Here you can watch the starry sky from the hot tub, watch the neighbor's sheep from the hammock, and watch the running kids and dogs from the terrace. There is space here: for the head and for the rest of the body. On a large plot with a forest behind a fence, there is a renovated cottage from Podlasie, where you can rest with your family or friends. Right next to it - a smaller cottage ideal for two. Podlaski Corner will be an ideal base for discovering the magic of this region. Or a base for doing nothing but aging and enjoying the closeness of nature.
We had such a plan: we will go to this place in the most debatably nice time of the year - at the turn of autumn and winter. If we like it then, we take it. It was more than good: although terribly cold, it was cozy and bright, and the neighbors behind the fence immediately made us feel at home. They shared their knowledge and love for this land. We absorbed it for years and became more and more attached to this region. Today we want to share our beloved Podlasie home so that you can get to know Podlasie as well. Come to rest among the bleating of sheep and singing birds, taste kolduny and return to everyday life richer for contact with the East.
Podlaski Zakątek is a large, fenced plot right on the edge of the forest, housing two houses: Duży Zakątek, a historic Podlasie cottage, and Mały Zakątek, a former outdoor summer kitchen converted into a guesthouse. Both houses have been restored and modernized. Duży Zakątek welcomes guests year-round, while Mały Zakątek only welcomes guests from April to November.
IMPORTANT: The cottages are located close to each other, and other guests may be staying nearby. Each cottage has a separate, fenced-in green area within the plot, on opposite sides of the buildings, so you won't be peeking into each other's hammocks :)
At Duży Zakątek, we have:
– 2 bedrooms with 2 double beds,
– a bathroom with a shower,
– a kitchenette with a dining area connected to the living room,
– a living room with a fireplace, a sofa bed, and a desk,
– a porch with a table and chairs for evening gatherings
– and on the opposite side of the porch, a small patio under an apple tree with chairs and a table, perfect for breakfast or just relaxing in the sun.
On hot days, you'll find two fans that provide plenty of cooling. The windows have mosquito nets.
Dzy Zakątek has its own, fenced-in green area of approximately 500 m², a play area for children, dogs, and a place to lounge/hammock.
Mały Zakątek:
– Open only for the season: April 1–November 15,
– Consists of 1 room, including: 1 double bed, a kitchenette/dining area, and a small lounge/coffee area (music from a vinyl record player will make your morning coffee more enjoyable).
– Equipped with a fireplace, which makes evenings cozy and provides additional heat if needed (on colder days, you can also use two electric heaters).
– Has a bathroom with a shower.
You have exclusive use of a green area of approximately 100 m², fenced, with a fireplace for evening gatherings by the fire, a barbecue, lounge furniture, and a coffee table. A hammock sways invitingly in the distance. Mały Zakątek has a covered porch, where you can enjoy your morning coffee or read, regardless of the weather.
The rest of Podlaski Zakątek is a large common area, with a fire pit and an outdoor hot tub (this service is available for an additional fee). The regular price includes the use of a hot tub, which guests can light themselves. However, upon request, we can prepare the hot tub and light it for you – in this case, the cost will increase by 50 PLN to 230 PLN. Using the hot tub the next day (reheating the water) costs 100 and 150 PLN, respectively.
Use of the hot tub without lighting it is 80 PLN. Kindling wood and bathrobes are included in the above prices.
At night, the entire area is well-lit by lanterns.
Upon arrival, you will usually be greeted by our neighbor, Svetlana. It is to her family that we owe our introduction to the local scene, knowledge of the area and nature, and the fact that we feel at home here. We hope you will feel the same way.
Feel free to bring your pets. Dogs can run freely on our fenced property while you relax. Each property has its own green area, where your pet has its own private space. Pets are usually allowed off-leash, but this requires mutual agreement between the pet owners and the owner's consent if both cottages are hosting pets at the same time.
At Duży Zakątek, you'll find a convenient kitchenette that allows you to prepare your own meals. It has a dishwasher, microwave, and toaster. For making coffee, we have a glass coffee maker and a drip coffee maker for filter coffee.
At Mały Zakątek, the kitchen area is more basic: equipped with a 2-burner induction stove, but no oven or dishwasher.
You can buy organic eggs and homemade vegetables or jams from our friendly neighbor, Svetlana. In the fall, we encourage you to go mushroom picking, which is abundant in the forest.
The thing about our neighborhood is that there's not much in the immediate vicinity. People come here for a break from the city, to breathe in the forest, and to count the stars in the sky. If you dream of hiking and discovering Podlasie, consider taking a car trip or taking your bikes (we highly recommend the latter).
In our cottage and garden, you can:
– read books to your heart's content in a hammock or listen to podcasts while lying in the grass,
– have evening barbecues and chat on the terrace,
– splash around in the hot tub – we recommend it especially at night: under the starry sky and with the forest around, it's exceptionally pleasant,
– run, play badminton, or whatever you desire, as the grounds are vast and offer plenty of space for many enjoyable activities.
Besides, the forest will beckon you from just beyond the fence, the nearby paths will call you to your bikes (you can rent them from us: we have three for adults and one for youth), and runners will be carried away by the conditions they experience. Nearby is Repczyce Reservoir, a well-maintained beach and swimming complex that, despite its attractiveness (it has equipment rentals, an observation tower, and a café), is quite intimate. The reservoir also attracts anglers. The Green Velo eastern cycling trail runs not far from our cottage. Beautiful Orthodox churches can be seen in the nearby villages of Zubacze (5 km) or Rogacze (12 km).
The closest to us, Czeremcha, 4 km away, hosts the Festival of Many Cultures and Nations, popularly known as Czeremcha Days, every year at the end of July. Musical groups from Poland and abroad are invited to perform various musical genres, and there are culinary and craft workshops, exhibitions, and film screenings. You can also wander around the market and sample local produce.
Berezyszcze is a great base for exploring attractions further afield. If we were to recommend places for excursions, we would definitely include:
– The Skete in Odrynki, an Orthodox hermitage founded by Archimandrite Gabriel, a hermit monk. The Skete is picturesquely situated, secluded, in marshes, amid the floodplains of the Narew River basin. It's reached via an 800-meter wooden footbridge.
– The Land of Open Shutters, encompassing three villages near Hajnówka, nestled in the Narew River valley. However, it actually spreads out into several smaller villages: Ciełuszki, Kaniuki, Ryboły, and Ploski. These are the locations of magical cottages with wooden decorations, so characteristic of this region of Poland. You won't see them anywhere else.
– Bohoniki and Kruszyniany – two border villages inhabited by Tatars, the Muslims of Podlasie. Here, it's worth seeing the mosques and miziary (cemeteries) and trying the traditional kolduny and pierekaczewnik (doughnuts).
– Holy Mountain of Grabarka – the most important religious site of Polish Orthodoxy. Its history dates back to 1710, when the local Podlasie community was decimated by the plague. According to an old man's revelation, salvation could be found on the mountain. Today, the tradition of drinking water from the holy spring prevails there.
– Topiło Reservoir in the Białowieża Forest – it resembles a natural lake, is rich in flora and fauna, and a causeway runs through its center, along which runs the narrow-gauge railway tracks.
– And speaking of the railway… the narrow-gauge railway from Hajnówka to Topiło – runs on weekdays and weekends from morning until early afternoon. It was established by the Germans during World War I to transport timber, and today it allows visitors to view the Białowieża Forest from their windows.
And, of course, the Białowieża Forest itself, the largest virgin forest in Europe. Exploring the forest is organized and takes place on designated trails and at specific times with a guide. All this is done to minimize and minimize the disruption to the ecosystem.
We welcome children. We know from experience that parents with young children enjoy coming to us – because it's peaceful and relaxed, and offers the opportunity for close contact with animals. We have chickens, goats, and sheep behind the fence, which you can watch or offer some grass. The animals belong to our friendly neighbor's farm, who happily obliges the children's requests and shows them around her property, allowing the little ones to observe the animals. Sometimes, the neighbor's sheep also visit our property, serving as a natural lawnmower. The forest beyond the gate is inviting for excursions, where mushrooms and adventure await, and the nearby reservoir, where you can swim under the watchful eye of your parents. Spending time together in the hot tub is also great fun.
At Podlaskie Zakątek, we have mobile internet. At Duży Zakątek, it's good and allows for remote work, including connecting to foreign servers. Workers have one small desk and a large table there. Mały Zakątek has a weaker signal, and working with a computer requires a cable connection.
