Janów Podlaski Stud

Janów Podlaski Stud (say "YAH-noof pod-LAH-skee") is Poland's oldest state horse stud, founded in 1817, and one of the world's most famous breeders of purebred Arabian horses. Its 19th-century stables by the architect Henryk Marconi, wide paddocks and a park with a cemetery for celebrated horses form an ensemble that has been a Monument of History since 2017. Set in eastern Poland near the Bug River and the border with Belarus, it's a must for horse lovers and a peaceful countryside outing for everyone else.

A stud with a dramatic history

The stud was established in 1817 by decree of Tsar Alexander I, then also King of Poland, at the request of the Kingdom's Administrative Council. Its seat is the estate of Wygoda just outside the town of Janów Podlaski, where Henryk Marconi designed the brick Czołowa ("Front") stable in 1841 and the Zegarowa ("Clock") stable with its Gothic Revival tower in 1848.

Purebred Arabian mares arrived in April 1919, and from 1924 the stud specialized in Arabians. The 20th century was brutal: the herd evacuated east in 1915 was almost entirely lost; in September 1939 Soviet troops took about 80% of the Arabians; and in July 1944 the German administration moved the stud to Germany, where horses died in the bombing of Dresden. Mares and foals came home only on November 1, 1950.

The first Arabian horse auction was held in the fall of 1969, and Janów horses went on to fetch record prices on the international market: the stallion El Paso sold for $1 million in 1980 and the mare Pencylina for $1.5 million in 1985. Today the annual Pride of Poland auction is held in the stud's indoor arena. The stud covers about 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres).

Since December 2017 the stud has been a Monument of History — the highest national heritage designation in Poland.

The guided tour

The guided walk lasts about 1.5 hours and takes in:

• the paddocks, where you can see Arabian mares and foals up close,
• the Front Stable designed by Henryk Marconi,
• the Private Stables and the park with its horse cemetery — boulders inscribed with the names of horses that shaped the breeding program,
• the riding hall, home of the famous annual auction,
• the New Stables.

The white Clock Stable with its tower is the stud's most photographed building.

Opening hours and ticket prices

As of October 2026, according to the stud:

• the grounds are open to individual visitors daily, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., year-round
• admission 15 PLN, reduced 10 PLN (ages 3–18, visitors with disabilities); under 3 free
• parking 15 PLN per car
• guided tour (1.5 hours): 30 PLN, reduced 20 PLN — booking required (tel. +48 609 031 626, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.); weekend tours need at least 10 participants, with sign-up by Friday 2:00 p.m.

Extras include riding lessons (for example 30 minutes on the lunge line for 70 PLN), carriage rides (350 PLN per hour) and horse shows on request. The gift shop is open daily 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The website is in Polish; ask by e-mail (turystyka@skjanow.pl) whether an English-speaking guide can be arranged.

Remember that this is a working stud: don't feed the horses or enter the paddocks without staff permission. A self-guided walk takes about an hour.

Visiting in winter

The stud keeps the same hours all year. In winter the horses may spend more time in the stables than on the paddocks, and daylight is short, so arrive in the morning. Most of the visit is outdoors on park paths — dress warmly.

How to get to Janów Podlaski

The address is Wygoda 3, 21-505 Janów Podlaski, in the Lublin region of eastern Poland, near the town of Biała Podlaska. A car is by far the most practical option; there is paid parking on site. Warsaw Chopin Airport is the nearest major international airport.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, if you love horses: few places let you walk among Arabian mares in a 200-year-old setting with such a story behind it. Time your trip for August to catch the Pride of Poland auction and the national Arabian horse show.