Nowogród, city of Poland
Nowogród is a small town beside the Narew River that houses an open-air ethnographic museum dedicated to Kurpie culture. The site features traditional wooden houses, a watermill, a windmill, and craft workshops mostly from the 19th century, providing insight into how local people lived and worked.
The town began in the Middle Ages and appears in written records from 1355 onwards. It played a role in several conflicts, particularly during World War II when fortifications and bunkers were constructed, with some remains still visible today as monuments.
The Kurpie people maintain a distinct identity visible in their traditional crafts and folk celebrations held throughout the year. Visitors can observe traditional wooden architecture and participate in workshops where historical skills like paper flower making and willow weaving are still practiced today.
The town is easily accessible and offers parking near the war bunker and main sites. Summer is the best time to visit, when the open-air museum is fully accessible and special events take place throughout the season.
The region's name Kurpie derives from traditional shoes that gave the area its distinctive character and became a symbol of local identity. Visitors can learn this surprising detail through museum exhibits that explain how footwear shaped the people's sense of belonging and heritage.
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