Mighty 200-year-old firs were selected for walls, and oaks were prepared for the support structures. Cut down by lumberjacks, they were pulled into the creek. Water would wash over the timber for three years to make it as hard and sturdy as steel. This is how they prepared the material to build the church in Blizne five hundred years ago, making sure it would be resistant to the passage of time. This is one of the six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Podkarpackie Region. Besides these masterpieces of wooden architecture, the international community has also recognized the importance of the ecosystems of the Bieszczady Mountains and the Roztocze highland, and these areas have been designated as biosphere reserves.
Six humble wooden churches in the remote locations throughout the Podkarpackie region have been recognized for their unique historical and cultural significance for the world and have been placed on the UNESCO list alongside Venice, Versailles and the Egyptian pyramids. In 2003, the label of a World Heritage Site was awarded to the churches in Blizne and Haczów. Ten years later, four tserkvas in Radruż, Chotyniec, Smolnik and Turzańsk also received that status. A tour of these wooden masterpieces is a good way to learn more about the region and its history.
Wood, abundant in these areas centuries ago, was commonly used as a building material. Roman Catholics, as well as Orthodox and Greek Catholic communities used it to built their magnificent churches in this region which was located at the junction of the Eastern and Western civilisations. In fact, the land along the borders of Poland and Ruthenia, plagued by constant battles, was sparsely populated until the 14th and 15th century when Ruthenia was incorporated into the Polish Kingdom. This is when people coming from the west to settle here began clearing forests and establishing new villages; they also brought with them skills and construction techniques as a result of which many churches in their design and construction reflected cultural links with the Lesser Poland. You can see examples of such influences in Haczów and Blizne; both are located in the Brzozów district, so you can easily visit the two landmarks in one day.
The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Haczów was built in the first half of the 1400s. Its monumental body with the wide arcades and the dim light inside the tall nave make you feel that you are facing something eternal which has withstood historical turmoil. It is the largest medieval log building preserved in Europe. It was significantly expanded in the 17th century. This is when the arcades were added to the church along with the turret and the tall belfry. Before you enter through the Gothic doors, you will be surprised to see the mysterious masks below the eaves on the side of the chancel; in fact we still do not know their meaning. Inside you can see well-preserved decorations. Scenes from the Scriptures cover the entire walls; this is the so-called ‘Biblia Pauperum’, or the Paupers’ Bible, with pictorial representations for the illiterate worshippers.
Even as you are approaching the All Saints' Church in Blizne, built in 1470, you can see how beautiful it is. This is a brilliant example of wooden Gothic architecture. Inside you will find it difficult to take your eyes off the polychrome. The walls are covered with scenes from the New Testament. The Paupers’ Bible, placed there as a teaching and warning, covers the entire northern wall of the nave and contains a slightly concealed scene presenting the suicide of Judas hanging on a tree as well as a full view of the Last Judgement. The Biblia Pauperum’ is more colourful than the one in Haczów and was not created all at once, but changed over the centuries. Interestingly, a monumental scene of the Last Judgement, comparable to the one in Blizne, can also be seen in the Greek Catholic Tserkva of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God in Chotyniec. It is also a World Heritage Site. It dates back to the 16th century and it stands out among all the wooden tserkvas in Poland for the shape of its silhouette. Each of the three parts, typical in churches of Eastern Christianity, i.e. the chancel, nave and women’s section, is covered with an octagonal dome. There is an arcaded gallery over the women’s section and the arcades run along the entire perimeter of the building. According to a legend the church once stood in a different place. The present location was shown by the Holy Mother, and then the building was hauled here by oxen.
You can hear a romantic story if you go to the northern outskirts of the region, where on the edge of the Eastern Roztocze, right next to the Polish-Ukrainian border, you can visit the Greek-Catholic Tserkva of St. Paraskeva in Radruż near Horyniec-Zdrój. It is nearly five hundred years old and it is sometimes called a wooden cathedral. Surrounded by a wall made of limestone blocks from the nearby quarry, the tserkva complex was designed to provide shelter during the Tartar invasions. The tale about the beautiful Maria Dubniewiczowa dates from those times. Taken captive by the Tatars, after 27 years she returned to the village, carrying her valuables. The golden iconostasis also shines like jewels. The symbolism of the icons and the history of the place are explained in a fascinating way by the guides from the Museum of the Kresy Borderland in Lubaczów, which is in charge of the landmark.
Younger than the other World Heritage Sites in the Podkarpackie region, the Orthodox Tserkva of St. Michael the Archangel in Turzańsk near Komańcza was built over 200 years ago. It has five graceful turrets and the tallest belfry in the Low Beskids. Inside you can see a magnificent iconostasis and colourful wall paintings from the 1800s depicting scenes from the life of the Lemko people who inhabited the areas nearby. They were forcefully relocated shortly after WWII but later returned to Turzańsk and continue to look after their Orthodox tserkva.
Compared to the others, the Greek Catholic Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Smolnik near Lutowiska looks small but it is also really beautiful. It is the only preserved tserkva of Boyko people. It has survived the ravages of warfare, forceful relocation of the local people and robberies. It is located in the tiny village of Smolnik far from other building, along the road leading towards Ustrzyki Górne. As you are approaching, three roofs topped with small cupolas appear among the majestic trees, inviting you to stop by. Many artists have painted it and many young couples have dreamed of a truly magical wedding ceremony here.
The unique landmarks in the Podkarpackie region are surrounded by exceptional scenery. The natural ecosystems and the unique geological formations, in addition to the relics of the old cultures, are the qualities that were recognised by the UNESCO which designated the Roztocze Highland as well as the Bieszczady National Park to be part of International Biosphere Reserves. So during your tour of the cultural heritage sites you can also go deep into the forests, or take hiking trips in the mountains, or take a ride along a bike trail to explore the natural wonders of these areas.