Every year, Poland is visited by millions of tourists and they all leave with wonderful memories and wanting to come back for more. Here, everyone can find something of interest. The modern leisure infrastructure provides for the highest standards of recreation. Museums, art galleries and concert halls on a par with equestrian clubs, discos and night clubs.
Visitors can feel truly welcome in Poland and experience the remarkable traditional Polish hospitality. Poland's natural environment makes possible active rest and recreation at any time of year. In many Polish regions, natural sites have been preserved in their original state, rarely encountered in other parts of Europe.
Poland's climate ensures favourable conditions for entertainment and leisure all through the year. On the Amber Coast of the Baltic Sea and Masuria, the Land of a Thousand Lakes, one can find old forests, rivers, hills and amidst them, paths, bridleways and trails, perfect for horse riders.
The Poles and Horses
'Every Pole was born to ride a horse' - is a famous old saying in Poland. However, recently a lot of Polish citizens have begun to appreciate the charms of horse riding again. Horse rides in the countryside are organised by horse-riding clubs and stud farms, such as in Bialystok, Lomza and Suwalki. There are many sign posted horse riding routes around the country and there is no better way of getting aquainted with the 'Tartar Route' in the eastern part of the province than on horseback. The best tourist event is the annual 'Rally in the Saddle' around Lake Wigry.
There are over 500 agro-tourist farms offering riding holidays and enthusiasts must visit the National Park of Bialowieza (one of the oldest Nature Reserves in Europe) where you can see Tarpans - a Polish breed of miniature horse - and the regions of Sokolka and Geniusze where there are studs from the famous Sokolka breed. The unforgettable experience will have further splendour added to it by the squadron of Polish Cavalry at the breeding centre in Grabowo.
Horse Holidays
Horse riding in Poland was for a long time an elitist sport and was mostly available around great stud farms and horse riding centres. Today, due to the number of agro-tourist farms and small horse riding centres on the outskirts of towns, horse riding has become popular with the general public. Nobody is now surprised at the sight of a group of horse riders riding in town centres, parks or on tourist routes. Going on a horse holiday as a form of active recreation has now become very popular. Each year, more and more horse tourist routes are established. The most important are the Trans-Beskidzki Route (600km) and the 250km Trans-Jura Horse Riding Route from Nielepice near Cracow to Czestochowa. This last route runs through the most attractive natural environment with views of the Jura.
Almost 200 horse riding trainers and instructors provide assistance and professional instruction on tourist routes and in horse riding centres. The best known horse riding stables in the Slaskie Voivodeship are Pruchna-Ochaby, Trachy, Udorz and Zbroslawice. Two other centres in the Beskidy Mountains, one in Brenna (the second biggest Polish centre for the number of horses of the East Carpathian breed) and the second in Korbielow, have been incorporated into the network of horse-riding mountainous tourist routes. The Jura horse riding route is based on several horse-riding centres that provide a place to stay overnight and to stable horses. It is also possible to go riding in Katowice, Chorzow and Zabrze, as well as many other towns in the Silesian conurbation.
Other Polish Horsey-Activities to try
- Join a trail across the Bieszczady National Park. This is the only mountainous national park in Poland with numerous horse riding trails.
- Take a three-day escorted horseback trek through the untainted scenery of the San River Valley Landscape Park.
- In May or October, take part in a cattle drive through the Beskid Niski mountain range.
- Join a gypsy camp on the move following a trail through woodlands and alongside lakes.
- Enjoy a horseback trail through the Jurassic rock formations of the Krakowsko-Czestochowski region.
- Ride from Warsaw to Lyna on a horseback marathon of 200km.
- Stay on a Shetland Pony Stud Farm and watch foals being born.
- Enjoy a horse riding canter along a Baltic beach.
- Watch equestrian stunt performances in Wilczeniec - the horses and riders have been used in many famous films.
Polish Equestrian Traditions
Equestrian sports and horse breeding have a long tradition in Poland. It is worth the effort to visit at least one of the state stud farms, or one of the many breeding centres. They all offer accommodation, riding courses, trips on horseback, hunting runs and tours in horse-drawn carriages. Enthusiasts of equestrian sports are spoilt for choice. There is a huge range of state and private stud farms and horse stables in Poland, with horses available at most of them. Among the best equipped and orientated towards general tourism are centres at Sierakow, Boguslawice, Kadyny, Ksiaz, Gladyszow, as well as the knights school at Golub-Dobrzyn. All schools organise different events, including fox hunts and St Huburus hunts, while the stud farms arrange horse shows and special rides in horse-drawn carriages.
On Horseback
Many tourists who have visited Poland believe the best way to see the country is on horseback. That it is the way to admire the various landscapes and breathe the fresh air of Polish fields, mountains and forests. Another great experience is to participate in medieval chivalrous tournaments held in the courtyards of old Gothic castles. However, in order to take part, rather than just be an observer, you have to go through a special training course at Golub-Dobrzyn. Lessons in horse riding, western-style mounting and driving horse-drawn carriages are available at most equestrian centres. At Karpacz, in the Karkonosze Range of the Sudety Mountains, there is a 'western-city school' for those who wish to learn western-style mounting, take part in holidays in the saddle, or in the locally organised rodeo.
Riding the 'huculy'
These small and exceptionally strong mountain horses fully show their prowess during cross-country rides through the Beskids and Bieszczady Mountains. When riding 'huculy', or other horses, riders can avail themselves of equestrian tourism facilities scattered along the specially-prepared tourist routes. There are around 30 such facilities along a 400km stretch of equestrian trails. Each centre has spare horses, comfortable overnight accommodation, tasty cuisine, hospitality stalls for horses, as well as local guides who are always willing to help.
Arabian Horses
The Arabian horse has a long history in Poland. Referred to as the 'oriental white horse' in historical documents and legends, the Arabian horse was owned by the ancient Slavic tribes that inhabited the land that would be united under a sovereign, Christian Poland in the late 10th century. Arabian horses were included in the breeding programmes of the Polish aristocracy and became a critical element in creating Europe's finest cavalry. Under the care of the Polish nobility, the Arabian horse began to shape the lifestyle and identitiy of a nation, exerting an influence at every level of Polish society.
This long history of breeding Arabians in Poland, attests to the country's deep commitment to preserve the breed. The Polish Arabian is very much a reflection of the people who created it: brave, athletic, enduring, ambitious on the racetrack and often impassive at the splendours of the show ring. Polish mares exude charm, femininity and beauty; the stallions proclaim strength and masculinity combined with a gentle respect.
Janow Podalski Stud
This is the oldest state-owned and operated horse stud in Poland. It is set among lush meadows along the river Bug and is an equine paradise. It is primarily the breeding of pure-bred Arabians that has given the stud its worldwide fame but it is also well known for anglo-arabians. A big attraction of the stud is the 19th century stable complex situated in an old park. The oldest of these, the Clock Stable (Zegarowa) and the main Stallion Stable (Czolowa) are the works of the famous architect Henryk Marconi.
Arabian Horse days - Poland 2006
This event is being held at Janow Podalski Stud from the 11 to 15 August, 2006. It includes:
28th Polish National Arabian Horse Show (12 August) and 37th Pride of Poland Sale (August 13).
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