At the Narew river

The Narew is the biggest tributary of the Vistula River. It is 484km long. The River's source is at a height of 159m above sea level in the Belorussian part of the Bialowieska primeval forest. The Narew flows into the Vistula River near Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki.
Having a tributary, the Bug River of 770km, longer than the Narew River itself is a real curiosity. The hierarchy of river importance is determined by the fact that through the Narew River a larger quantity of water is conveyed to the Vistula River.
The Narew has numerous of tributaries which originate in the Bialowieska, Knyszynska, Fiska and Biala forests, in the Biebrza River valley and in the Mazurian Lake District.
The Narew is also a water course connecting the Vistula River and Great Mazurian Lakes through the Pisa River, and the Niemen River through Biebrza and the Augustowski Channel. There are two artificial lakes, Siemianowka and Zegrzynski, with an area of 30 sq km each. The Narew River is one of the last rivers with natural character in Poland and all of Europe. The upstream part of Narew creates an immense valley with flat banks, numerous meanders and one clear river-bed. From Suraz to Rzedziany there are a few river-beds which make the overflows of Narew and its meanders more attractive. In 1985 the Narew River Landscape Park was established here. The particular population of birds and plants is a paradise for nature lovers. From Rzedziany to the mouth of the Biebrza River one can see traces of human agricultural activities.
The particular population of birds and plants is a paradise for nature lovers. From Rzedziany to the mouth of the Biebrza River one can see traces of human agricultural activities. In the 1970s the river-bed was channelized, the valley was drained and a few locks were built. As the Biebrza River flows into the Vistula, the Narew River runs through a wide valley with sandy banks that are overgrown with osier.
The Narew River is an ecological pivot of the Green Lungs of Poland. It comes under protection as an area of protected landscape and in the Narwianski Landscape Park. Two other parks of that type are to be established here: the Valley of Narew and the Biala primeval forest. In the near future the Narwianski National Park is planned. The Narew River is also interesting for touring. Cruising along the river can show the appealing past history of the land on both sides of the river. For centuries, the central and upper parts of the river basin were a borderland. Influences of different cultures mixed and are still noticeable. In the villages around the Narew River one can come across folklore of Belorussia, Podlasie, Mazowsze and Kurpie. There is the Skansen (outdoor) museum named after Adam Chetnik in Nowogrod but many villages along the Narew river are museums in their own right. In the 10-13th c. the first villages came into being in order to ect the river crossings. Among them were Pultusk, Rozan, Ostroleka, Nowogrod, Wizna, Suraz and Narew. In the 14th and 15th c. the first towns were founded; in Pultusk © 1339, Nowy Dwor © 1347, Ostroleka © 1375, Rozan © 1378, Lomza © 1418, Tykocin © 1425, Wizna © 1435, Suraz © 1500, Choroszcz © 1507 and Narew © 1514. As the dates of towns' founding indicate, colonization moved from the west to the upper parts of the river and is associated with Mazovian people.
Towns located around the Narew River are the biggest complexes of monuments. All tourists, especially those who want to cruise down the river,are invited to visit them. Suraz, the first track mentioned the above, is the only one that occupies both banks of the river. On the left there are a medieval village and a church dating from the 19th c, On the right there are Orthodox and Jewish cemeteries and also a public museum of archeology.
Choroszcz is situated at the mouth of the Horodnianka river, beneath Suraz town. There is a monumental Marketplace with a former dominican monastery complex. in the landscape park there is a summer residence of the Branicki family. In the 19th c. there was the biggest "The Baroque Pearl".
The Alumnus's building, the Bernardines's monastery and church, the king Zygmunt August's castle, the monumental marketplace with a statue of Stefan Czarniecki and the synagogue in Tykocin are of particular historical interest. In the synagogue there is a museum of culture which presents Jewish exhibits and those associated with local communities.
Lomza, with a population of over 50000 is the biggest town along the Narew River. The most valuable monument in Lomza is St.Michael and John the Baptist's cathedral which is late Gothic. There are other monuments like Mournful Mary's church with adjoining monastery buildings, the Classical Town Hall and the merchants's tenement- -houses from the 19th c. Fortifications from the 19th c. (Lomza was a fortress at that time) are also worth seeing.
The museum of the Biebrza Wetlands in Drozdow and the ancient village in Stara Lomza should be visited, too. Nowogrod is located where the Pisa River flows into the Narew. There is a well-known Skansen (outdoor) museum established in the 1920s. Nowadays, it comprises 4.5 hectares with 18 monumental buildings and several smaller examples of local architecture.
Ostroleka, with a population of 50000, is another province capital situated on the Narew River. It is a large centre of food production and paper industry which includes building materials. The most significant monuments in Ostroleka are Mary the Visited church from the 15th c., which was then reconstructed in the Baroque style, the Bernardines complex, and the monument erected on the location of the battle during the November Uprising roleka was the last big battle of that uprising.
Rozan is situated on the high, right bank of the Narew River. It has medieval origins but now is a little town with a population of 3000. In Rozan the Neogothic church with some 16th c. remains is worth visiting. The town is located on a slope which is cut with some picturesque ravines. Opposite the Narew River are the Szczawinskie Forests. Farther down the Narew River is Pultusk, with a population of 20000. It has numerous monuments of historical value. The Gothic collegiate church, the Baroque church, the Jesuits' school and some fragments of town wall are worth seeing in Pultusk. In the park surrounding the Narew River in the former bishop's palace, there is the House of the Polish Colony-Polonia.
Nowogrod Mazowiecki is situated at the junction of the Narew and Vistula Rivers. There is a textile complex which was severely damaged during the Second World War. In the town there are also two churches and at the mouth of the Narew River one can see a granary.