, gravel mine, post-arable lands subject to forest planting, fragments of various habitat types forests in various development degree, elements of hunting development, fragments of natural forests in the reserve "Wysokie Bagno" [High Marsh] and the valley of Narewka River. On the river the footbridge has been reconstructed and in the vicinity the rain protecting shed has been erected. The path starts nearby the Białowieża Forest District Office and ends at the Forest Education Centre "Nadleœnictwo Jagiellońskie" [Jagiellonian Forest District Office]. The pathway partly overlaps the red trail.

Forest Trees

The pathway leading through broadleaved forests with grand oaks, lime trees, ash trees and pines from Białowieża through the W Szafera Memorial Landscape Reserve as far as the Display Animal Reserve. The path length – 4 km. In this part it overlaps the yellow trail.

Trips along the designated tourist trails in Białowieski Forest (starting in Bialowieża)

Białowieża – Hajnówka (green – 25 km) - trail leading through the W Szafera Memorial Landscape Reserve protecting flora and fauna of Białowieski Forest and burial mounds dating back to X – XIII centuries. The trail leads to Bison Reserve where animals living in the Forest can be viewed. In the half way the trail crosses the road Białowieża – Hajnówka passing through Zwierzyniec Parking Lot. The trail ends in Hajnówka.

Białowieża – Topiło (yellow – 19 km) - trail leading through main forest roads through the reserves: "Podcerkwa", "Berezowo", "Olszanka Myœliszcze", "Michnówka". These are aiming to protect mostly the habitats for some daytime butterflies. The trail ends in the forest settlement Topiło where the terminal of narrow-gauge railway is located as well as interesting rest places are provided under wooden shed. Around the ponds situated there education pathway "Leœne osobliwoœci" [Forest Curiosities] has been led.

Białowieża – Czerlonka – Osada Zwierzyniec (blue – 17 km) – trail starting at the monumental wooden railway station building Białowieża Towarowa, leads through the villages Podolany I and Podolany II, to Forest Education Centre "Nadleœnictwo Jagiellońskie" [Jagiellonian Forest District Office]. Further is leads via Tryb Jagielloński as far as Czerlonka and from there to Osada Zwierzyniec.

Białowieża – „Miejscami Pamiêci Narodowej" (red - 41 km) - [National Memorial Places] (red – 14 km) – trail starting in Białowieża and leading through the entire city (Waszkiewicza, Tropinka Streets, through Direction Park, Browska and Wojciechówka Streets). It partly overlaps educational pathway "Forest Landscapes". Further nearby monumental railway station Białowieża Towarowa to the Forest Education Centre "Nadleœnictwo Jagiellońskie" [Jagiellonian Forest District Office], and further through the villages Podolany I and II reaching Białowieża. Along the trail there are martyrdom places from the period of WWII: in Browska Street the place of execution of 22 citizens of Białowieża on 14.08.1942 and 200 citizens of Hajnówka on 24.12.1942; Stara żwirownia [Old Gravel Quarry] at the road from Forest Education Centre "Nadleœnictwo Jagiellońskie" [Jagiellonian Forest District Office] towards Podolany and in Graniczna Street nearby old railway station Białowieża Pałac.

Białowieża – Siemianówka (blue – 41 km) – trail leading through Pogorzelce. Next it leads through the wilderness Stara Białowieża (The Royal Oaks Route is located therein). The trail leads through Gruszki, Babia Góra (viewing tower is situated there), Hwoźna Conservation District and ends in Siemianówka where the St George the Conqueror Orthodox church from XVIII century is situated. It is worth emphasising that the village is located below the water level of the Siemianówka Bay and protected with a weir against flooding.

Białowieża – Narewka (yellow – 21 km) – trail leading through the village of Pogorzelce and wilderness Stara Białowieża where the Royal Oaks Route is located. The trail leads via Narewkowska Road through Janowo to Narewka.