Discover Biała Podlaska: City History and Art

Biała Podlaska offers several distinct ways to explore the city’s history and culture: traces of a former castle, a building associated with the founding of a school, a former marketplace and collections at the Muzeum Południowego Podlasia. This mix can help you tailor your stay to your interests. Cycling routes are another of the city’s tourist attractions. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding whether architecture, museums or cycling will be the main focus of your trip.

History in buildings and urban spaces

The Zespół Zamkowy Radziwiłłów is the remains of a former castle. It was laid out on a five-pointed star plan with five bastions, surrounded by moats and earthworks. The plan, bastions and fortifications together describe the historic form of the complex and give it a character distinct from that of a single castle building.

The building of the former Akademia Bialska on ulica Warszawska features an eagle and the year 1628. This is the school’s founding year, not the year the building was constructed. The site thus connects an architectural detail with the city’s educational history.

The Basilian monastery complex dates from the 18th century and comprises the church pw. Narodzenia NMP, a monastery, and a gate with an enclosure. The complex is therefore more than a single church building: its named components also include the monastery and the entrance with its enclosure.

Plac Wolności was once the city’s marketplace and is lined with townhouses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Along with the Akademia building and the Basilian complex, it offers different historical perspectives: an urban square, educational history and religious architecture. This can help you decide how to prioritize your interests during your stay.

Museum, icons and art

In 2020, redesigned permanent exhibitions on city history, archaeology, art and ethnography opened to visitors at the Muzeum Południowego Podlasia. This provides a broad thematic framework for planning a museum visit, from the city’s history to art and everyday culture. Before visiting, check whether the museum is currently open.

The Muzeum Południowego Podlasia has a collection of almost 1,700 icons, one of the largest in Poland. The size of the collection may change. In the icon exhibition, the first room focuses on icons depicting Christ and the Mother of God. Before your visit, check whether this exhibition is currently on display.

The museum also presents works by Bazyli Albiczuk. Another architectural feature associated with the museum is the six-storey entrance tower, also known as the watchtower: it is now home to the Muzeum Południowego Podlasia. Check visitor information before your trip so you can plan around the current options for visiting.

Another perspective: cycling routes

Cycling routes are considered one of Biała Podlaska’s tourist attractions. Routes run near Park Radziwiłłowski and along ulica Zamkowa by Małpi Gaj. If cycling is part of your trip, check local route details before setting out, as the network may change. This lets you consider cycling alongside the historic sites and museum themes when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Janów Podlaski, Kukuryki, Grabanów, Małaszewicze Duże, Meseritz, Solinki, Slawatycze, Mokrany Nowe

For the overview of the wider area: Bialski.