Polana, Bieszczady County, Mountain village in Bieszczady County, Poland
Polana is a small mountain village in the Bieszczady region of southeastern Poland, set in a valley between two streams called Głuchy and Czarna. It consists of a handful of scattered houses along a country road, a preserved wooden church, and the remains of an older chapel.
The village was founded by Lemko mountain farming communities who lived here for generations and built several places of worship. After World War II, the residents were displaced through state resettlement programs, and the village has remained largely empty since then.
The wooden Greek Catholic church in Polana stands on a small hill and is dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It is part of the Wooden Architecture Trail, drawing visitors who want to see the sacred buildings of the Lemko people.
The village is reached by a country road and can also be approached on foot via hiking trails in the Bieszczady hills. The terrain is hilly and the paths are uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea for any visit.
A stone bell tower from the 18th century still stands near the site of the former Catholic chapel and is one of the few surviving examples of its kind in this part of the region. It has no sign and is often missed by visitors who walk past on their way to the wooden church.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
