The Białowieża Forest, covering almost 1,500 sq km (580 sq miles), is the largest
natural forest in Europe. It lies partly in Poland and partly in Belarus. The
larger – Belarussian – part is virtually inaccessible to tourists; the Polish
part became a national park in 1932. Many parts of the park have preserved their
natural character – that of a primeval forest. The areas of greatest interest
may be visited only with a guide. Recently, the park’s borders have been
extended on the Polish side.

The forest has an impressive abundance of flora and fauna. There are several
thousand species of plants and 11,000 species of animals, including many very
rare birds, such as the capercaillie, black stork and golden eagle. Larger
mammals include elk, deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolf, lynx and, most famously,
the European bison.

On the road running through the forest there is a bison-breeding centre and
enclosures where bison, deer, wild boar and Polish ponies can be seen. The park
also has a forest museum , whose exhibits were once housed in a
brick hunting lodge used by the tsars. It was torched by German forces in 1944.
Only an Orthodox church remains.

Białowieża National Park has been listed by UNESCO as a World Biosphere
Reserve.