The areas along Poland’s eastern border hold many relics of wars and monuments to wartime heroes. Situated amidst the hills and the expanses of the Roztocze highland, bunkers and fortifications from WWII mark the Molotov Line. The Przemyśl Fortress, proudly towering over the San River, is a monument to the great battles of 1914-1915. A mysterious tunnel, once part of Hitler’s Southern Headquarters, is hidden beneath Mount Żarnowska in Strzyżów. The Podkarpackie region holds many fascinating attractions for those interested in military heritage.
Situated along the San River, in the early 1900s Przemyśl was one of Europe’s largest fortresses. Today, the complex of forts around the city is an intriguing tourist destination. The oldest defensive structures are approximately 150 years old. The outer ring alone is made of 15 major forts and 20 auxiliary structures – a cycling trail leads there.
Accessible by bike, and sometimes only by foot, the WWII bunkers along the Molotov Line can be spotted in various locations from the Bieszczady mountains and Lesko to Horyniec-Zdrój and Cieszanów. Some bunkers go a few storeys below the ground, some still hold anti-tank guns, many of them are inhabited by bats, and they are all fascinating to explore.
Even on a hot day you will shiver inside the massive railway tunnel in Stępina-Cieszyna where Adolf Hitler met with Benito Mussolini. Now, always in August, re-enactment groups meet here for a huge Military Rally. On this occasion many also visit the Historical Park in Blizna near Dębica. This is where the first trials were conducted to test V1 and V2 rockets, the Third Reich’s powerful secret weapons.
In the Low Beskids and the nearby foothills you will see many war cemeteries with tombs of those who perished in the battles of WWI and WWII. You can learn more about the battles and soldiers participating in the warfare from the museum collections in Krosno and in Rzeszów, which is also associated with the legendary history of the Black Devils led by General Stanisław Maczek. The Podkarpackie region is also linked to the literary character of Svejk – the Good Soldier of Imperial and Royal Army from the novel by Jaroslav Hašek. The writer loved the Galician towns of Sanok and Przemyśl and he decided that the good fortune would bring Svejk to those places.
Today, in the Podkarpackie region you can travel along the tourist route following the footsteps of the Good Soldier Svejk. In fact along the way you can meet Svejk himself, the bronze soldier sitting comfortably on a bench with a cheeky look on his face. If you rub his nose you will have good luck in life.
The Podkarpackie region will be happy to share more fascinating stories.