Białowieża National Park

Białowieża National Park is a protected forest area in Podlaskie Voivodeship on the border with Belarus, forming part of a cross-border UNESCO World Heritage site. The Polish reserve covers over 10,000 hectares with multi-layered mixed deciduous woodland where oaks, spruces and hornbeams grow alongside fallen trunks that decay on the forest floor.

The area was declared a forest reserve in 1921 and gained national park status in 1932 after Polish authorities secured the last remnants of an ancient woodland. UNESCO recognized the site as a World Heritage property in 1979 and later extended recognition to both sides of the border.

The name comes from the nearby village of Białowieża, meaning white tower in reference to an old border post. Visitors today encounter a forest that has inspired poets and naturalists across Europe for centuries.

Access to the most strictly protected zones requires a guide and groups are limited to 20 people who must stay on marked trails. Hikers can move freely in other sections, though the ground is often uneven and dense undergrowth may limit visibility.

The forest shelters the largest free-roaming population of European bison, reintroduced after decades of breeding efforts. More than 8,000 species of invertebrates live here, including beetles that feed exclusively on decaying deadwood.