Białystok, Poland
Białystok: The Pearl of Podlasie - From the Branicki Palace to Kościuszko Square
Discover the secrets of the Northern Versailles, its magnificent gardens, and the bustling heart of the city by Kościuszko Square.
Discover the secrets of the Northern Versailles, its magnificent gardens, and the bustling heart of the city by Kościuszko Square.
Discover the secrets of the Northern Versailles, its magnificent gardens, and the bustling heart of the city by Kościuszko Square.
Explore each location at your own pace
We stand before the most magnificent monument of the city, the baroque residence of the Grand Crown Hetman Jan Klemens Branicki. The story of his ambitions to create a cultural and political center in Białystok modeled after France, the history of the nickname 'Versailles of the North,' and the fate of the palace, which today houses the Medical University.
We move on to the gardens, which are an integral part of the palace complex. Here, we will discover the division into the upper garden, arranged in a precise French style, with its boxwood parterres and sculptures, and the lower garden, in the English style. A tale of the baroque symbolism of the garden as a reflection of the harmony and order of the world.
We leave the palace grounds through the monumental Great Gate, topped with a Gryphon - the coat of arms of the Branicki family. This gate was once the grand entrance to the city for distinguished guests of the hetman. A story about its architecture, symbolism, and role in the 18th-century urban layout.
Before us is an extraordinary sacred complex consisting of two interconnected churches. A tale of cunning by the local community: when the tsarist authorities did not allow the construction of a new temple, only the expansion of the old one, a mighty neo-Gothic cathedral was erected, officially treated as an 'extension' to the small, late Renaissance church.
The central point of Kościuszko Square. This beautiful, baroque building paradoxically never served as a town hall. The story of its original purpose as a market hall, wartime destruction, and reconstruction. Today it houses the Podlasie Museum.
We finish the route at the bustling, elongated square, which serves as the city's living room. The story of its history as the main market square, about the surrounding historic townhouses, and how today it has become a favorite meeting place for the residents of Białystok in numerous cafes and restaurants.
Professional narration in multiple languages with fascinating stories about each place.
Navigate easily with an interactive map showing all tour locations and your current position.
Read detailed descriptions and view historical photos of each location.
Discover fascinating stories, legends, and historical anecdotes about each place.
Learn about architectural styles, buildings, and monuments along the route.
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Listen to fascinating stories while exploring