Magura National Park

Fax.: (+48 134) 414 099

Info Telefon: (+48 134) 414 099
Besucher-Email: magurskipn@pro.onet.pl
http://www.mos.gov.pl/kzpn/ind_gb.htm...

The Magurski National Park was established on January 1, 1995. Its total area is 19,962 ha, with 93 % being covered with forests, mountain arable fields of old Beskid villages, meadows and pastures. There are over 70 km of marked tourist trails in the Park, making the area easily accessible to visitors.

Vegetation

Typical elements of the Park's flora are forest complexes, covering mountain slopes and ravines. The forests are divided into two climatological-vegetational zones according to the elevation:
• The first one is the plateau zone, covering almost half of the Park area, at the elevations up to the range of 530-550 m above sea level. It is covered with birch-fir-Carpathian and swamp alder forests, fir forests, spruce-fir forests (Galio - Abietetum and Abieti - Piceetum systems). Isolated areas of dry forest (Tilio - Carpinetum) and marshy forest (Carici remotae - Fraxinetum and Alnetum incanae), and pine forests of the secondary succession are also found here.
• The second, valley zone, extends from 550 m up to the top of the Low Beskid mountains, and it is covered by mixed Carpathian beech forests (belonging to the systems of Dentario glandulosae - Fagetum typicum, Dentario glandulosae - Fagetum festucetosum drymejae and Dentario glandulosae - Fagetum lunarietosum), known as "bukowice", with fir forests and fir-spruce forests found in smaller, isolated areas.
There are 30 characteristic plant communities, including about 550 species of vascular plants, 45 typical mountain species and, overall, 41 protected species. Although the flora of the Low Beskid is regarded as poor, it is possible to find some curiosities belonging to the group of stenothermal species.

Fauna

The fauna of the Magurski National Park reflects the transitional character of the region. It includes species typical of both the eastern and the western Beskid regions. The mammals are richly represented with over 35 species including brown bear, wolf and lynx, which are the most important species of polish predatory animals, as well as fox, badger, otter, marten, wildcat, stag, wild boar, roe deer, and recently also beavers.
About 137 species of birds, including 110 breeding species, have been recorded. They include the rare and endangered golden eagle (Aquila chrysateos), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), eagle owl, hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia), ring ouzel, black stork, and dipper (water ouzel, Cinclus cinclus), the latter living close to streams.
Among the most interesting amphibian and reptile inhabitants of the Park, are the spotted salamander (Salamandra salamandra), mountain newt (Triturus alpestris), fire-bellied toad, viper (Vipera berus) and smooth snake (Coronella austriaca).

Regional culture

The territory of the Magurski National Park was once inhabited by the Lemks, who lived always in close contact with nature. This ethnic group developed from the Wallachian shepherds of Balkan origin, who came to this country around the 14th-15th century, and later mixed with the population coming from the neighboring northern lowlands in a centuries-long process. The culture of the Lemks incorporated shepherds' husbandry, the burning of forests and, finally, primitive mountain agriculture. The inhabitants of Low Beskid were deported in 1947 for political reasons. The remains of their old secular buildings, such as the residential houses called "chyze" and religious monuments, such as Orthodox churches, chapels, crosses along the roads, cemeteries, all of which originated in earlier periods, may still be found in the area. Some monuments of the region's material culture have been collected in local museums.
Since the original population of this area had been removed, nature claimed the region. The culture of the Lemks, as well as religious and traditional folk customs are still observed in many villages of the Low Beskid by a few survivors.

 

Muzeum Marcin Kromer

Besucher-Email: muzeumbiecz@wp.pl
http://www.muzeum.biecz.pl...

Muzeum Regionalne / Regional Museum

Tues-Sun 10-16 h.

Muzeum Historyczne

Tues-Sun 9-15 h

The largest collection of icons in Poland, housed in a mediaval castle transferred to Renaissance style by the Queen Bona Sforza.
 

Open air museum - Park Etnograficzny w Sanoku / Sanoku Skanzen

May - Sept daily 8-18 h

This is one of the largest open air museums in Poland presenting the life of the Karpathians.
 

Muzeum Regionalne / Regional Museum

Closed Mondays.

Muzeum Przyrodnicze - Natural History Museum

Tues-Sat 9-17 h

Bieszczady National Park

Info Telefon: (+48 134) 610 650, 610 610
Besucher-Email: bdpn@wp.pl
http://www.mos.gov.pl/kzpn/ind_gb.htm...

The Bieszczadzki National Park was established on August 4, 1973. Over the past few years, the Park has been enlarged significantly and now totals at 27,064 ha with forests covering most of its area (64%). The Park includes parts of the Bieszczady Mountains, which are the westernmost part of the Eastern Beskidy Mountains Range. The Park is located in the southeastern tip of Poland. Since 1992, the Park has been included on the list of the World Biosphere Reserves.
Vegetation
The vegetation zones, which are typically observed in other mountain ranges with a similar character, are significantly different in Bieszczady. Among the tree species found in the Park, the beech-tree dominates the forests, which are comprised of ca. 85 % beechwood. With an admixture of sycamore and fir trees, the Carpathian beechwood complexes are formed and those cover the slopes and valleys, while alder forests occur along streams. Beechwood forests grow up to 1,150 m above sea level and they are neighboring directly the mountain pastures, interspersed with bilberry, cowberry, grass, alder and rowan. There is no subalpine spruce forest in Bieszczady.
The plant world of this region is very rich. There are approximately 900 species of vascular plants, including 42 species of plants under protection. Numerous plants typical of Eastern Carpathian Mountains, as well as species of moss, lichen and fungi, are found in the Park. Numerous fescua and sedge colonies overgrow the damp depressions on the dry mountain slopes.
Fauna
The fauna of Bieszczady includes some 200 rare species. Their number includes the European bison, which was introduced in 1963 in Forestry Stuposiany, as well as brown bear, lynx, wildcat, wolf, deer and wild boar. Birds are represented by over 100 species, including the Ural owl, Alpine hedge-sparrow, pipit, and golden eagle. Numerous reptiles, including viper, may be encountered on the trails.
Tourist attractions
The closest tourist center is Ustrzyki Gorne which is the starting point for many tourists visiting this beautiful part of the country. In the Bieszczadzki National Park there are 135 km of marked and relatively easy tourist trails (subject to limitations in the winter season) and four educational trails (to be visited with guides). Since 1994 the Bieszczadzki National Park has maintained one of the largest in Poland (approximately 90 animals) Preservatory Stud of the Hucul Horse, which is also used for tourist purposes, in Wetlina and Wolosate. Currently, short horseback rides are offered; in the future, several-day long mountain horseback trips will be offered.