Life moves slowly in Ruda Rzeczka. Next to the railway track, along the road, with the forest behind, with milk from the cow for breakfast and water from the well to quench your thirst. You will find us in Puszcza Knyszynska, where Catholics and Orthodox live side by side, potatoes, pork rinds and sauerkraut are an inseparable part of dinner, and herring-making becomes a habit after a week. Drive carefully and watch out for bison. We will see you in Rudy Rzeczka around the bend.
Our house is my husband's fatherland and has been in the hands of the Siniło family for centuries. In recent years, it has deteriorated, decayed and languished. Two years ago, during a trip to Estonia (I think we got a holiday vibe), we thought it didn't have to be like that and that the old man should get a decent pension. One with a renovated roof, rich interior and beautiful exterior with decorations made by a local carpenter. The renovation was a journey full of misunderstandings, but also smiles and joy, crazy ideas and being calmed down by the realistic husband.
What was and what wasn't is not written in the register, so we have long forgotten about the stress because here is our Stacja Ruda. Peace and quiet, relaxation, country living, relaxing in a larger group and walking along dirt roads.
We have a house with 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, a large kitchen with a tiled oven, a living room with a fireplace, and access to the terrace. The terrace shutters are old barn doors, the wooden beds remember the previous century, and we restored the furniture ourselves. Everything is for you so that you can relax on the terrace or in a hammock, get to know the Knyszyńska Forest in a canoe, taste the famous potato soup in Supraśl, drink delicious bread cider and sweeten your life with an anthill pastry. And in the evenings, we will make your time pleasant with sessions in a sauna or a hot tub.
Come back to us for more delicacies. After all, Podlasie is not distant Egypt. We and our 100-year-old house are not going anywhere. We are waiting for you in the really slow Ruda Rzeczka.
In a house from the 19th century, which we have restored in Podlasie style, but with modern comforts. It has an area of about 300 m2, ground floor and first floor and space for up to 14 people.
When renovating the old house, we had idealized ideas. However, there was much more work than building a house from scratch. We do not regret any planed board, because the effect is beautiful. And this old soul, it cannot be faked. We raised the house a bit to create an additional floor, i.e. the attic, and demolished the walls connecting it to the stable.
There was a lot of old stuff that we brought back to life. For example, old crates, the so-called the sunduki that we painted green and blue and now are used for storage, we have kept some old doors with golden handles, paintings and pictures of ancestors. On the other hand, the wooden floor, which is over 100 years old and after sandblasting, found its way onto the walls, decorates bathrooms and room finishing elements, is a sensation.
We also inherit two beautiful wooden beds in which our ancestors slept, and now they are serving you. These age-old beds are much shorter than they are now because people used to be shorter, so our antiquities are not suitable for basketball players.
We have a table with a history since my mother, we have personally restored the chairs in the kitchen, as well as the tiled stove where you can cook.
House layout:
On the first floor there are 3 rooms with bathrooms:
- room no.1 has two double beds and one single bed,
- room no.2 has one double bed and one single bed,
- room no. 3 has one double bed and two single beds.
On the ground floor there are:
- room no.4, with one double bed and private bathroom,
- shared kitchen (fully equipped with dishes, cutlery, oven, induction hob, dishwasher, coffee machine and fridge)
- dining room with access to a charming porch,
- a living room with a fireplace, a large table, a lounge suite and a TV set,
- exit to the terrace.
- bathroom with toilet, washing machine
There is also a Russian bathtub and a sauna waiting for guests, also on cool evenings you will be able to relax in the warmth.
At your disposal is a kitchen equipped with everything you need to cook. It is best to do your shopping locally, so I recommend going to a neighbor's for milk, and to a neighbor's in a nearby village for eggs. Vegetables are from your own garden. In Ruda Rzeczka, a neighbor makes homemade lard and dried vegetables. On the other hand, a neighbor from the next village bakes delicious bread and cinnamon rolls. You can also buy honey.
If you want to eat something delicious without having to cook, I recommend going to:
Białystok (20 km)
- Esperanto Cafe, where you can buy a BUZA drink. This is the only such drink in Białystok made from fermented millet. In addition, the ingredients include yeast, lemons and raisins.
- Pawilon Towarzyski - absolutely impeccable cuisine. Modern, artistic, fresh.
- 3 km from the house in Czarna Białostocka there is Bar Maxa and their famous pork knuckle and the iconic Zajazd Leśny and home-cooked dinners there.
- Also in Czarna there is Karczma za Płotem, a homely place with regional dishes and good "homemade" pizza.
- 17 km from the house in Supraśl start at the Jarzębinka bar, where you can eat babka, kartacze or potato kiszka, drink podpiwek and a compote worth sinning for.
- In Sokółka there is the unrivaled Karczma Pod Sokołem. Chłodnik, tartare, pelmeni, chanterelle soup, you will be delighted. And after dinner to the Stara Szkoła cafe. Outstanding cakes and those ice creams made by the owners. Sea buckthorn, whisky, clementine, yogurt with blackcurrant. It will be delicious.
Not as recognizable in the world as Białowieska, not as popular as Augustowska. The Knyszyńska Forest, close to us, is a place where phones lose reception and you find a common language with nature. You can stay in the Knyszyńska Forest for a few days (which we do not recommend), but you can return to it many times (which we definitely recommend). You can walk along the paths, explore it by bike or on horseback. The kayaking trail runs along the Supraśla River, starts in Gródek and ends opposite the village of Złotoria (right next to us) at the mouth of the Narew River. The hiking trail starts in Tykocin, the horse trail in Folwarki Tylwickie, and the bicycle trail in Krynki.
The "Folk handicraft trail" begins in the neighboring village. It includes the following towns: Czarna Białostocka – Czarna Wieś Kościelna – Łapczyn – Zamczysk – Janów – Sokółka. This is an extraordinary tour of old craft workshops, such as forges, pottery workshops, folk sculpture workshops and many others.
Two-warp weaving workshops:
- Teresa Pryzmont, Wasilówka 19, tel. 721 63 64
- Alicja Kochanowska, Janów, tel. 721 60 36
- Filomena Krupowicz, Janów, tel. 721 61 28
- Ludgarda Sieńko, Janów, tel. 721 61 74
- Helena Malewicka, Nowokolno, tel. 721 60 62
Sculpture studio:
- Piotr Szałkowski, Sokółka, tel. 711 53 32
Spoon making workshop:
- Mieczysław Baranowski, Zamczysk 10, tel. 710 93 21
Most of the studios are located in Czarna Wieś Kościelna - the "ceramics basin". Nature has generously provided this land with clay, the deposits of which are located just below the surface. The villagers also used to produce ceramic roof tiles here.
Pottery studios:
- Bolesław, Mirosław Piechowski, ul. Piękna 27 and 27a, tel. 7109074, 7109134
- Adam and Paweł Piechowski, ul. Piekna 29
- Jan Kudrewicz, ul. Sosnowa 19, tel. 710 90 85
- Stanisław Mosiej, ul. Piękna 69, tel. 71 09 080
There is also a blacksmith's forge here, owned by Mieczysław Hulewicz, which will delight everyone who visits it - ul. Sosnowa 4a, tel. 710 90 89.
If this is your first time in these parts, we will be happy to advise you where to go to see the crème de la crème of Podlasie.
- On your way out of Białystok, stop at the Podlaskie Museum of Folk Culture. Throughout the summer, events related to the region are held here, e.g. Tastes of Podlasie, Tatar Culture Festival, Podlasie Fragrant Herbs, etc.
- Tykocin (approx. 50 km), a fairy-tale town with the only castle in Podlasie.
- You cannot miss the tiny Supraśl (17 km) located in the clearing of the Knyszyńska Forest. Here you can sunbathe, start a kayaking trip, admire architectural gems or the iconic Museum of Icons. It is also worth buying a ticket for the performance of the Wierszalin Theater. The theater building and its avant-garde repertoire attract theater experts from all over Poland. The legendary Supraśl scene takes a break during the summer holidays (July-August).
- Bohoniki (31 km) and Kruszyniany (56 km) - the only Tatar villages in Poland where Polish Tatars still live and where Muslim traditions are cultivated.
What’s there for children?
At the moment we have a large fenced property for you, where children can run, draw with chalk on the pavement, ride a bike, dig in the garden, swing in a hammock. There is a swing, a slide, a house and a sandbox for the youngest. You can play football or badminton. You can go to the forest, you can take a few steps to admire the trains (there are railway tracks running behind the house about 2 km), you can go to the cows, you can see how the bees are doing in the hive. A few steps behind the gate, in the village there is a large fenced playground and a hill where you can go sledding in the winter.
* 5 km from the house there is a fantastic Amusement Park for children, including: Dinosaur Park, Mushroom and Insect Farm, and Adventure City and Rope Park. https://jurajskiparkdinozaurow.pl/park-dinozaurow/
After playing together, you can eat deliciously at Folwark Nadawki, which is located next to the Amusement Park.
*15 km from the Ruda Station, in Supraśl there are many attractions for children: an Indian village, a beach in the summer, kayaks, modern playgrounds and plenty of space for picnics, cycling on paths - a real paradise for children.
*In winter, you can take part in a sleigh ride with horses or carriages. It will be awesome.
What’s there for employees?
When reading the description of our house, you may sometimes wonder if it was copied from some open-air museum, but nothing could be more wrong. Our internet is as fast as the 21st century, and the working conditions are equally delightful. The house has 5 rooms and a common living room with tables, coffee tables, sofas and armchairs. Outside you will also find deckchairs and hammocks. You decide whether you prefer to work from the common part at the table today or stay in the room and do your tasks at the table.
