On a silver tray, we serve you a return to the past, a holiday with Podlasie ghosts and supper with a lavishly set table. A charming town awaits you in the Biebrza Valley, which is full of stories from the old days. In Tykocin, the fates of the Jews, the court and the knights intertwine. There is also a celebrity story here because film writers are fond of its long market square and wooden huts. As if that were not enough, the city is situated on the Narew River. Its backwaters are called the Podlasie Zoo. This is not the end of the adventures, because the Biebrza backwaters burst into nature a bit further, creating the Biebrza National Park. In such circumstances, the mainstay of the monarchs of the former Republic of Poland emerges, i.e. the Tykocin castle. It is more than brick walls, towers and cross vaults raised from the ashes. When crossing the gate of the fortress, one cannot help but feel that we have passed through a space-time portal. In every corner, you can feel the atmosphere of old times and the majesty of the power that accompanies this place. Throw in the court cuisine - Podlasie wonders on a plate, interesting Jewish delicacies and Tatar dishes, and you will get a truly royal effect.
We invite everyone who wants to move into the world of castles, chambers and tables full of delicacies, even for a moment. The company of still wild and unspoiled nature is free.
The castle is large, but rooms for guests are only seven. We sleep in Tykocin chambers with access to the dungeons, the royal restaurant, the ballroom and the courtyard. No ghosts and cold walls, no TV, although electricity and all the comforts of the modern world are already there. Comfortable king beds, elegant bathrooms and even air conditioning. All rooms are located in the attic, and the road to them leads along the winding stairs of the castle tower. We do not have a lift, so the elderly and those with mobility impairments may have difficulty entering their room with a suitcase. Brawny ladies and vital virgins will not feel the effects of this walk, and after a hearty supper it will be almost a therapeutic march.
The decor of all rooms is designed in warm and gentle tones, without museum pomp. You will also not find dusty tapestries, armor creaking at night, the royal throne and ornate coffers. It is simple, non-glamorous and comfortable.
Each room has a work desk, bathroom with shower (bathtub in the apartment), free internet access. You can also count on cleaning every day. In each bathroom you will find a hair dryer. The windows offer a view of the Narew River valley, stork's nest, nearby forests and meadows.
We offer 7 rooms in the following configuration:
- 1 apartment for 2 people with a double bed (with the possibility of an extra bed for children),
- 2 double rooms with single beds (with the possibility of an extra bed for children),
- 3 double rooms with single beds,
- 1 family room, 4 beds with single beds.
As befits a castle on the backwaters in summer, you can come across mosquitoes and other winged monsters. For this reason, mosquito nets are placed in the windows of the rooms.
The price of the room includes a court breakfast in the castle interiors.
You can also take advantage of a paid tour of the castle with a guide who knows everything about the history, curiosities and legends related to the fate of Tykocin.
We will treat you with Podlasie, Jewish and Tatar specialties in a truly royal edition: goose dumplings served with marinated ginger, chulent, Narew goose pipettes (i.e. stomachs) in butter sauce, veal baked in puff pastry, Korycin cheese in crispy breadcrumbs or Podlasie potato bread cupcake shape. In addition, great Masurian and Lithuanian beers and a wine list carefully composed in cooperation with a fellow sommelier.
Breakfasts are included in the price and are served from 8:00 to 10:00. One of the secrets of the castle kitchen is its own herb and vegetable garden and trusted suppliers.
You can not miss the feasts of the series "Goose for St. Martin", where tables bend with delicious, Old Polish dishes of goose and venison. There will also be dances, games and frolics. The castle also hosts Tastes of the Renaissance, that is period dinners. During these feasts you will see what flavors reigned in the Renaissance German court, what the Tatars ate, what the Italians enjoyed and what was served on the tables during the Renaissance.
Tykocin can boast of delicious regional cuisine delicacies. Go to:
- Villa Regent restaurant for cholent, fried kreplachy dumplings or kugel,
- Tejsza restaurant for chicken in honey sauce with raisins, as well as a Christmas cymes,
- Taverns Opowieści z Narew for sensational pike on spinach with Korycin cheese.
There are amazing grounds, castle walls, rushing rivers and old temples to see, discover and explore. It is not worth counting the clouds in the sky and listening to the noise of the wind. Instead, we suggest visiting the Tykocin castle with a guide. It is for you that we have opened the castle vaults, the prison tower and the Glass Room (original name: the Glass Hall) with the second-highest tiled stove of the pre-partition Poland reconstructed, known as the Great Blue (from blue and white tiles). The furnace was built for 10 years and is currently the second largest furnace of this type in Poland.
The nearby Narew River is famous in Europe for its microclimate, which attracts birds and insects of all kinds. It is a paradise not only for photographers and ornithologists, but also for tourists who want to enjoy the captivating beauty of nature. We recommend getting to know the river from the boat. Cruises for the whole family are organized by the Tykocin FlisakPark. The route runs along the historic part of the city, and then along the ecologically rich, bird-filled section of the Narew River. During the cruise, a qualified guide discusses the sights and places you pass. Cruises that start at sunset are also popular, which is a time that gives you a high probability of seeing beavers in the wild.
The Biebrza River and its picturesque backwaters are the farthest on the map, but no less interesting. A short drive separates Tykocin from the Carska Droga, a historic route that runs through the heart of the Biebrza forests and swamps, where you can meet elks, soak up the untouched nature and make a stop at the footpath: for example Długa Luka, which bows to the horizon over a narrow bridge into the clumpy meadows along the Biebrza.
Tykocin monuments that are worth seeing:
- Church of Holy Trinity in Tykocin, built thanks to Jan Klemens Branicki in the years 1740-1750.
- The Great Synagogue was erected on the site of an old wooden synagogue in 1642. Currently, it is a branch of the Podlasie Museum in Białystok.
- Little Synagogue - The Talmudic House is located in the vicinity of the Big Synagogue. Originally, the building housed a religious school and was a Talmudic house.
- The Tykocin market square is a unique urban monument of the city. It has existed since the establishment of Tykocin, but it has retained its present appearance from the 18th century. The center of the square is decorated with a two-meter monument to Stefan Czarniecki. The commemorative monument comes from 1763. It is probably the second oldest secular monument in Poland, after the Sigismund's Column.
You cannot miss the events organized in the castle:
- Podlaskie Auto Cafe, a meeting that is a mixture of interesting motorization, fine coffee and a unique place.
- Storming the Castle in Tykocin, a historical reconstruction taking place every winter.
- Concerts as part of the Moniuszko Four Seasons Festival.
- Theater performances as part of the "Polish Theater" project.
What’s there for children?
Children feel like heroes of fairy tales about a knight in shining armor or a dragon trainer. They are fascinated by tales of battles, wars, kings and brave knights. Our guides, like no other, can introduce children to the magical world of medieval brave warriors, princesses, queens and spectacular assaults. With undisguised fascination and wide-eyed eyes, they discover the towers, halls and cloisters where rulers walked, dark undergrounds, costumes and replicas of historical objects. They will feel a thrill in the prison tower. It is the highest vantage point in the area, which also allows you to observe the life of a stork's nest, where chicks appear every spring.
It is an unforgettable experience to take part in the assault of the castle, which takes place in February each year. It is the only winter historical staging in the country showing the events of the Deluge period. Cannons, horses, knights, warriors and the general battlefield make a big impression.
