Whoever has the courage to take a shower under a pine tree, sleep in a tent and cook on a fire is invited to Podolanka. We begin the stimulation of the senses. With the taste of homemade ricotta, the smell of warmed litter, the texture of field stones in the shower.
If after these words you started packing your sleeping mats and bags, wait a moment longer. We have prepared for you an almost maintenance-free experience of nature. On a large wooden terrace we have set up a tent with a continental bed, for breakfast we bring a basket with Podlasie delicacies, delicious coffee and homemade kombucha. We have even built, with the support of Jurek's dad, a shower like in an exotic resort. Wooden, under the open sky, with natural cosmetics. If you need a bit of survival, you can cook in a cast iron pan on the fire. If you are looking for comfort - we will recommend you several excellent restaurants and sękacz for dessert.
We invite you to the forest smelling of sandy helichrysum, evening primrose and pine trees. To look for the best pickled cucumbers from Terespol, stilt moose, traces of the Uniate culture and the art of the "Podlasie Nikifor". For rafting on the Bug River and driving kilometers on GreenVelo. One thing is certain! You can't see everything at once, it's worth giving yourself time and taking your time to choose the type of activity that you like. Just like living here in the East, "quietly", somewhere outside the big world.
The tent has an area of almost 20m2, and at its highest point it is 3m high. It stands on a terrace of about 50m2, in the shade of pine trees.
Sleep is the basis of rest, so we focus on comfortable beds with fragrant bedding. The tent has a double continental bed (with two degrees of hardness depending on the side) and 2 folding beds (Canadian style - tested by big and small).
The tent is also equipped with:
- blankets,
- hammocks,
- night lights,
- a small fridge,
- vintage binoculars,
- a bookcase referring to what you can find in the area, nature books, maps (with attractions of the region) and albums,
- the warm light from the lights on the terrace will make your evenings more pleasant.
The tent is located near our house, but it is located on a separate plot (which makes it intimate and free). The plot is fenced on three sides, and the fourth open space is fields and meadows, where you can walk. There are also forest paths nearby for shorter walks, and a little further on longer forest routes - ideal for bike rides, for example.
When designing the shower, we thought primarily about using the senses. So that the textures were varied, and the raw materials used did not pretend to be anything and were natural. We used our travel experiences and combined them with what is available locally as much as possible. Above all, we focus on craft production. And so the boards are from our forest and the local sawmill, and the rain shower from craftsmen from Morocco, the entrance door from an old house in a neighboring town (the door frame still smells of resin), and the old tub - from the barn (it still remembers grandma's times). We built the shower intergenerationally with the help of our loved ones, and it was great fun.
We will gladly prepare a basket with ingredients for a delicious breakfast, a campfire or simply a basket of local delicacies. The breakfast basket will include seasonal vegetables, homemade eggs, preserves, cheeses (e.g. cottage cheese or goat rennet) and honeys from friendly farms. Seasonally, you can also find mushrooms picked by us or friendly residents of our village. There will also be good drip coffee and tea, or herbal infusions (if you prefer). You will prepare breakfasts and other meals yourself from the provided ingredients in the shade of pine trees overlooking the fields and meadows (the tent is equipped with an induction hob and cooking accessories).
If you feel like culinary experiments, we recommend cooking in a pan on embers on the fire. Here, you can prepare from sausages or simple grilled vegetables to dishes such as pad thai or Korean bulgogi. Tested!
You can also order products from us that will be waiting for you in the tent fridge (let us know before your arrival):
- homemade "podolańskie" dumplings to heat up yourself
- goat rennet cheese from the friendly eco Kozia Farma (natural, with herbs and smoked)
- homemade pickled cucumbers from Jerzy's dad (may not always be available)
- honey from a friendly apiary
- bread acid from the Bug River
- homemade jams
- homemade kombucha (seasonally)
We will also be happy to recommend restaurants in the area (most of them offer delivery to the Podolanka Stop). The closest ones are Austeria (Kobylany), Galeria Smaków (Terespol), Jadłodajnia u Oblatów (Kodeń).
Nature and Animals:
- The entire pine forest by the tent is at your disposal. You can relax there in a hammock, enjoy coffee, prepare meals on the fire (and more) and enjoy the closeness of nature. During the mushroom season, it is worth watching your step, because mushrooms can grow even right by the tent terrace.
- In the area you can meet deer, hares, cranes, woodpeckers, hoopoes, and even moose and beavers. At night, we are sometimes visited by owls, which have a liking for the nearby old ash tree. You have to be alert to spot them, because they fly silently!
Cycling Routes:
- We are located on the route of marked road cycling trails "Cycling Trails of Southern Podlasie", which are over 1000 km long.
- Nearby there is the Green Velo bike trail (5 km from us), the longest in Poland (approx. 1900 km), which runs along the Bug River.
- And if you prefer forest paths, you will also find something for yourself!
Activities:
- For kayaking, we recommend the Krzna River and the trip from "Przystań Krzna". In spring, the Krzna creates picturesque backwaters at the mouth of the Bug in Neple, and in summer it is surrounded by lush greenery. The current is calm. You can start in various places.
- If you would like to kayak down the Bug River, we recommend the further section at the height of the Gnojno-Niemirów crossing and packcraft rafting with Kuba at sunrise or sunset (1 hour drive from us). The Bug River has retained its natural character, creating unique meanders, backwaters and islands. It is one of the few such large wild rivers in Europe. It is a true contemplative experience.
- In the area there is the Podlasie Przełom Bugu Landscape Park, which is a great place for trekking. We will be happy to recommend routes to you.
- We also recommend the stud farm in Janów Podlaski, where at certain hours you can see a herd of horses running to the pasture or returning to the stable (the stable or Janów Podlaski can be visited with a guide)
- And if you feel like horse riding - we have a friendly stable in the area.
Culture and History:
- We love the work of the local folk painter and "Podlasie Nikifor" - Bazyli Albiczuk. In his home village (Dąbrowica Mała) you can visit the Memorial Room and see memorabilia related to the artist or the permanent exhibition of works in the Museum of Southern Podlasie (we recommend with a guide). In the region you can also come across other traces of the painter's work (e.g. decorations in roadside shrines or in the church in Uroczysko Zaborek).
- Our region is culturally and religiously diverse. Here you can find traces of the presence of the Tatar community (the nearby mizar in Zastawek), the Uniate (wooden churches and the only Uniate parish in the world in Kostomłoty), the Orthodox (e.g. the monastery in Jabłeczna) and the Catholic (basilica in Kodeń).
- There are also many monuments of wooden architecture in the region. My favorites are the church on the slope above the Bug in Krzyczewo and the wooden houses in the Bug towns, of which there are still some left (and after reading the book "Dolinami Rzek" by Zygmunt Gloger, who traveled along the Bug over 100 years ago and visited nearby towns, I guarantee that you will be transported back in time).
Handicraft:
- In the region you will find traditional handicrafts, such as "perebory" - this weaving skill that has been entered on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage.
Cuisine:
- Our region is all about sękacz baked on a fire! There is no family party without sękacz. And we also have our favorite suppliers who traditionally spend several hours preparing this cake.
- Pickles! Few people know that our region was famous for pickled cucumbers all over the world.
One thing is for sure! You can't see everything at once, it's worth giving yourself time and choosing the type of activity you like. That is, just like living here in the East, "quietly" somewhere outside the big world :)
What’s there for children?
We don't have a playground on site, but the children who come to us love feeding the cats, building huts, collecting pebbles, looking for mushrooms, watching cows through binoculars, and at night watching the stars. And of course sitting by the campfire and roasting sausages. We also leave crayons and coloring books in the tent. And for those who are interested, we will provide a set for outdoor games (e.g. badminton).
We also recommend horse riding in a friendly stable - for the smaller ones "guided tours" and for the bigger ones "horse riding".
In the village of Podolanka there is a playground, but at its other end (1 km from us).
