Gardens

Parks of Białystok

Białystok is sometimes called the green city — it has eight municipal parks, three of which define the identity of the centre. The oldest and best known is the Branicki Garden by the Baroque residence of the Branicki family, called the Versailles of Podlachia. The Baroque park of about 10 hectares splits into two parts: the upper, French one with boxwood parterres and fountains by the palace, and the lower, English one, with gazebos, pavilions and the Kościałkowski and Kielanowski boulevards.

Right behind the garden spread the Planty — a municipal park of 14.94 ha designed by Walerian Kronenberg in 1908–1910 on the site of the demolished city walls, rebuilt in the modernist spirit in 1930–1938. It holds a multi-level rose garden, the Lovers' Avenue, colourful fountains and the sculpture of the dog Kawelin — a faithful copy of the 1936 original.

Central Park and Zwierzyniec

The third key site, Central Park (3.27 ha), was created on the ground of a destroyed 19th-century Jewish cemetery. It is dominated by the monument to the Heroes of the Białystok Land: 17-metre concrete columns crowned together by an eagle on its nest. On its edge stands the Podlachia Opera and Philharmonic, and next to the Planty lies Zwierzyniec — a park with a mini-zoo housing bison, wild boar and konik horses.

Practical information

All the parks lie in the strict centre and can be walked in a single day; most are open daily from 6:00 to 22:00. Entrances to the Branicki Garden are by the palace, at Legionowa and Akademicka streets.