In the southern part of Poland, spanning from Silesia to the eastern border, lie the Beskidy Mountains. Unlike the highest mountains in Poland, the Tatras, one can't find many rocky peaks or narrow ridges there; instead, it is a vast land full of rich forests, picturesque alps, meadows and clear streams.
The western part of Beskidy covers a significant area of Upper Silesia and the Lesser Poland regions. Dwellers in this land have lived for centuries in beautiful towns and villages where many monuments to folk culture can be found today - from which especially unique Gothic wooden churches deserve particular attention. Visitors can widely use well developed tourism infrastructure such as tourist shelters, boarding houses, hotels, spas, skiing stations, trails etc. The traces of Carpathian history appear in the form of old castles and well maintained pastoral culture. In this part also lies Mt Babia Góra, called "The Queen of Polish Mountains", which is the highest elevation in the whole Polish Beskidy (1725 m, or 5660 ft above sea level). Its wonderful natural environment is protected by the international 'Man and biosphere' reserve.
The eastern part, much less populated and wilder, attracts both amateurs of outdoor adventure and those tourists who like to hike alone. It suffered a lot in the stormy history of the XX century, but even after wars and resettlements, one can find many fascinating remains. Today it's a land of old Orthodox churches and forgotten cemeteries, hidden in long valleys. Near the Ukrainian border is situated the Bieszczady - a mountain range particularly famous for wonderful panoramas and very good conditions for horse-riding.
The Beskidy is an area where nature is actively preserved (five national parks, several landscape parks), but at the same time very hospitable and open to tourists. It's the place where centuries of history harmonise with today's life. As mountain guides, we consider it the most beautiful place in the world. We invite you - come and discover it yourselves!

text and translation by Jakub Wczelik