Białystok is the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. From the beginning of the 21st century, it has become an increasingly important center of eastern Poland. This is reflected in the interest of tourists who appreciate the local sights and widely promoted local cuisine.
The city was founded in the fifteenth century, but from the early centuries of its existence only the late-renaissance parish church has survived. This does not mean, however, that Białystok has nothing to boast about. From the 17th century, the town was the seat of one of the most important magnate families of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - the Branicki Family. In the center stands the Baroque palace and park complex belonging to them. The palace is often called the Versailles of Podlasie. Currently, the Academy of Medicine has its seat in the palace, but some of the rooms are open to visitors.
The center of Białystok is built up with tenements and buildings from the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. In 2008, Kościuszko Square together with the surrounding streets were turned into a pedestrian zone with numerous cafes and restaurants. In many of them you can taste traditional Podlasie dishes, such as potato sausage or “kartacze” (potato dumplings stuffed with meat or cottage cheese). The city is located on the Podlasie Route of Taste. In the central part of the Market Square there is a City Hall building rebuilt after the war, which now houses a branch of the Podlasie Museum with exhibitions devoted to archeology and Polish painting.
