Supraśl is a town located in the heart of the Knyszyn Forest, and at the same time only 15 km from the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodship – Białystok. A tourist center and a town with the status of a health resort. A significant tourist hub and a perfect place to start hiking, cycling, horse riding or canoeing trips around the Knyszyn Forest. Supraśl is also a great starting point for nearby tourist attractions of the region , such as Tykocin, Białowieża or Augustów.
The history of Supraśl dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. In 1500, among the vast Lithuanian forests, by the Supraśl River, Orthodox monks settled down. They were brought by the owner of these properties, Aleksander Chodkiewicz, the Grand Marshal of Lithuania, probably from Kiev.
In 1503, the construction of a temple was started in Supraśl, which was a compilation of Byzantine and Gothic architecture. The Supraska fortified church is the only building of this type in Poland, and one of three in Europe. The church was demolished in 1944. It has now been rebuilt and is a faithful reconstruction.
The church is surrounded by a complex of monastery buildings from the 17th-19th centuries. In one of them – the Abbots’ Palace – there is the Museum of Icons opened in 2006. It is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the Bialystok region and one of the most modern museums in Poland. The entire collection consists of nearly 1,200 icons created in the period from the 17th to the 20th century, of which 300 of the most valuable are presented at the exhibition. The exhibition is multimedia in nature, using images, light and sound.
The town also offers many places to stay, such as hotels, guesthouses and private accommodation. So you can find accommodation in different standards and prices, which allows you to choose the perfect place for every tourist .
Supraśl has only 4.5 thousand inhabitants. However , we find here an unprecedented concentration of cultural and social potential . The Knyszyn Forest Landscape Park is located here, there is a well-known Fine Arts High School and the “Wierszalin” Theatre , one of the most awarded avant-garde theaters in Poland, awarded at many theater festivals in the country and in the world. Numerous cyclical events take place in the city, such as: Meetings with Nature and Art “Uroczysko”, the Podlasie SlowFest Festival , concerts of classical music organized by the Chopin Society, or the World Championship in Baking Potato Potato Sauce.
The “Victoria” Sports Club has been operating for over 20 years. When entering the city, it is impossible not to notice the horses at ul. Białostocka 40, where the Equestrian Center is located. The club is an active member of the Podlaskie Equestrian Association. Since 2005, it has been organizing dressage competitions every year , which count towards the classification of competitors in the Podlasie Riding League. For over 10 years, the flagship event organized by KS “Victoria” was the Dressage Championship of the Podlaskie province.
Dressage is the basic discipline in which the Equestrian Center in Supraśl specializes. This is due to the fact that KS “Victoria” mainly deals with working with children and youth, and dressage is the basis of all horse sports. KS “Victoria” also offers anyone willing to learn horse riding from scratch or improve their riding skills in dressage and jumping.
The club also specializes in equestrian tourism. The offer includes off-road rides in the beautiful forests surrounding Supraśl, as well as one or several-day rallies around the Knyszyńska Forest. From year to year, there are more and more people willing to admire the charms of the Knyszyn Forest in this way, and at the same time actively rest on horseback.