Białystok is the largest city in the north-east part of Poland (294,000 citizens) and the capital of the Podlasie region. The very unique character of the city has been shaped by the coexistence of many different nationalities, religions, cultures, customs and traditions.  It has always been the home to Poles, Belarusians, Jews, Lithuanians, Germans, Russians, Ukrainians, Romanies, Muslims and Tatars. And it was an excellent place for Ludwik Zamenhof to begin his work on creating the universal world language - Esperanto.

The city is surrounded by numerous areas of unique natural and historical assets. Among these is the Bialowieski National Park, the habitat of the European bison. It is one of the most precious sites listed as the UNESCO World Heritage.  There is also Narwianski National Park - the site of extremely rare species of birds, and the Biebrza Valley Marshes - the biggest set of low peatbogs in Central Europe and the biggest national park in Poland.

You will find more information about Bialystok and Podlaskie Region at our official tourist guide for Poland.