Founded in 1932 it was restored under its original name after the war. It is the oldest National Park in Poland and one of the first in Europe. It covers an area of 10,501.9 hectares of which 4,747 hectares is under strict protection. There is a buffer zone around the park with an area of 3,224.3 hectares. The bison is the emblem of the park.

The park includes part of the Bialowieza Forest, which is Europe’s only lowland forest preserved in its natural state. The largest area of the park is covered by a combination of oak, linden and hornbeam forests. Of the deciduous trees, the most common are the oak, hornbeam, maple, ash and alder and among the conifers – pines and spruces. Due to the very fertile soil trees here grow to an immense size.

The Bialowieza National Park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site with the status of a world biosphere reserve. There are ongoing efforts to give the whole Polish side of the Bialowieza Forest the status of a National Park. The park has created a closed breeding centre for the bison and viewing enclosures for bison, deer, Polish horses and wolves. It is worth seeing the modern exhibits in the Natural Forest Museum and the historic complex known as the Palace Park.

Bialowieski National Park (woj. Podlaskie)

www.bpn.co.pl