Green Velo

The proposed excursion is a chance to explore the best-known attraction of the Podlaskie Voivodeship – the Białowieża Forest. It is one of the most valuable forest complexes in Europe. The Białowieża National Park, with the Bison Display Preserve, the Nature and Forest Museum, a palace park and the so-called Place of Power, will guarantee many attractions. In addition to encounters with nature, cyclists can also explore the cultural heritage of the Białowieża Forest. Orthodox and Catholic churches, open-air museums, as well as the wooden architecture typical of the region will make you feel like time has stopped, or slowed down significantly.

The route starts at the Polish border in the geographical centre of the Białowieża Forest, marked with a monument that stands beyond the entrance to Białowieża. From there, head east on the highway. Along the first kilometre, by a wooden sign on the left, a dirt surface road starts. At kilometre 3.5, the path branches off to the right from the main road, heading to the Place of Power. Keep going on the blue trail. At kilometre 14, look for blue markers, which will lead you to Hajnówka – the gate to the Forest. At kilometre 26, you will pass Sacharewo, and over a kilometre later, you will reach the intersection of the blue trail to the right and ul. Białowieska to the left. At kilometre 28.5, turn right into ul. Piłsudski and then right onto ul. Reja. Leaving Hajnówka, look for the orange markers of the Green Velo or the yellow markers of the Białowieża Transborder Trail. Entering the northern part of the forest from Hajnówka, you will see the open-air museum of the forest rail on the left. On the way, you will pass Budy and the Sioło Budy Open-Air Museum in Teremiski, and at kilometre 44, the Trail of the Royal Oaks and Great Lithuanian Princes. Close to kilometre 47, turn left into the car park at the European Bison Display Preserve. From there, take the yellow bike trail to Road No. 689. The forest adventure ends in Białowieża.

Route:

• Podcerkwa (7.2 km)
• Sacharewo (25.8 km)
• Hajnówka (28.8 km)
• Budy (39 km)
• Teremiski (41.5 km)
• Display Preserve (46 km)
• Białowieża (49.5 km)

Route options:

• Day 1: Białowieża with a detour – Podcerkwa (green trail) – Topiło (blue trail) – Łozice - Orzeszkowo - Hajnówka (narrow-gauge railway, pond): around 42 kilometres. It ensures optimal use of time with the condition of the one-day loop rejected.
• Day 2: Hajnówka – Nowoberezowo –Czyżyki – Dubiny – Lipiny Budy –Teremiski – Display Preserve – Białowieża (ostrich farm in Nowoberezowo, variety of houses and Orthodox churches, an old cemetery in the forest near Nowoberezowo, near the cemetery chapel): around 42 kilometres. This variant allows tourists to get to know Białowieża and Hajnówka.

Surface:

• Forest paths, gravel roads: approx. 70%
• Good quality asphalt: approx. 30%

Marked route:

• Multiple bike trails
• The signs on the entire trail are well preserved
• Białowieża – Hajnówka: trail marked according to PTTK standards
• Dubicze Cerkiewne – Białowieża: green markings
• Hajnówka – Topiło – Hajnówka: blue markings
• Hajnówka – Białowieża: Green Velo, orange, or the Białowieża Transborder Trail, yellow markings

Tourist attractions on the route:

• Białowieża – the capital of the Białowieża Forest, it offers a multitude of attractions; one day may not be enough to visit the palace park and the museum, to meet the king of the forest eye to eye and to go on a trip by trolley or chaise.
• Place of Power – where dowsers were able to find an accumulation of positive charges, beneficial for all living organisms. Apart from this, it is a place of worship for Slavic pagans. Trees grow in atypical, interesting shapes, and the rocks and stones lying there form a circle.
• Hajnówka – remember to visit the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, which hosts the Hajnówka Orthodox Church Music Days festival every year. The Miniature Park of Podlasie’s Monuments is also worth seeing.