Baligród Forest District. A picturesque fragment of the Bieszczady Mountains, made famous by foresters-internauts, TV series, TV programmes and books. A small town with a long and colourful history, but above all blessed with the neighbourhood of nature, which has stolen many hearts.
The Bales, a noble family with Hungarian roots, founded their castle here in the 16th century. They built a castle and from that moment on the history moved with the dynamics of a snowball. The mix of cultures that this land has witnessed can be seen in the juxtaposition of the town's most striking landmarks: the Orthodox church, the Catholic church, the Jewish cemetery. In the middle of the settlement, a tiny market square, more like a park and... a Soviet tank. People of different origins and beliefs lived here side by side, united by their love for the region and divided by wars. Stubborn local patriotism is easy to understand, especially for us foresters.
We are from here and we have stayed here. On this piece of Poland, which is covered with hundreds of legends, we have built a cottage so that you will understand why we love this place so much. The cottage stands on the slope of the Krywe Mountain, in the valley of a mountain stream. You can spot foxes, wolves, deer or pheasants from here - they like to come here. In summer, you can hear corncrakes, in autumn - the roar, in winter - the wind blows, in spring - the sound of a brook and frogs' croaking play the first fiddle. Come for all this to our little piece of Baligród.
In wooden huts set discreetly on the mountainside. In the morning, fog often appears in the valleys, and observing it with a cup of hot coffee in your hand sets the day in a good starting position. You can eat breakfast on the terrace or get up even earlier and watch the sunrise.
The large house is designed for 8 people and has 4 bedrooms - three double bedrooms (two with single beds, one with a double bed) and one four-person bedroom (double bed + additional sleeping space: fold-out sofa). Two bathrooms resolve the eternal conflict "shower or bathtub". It is both. On the ground floor there is a living room with a fireplace, connected to the kitchen. We decorated the cottage in our own way, and since we are foresters, wooden elements and forest motifs prevail. The double bedrooms are decorated with a wall made of spruce boards, and in the room for 4 people we have installed a beautiful wallpaper with a birch forest. I like handicrafts, so I created the wall hangings myself, and my mother made dream catchers and a few crochet decorations.
The small house can accommodate 6 people and has 3 bedrooms. Each room has a double bed. There are also 2 bathrooms with a bathtub and the other with a shower. A cozy living room with a comfortable sofa, TV, fireplace and underfloor heating. Kitchen with kitchenette, connected to the dining room. Large terrace with loungers. Most of the furniture in the house was made for us by a friendly carpenter.
Due to our allergies, we cannot invite your pets.
At your request, we provide facilities for children: a bathtub, a high chair and a travel cot.
The kitchens in the houses are spacious and well equipped. They include an oven, induction cooker, fridge, dishwasher, kettle, toaster, coffee maker and all tableware. You should not miss anything to prepare and serve breakfast on the terrace or a family dinner.
We are happy to suggest which hosts you can buy fresh eggs from happy chickens, honey and local products (for example cheese). The nearest grocery store is 1 km away from the cottage, in the central part of Baligród.
Next to the cottage there is a place for a bonfire amid the hills, and on the terrace you can light a barbecue.
Baligród is a good place to hide, walk and soak up the views of the surrounding hills, but also a great starting point for exploring the Bieszczady peaks. In our Forest District, we recommend visiting several places:
- ecological paths, for example the Rabski Potok Valley and the Łopienka Valley
- the Gołoborze reserve
- Lake Bobrowe
... and visit Lasumiła, the thickest fir in our country.
To hike the most famous peaks of the Bieszczady Mountains - Połoniny or Tarnica - you have to drive up by car (about 40 km). However, if you want to go hiking, you don't have to go far. It is enough to leave the car in Jabłonki (10 km from Baligord) and make a loop to Łopiennik and Berdo, or go the other way, to Jaworne.
There are a few more points of interest in the area:
- Solina Lagoon (15 km). Perfect for swimming on hot days and for a trip to the impressive dam
- ski lift in Bystry (1.5 km)
- Bieszczady Forest Railway in Majdan, near Cisna (19 km) - a very atmospheric ride that captivates not only children. Nearby, in Liszna, there is a Mini Zoo (Leśny Zwierzyniec).
In case of bad weather, we offer a rescue kit: the heat of the fireplace + board games (we have several, you can find them in the cottage).
What’s there for children?
Children can play in the yard and in the playground with a slide, swings and a small house. There are immense meadows, forests and many educational paths waiting for them, the passage of which is better than many nature lessons. If you want to instill in your children a love of mountains and nature, there is no better way than to show them this beauty up close.
