On the outskirts of the village of Nowa Łuka, nestled in the forest, stand two semi-detached wooden cottages, separated by a green belt and a fence. Each has its own plot of over 1,000 square meters. The windows of the northern cottage overlook farmland, while the southern one faces the small Orthodox Church of St. Elijah.
On the ground floor, you'll find a cozy living room with a fireplace, a fully equipped kitchenette, a large dining table, and a bathroom with a shower. On the first floor, there are two cozy bedrooms. One has a double bed, the other two single beds. The larger bedroom also has a desk and a bookcase. Each cottage has a terrace, and outside, you'll find a trampoline, a wooden swing, a bench, deckchairs, and a hammock.
You'll enjoy relaxing close to the Białowieża Forest, the Narew River, and the Siemianówka Reservoir. The property is fenced, and pets are welcome.
At the edge of the village, near the forest, in a land of gentleness where storks build their nests, bison live in the wilderness, and picturesque villages are domed with wooden churches gleaming in the sun, and houses with colorful shutters, you'll find two cozy cottages. Activities include:
– breakfast, dinner, and board games on the terrace,
– reading books from the library by the fireplace, on a deckchair, or on a wooden swing,
– lighting evening bonfires and gazing at the stars (light pollution is exceptionally low here),
– stargazing at the sky or napping in a hammock,
– spotting the birds that visit the birdhouses built here, especially the frequent woodpecker,
– walks in the forest, and in season – mushroom picking,
– cycling on the Green Velo Trail (Eastern Cycling Trail), which runs just beyond the fence of the south cottage, or exploring the forest paths on two wheels.
You can explore the area on foot, by car, or by bike (bike rentals are available on the beach). Nearby or further afield are:
- Siemianówka Reservoir, the fourth largest artificial reservoir in Poland – you can go to Stary Dwór beach (with free tennis courts) or the beach in Bondary (with a large pier, reed umbrellas, and an observation tower) and take advantage of the numerous sports attractions there (a climbing wall, volleyball and basketball courts, tennis courts),
- the railway bridge to the border crossing in Świsłocz,
- the Białowieża Forest – the only natural site in Poland included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including: the European Bison Show Reserve, the Palace Park with an observation tower, and the Kosy Most nature reserve,
- the village of Narewka, where you can see traditional Podlasie houses, an Orthodox church, an old church, and a Jewish cemetery, as well as rent kayaks and go rafting down the picturesque and wild valley of the river of the same name as the village,
- the Narew River, which you can kayak down,
- The beautiful wooden Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rogacze,
- The Orthodox Church in Jałówka - it differs from many other rural Orthodox churches, which are usually wooden, in that it is made of brick - it has a white facade and foundation,
- The ruins of a church, also in Jałówka - the church was blown up by the Germans during the war, and today it is slowly being taken over by the forest,
- The Dunin Oak, European Tree of the Year 2022 - a 400-year-old natural monument, a remnant of the Ladzka Forest - it is worth visiting because it is in danger of splitting in half,
- The Land of Open Shutters, officially encompassing three towns: Trześcianka, Puchły, and Soce, but to admire the ornamentation of wooden cottages, it is also worth visiting: Ciełuszki, Pawłów, Kaniuk, Ryboł, and Plosek, as this magical land, following the traces of traditional Podlasie architecture, extends to many small, Podlasie villages. The village,
– a blueberry plantation in the village of Juszkowy Gród (if the owners aren't very friendly, there's a self-service stall). Look for the "Borówkowy Juszkowy" sign by the road; you can watch the horses nearby.
– the skete in Odrynki, an Orthodox hermitage founded by Archimandrite Gabriel in the marshes among the floodplains of the Narew River basin. An 800-meter footbridge leads to it.
– Krynki, the eastern border of the European Union, once a Jewish town full of life. It's worth dropping in for a leisurely tour, a sip of the local water (supposedly healing), and a look at the largest roundabout in Poland and the second largest in the world (only Paris has one larger).
– Tykocin on the Narew River with its royal castle.
– the Tatar villages of Kruszyniany and Bohoniki (to admire the mosques and miziary (cemeteries). and taste traditional dishes – kolduny and pierekaczewnik),
– Knyszyńska Forest to explore on foot, by bike, with poles, or running,
– the ethnographic museum in Sanniki,
– Zbigniew Falkowski's sculpture gallery in Ozierany Małe,
– Białystok (45 minutes away),
– Supraśl, where you can attend a performance at the Wierszalin Theatre, visit the monastery, visit the Museums of Printing and Papermaking and Icons (located in the Archimandrites' Palace from the mid-17th century), see the Buchholtz Palace (open during the summer), the People's House, and the Wooden Weavers' Houses. Nearby cycling routes:
– The Podlasie Stork Trail, 412 km long, starts in the center of Białowieża and reaches Stańczyki (marked in red),
– The Orthodox Churches Trail, 176 km long (marked in yellow),
– The Podlasie Cultural Trail "Tree and Sacrum," just over 182 km long.
I leave you with maps, guidebooks, and descriptions of the most attractive spots in Siemianówka Reservoir and the surrounding area, as well as cycling routes.
