The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Siemiatycze

The Church of St. Nicholas is an Orthodox parish church in Drohiczyn. It belongs to the Siemiatycze deanery of the Warsaw-Bielsko diocese of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. The church is located on the market square – Tadeusz Kościuszko Square. The church represents a classicist style. Built in 1792, funded by Konstancja née Kuczyńska and Jakub Ciecierski, it was dedicated to St. Nicholas, a Uniate church for the Basilian monastery. After the Uniate parish church (also dedicated to St. Nicholas) burned down in 1806, services were moved here. In 1826, it was handed over to the Uniate secular clergy. In 1839, following the Synod of Polotsk, the church was seized from the Uniates and placed under the jurisdiction of the Orthodox Church by the Russian partitioning authorities. After the fall of the January Uprising, the church was rebuilt around 1870 to give it a more Orthodox appearance. As a result, the exterior was topped with three additional onion-shaped bell towers, while the interior was modified and a new interior was created, including by removing the side altars, organs, and pulpit.

The ferry crossing on the Bug River connects its northern bank below Drohiczyn with the southern bank near the village of Bużyska, Korczew commune

Franciscan Church in Drohiczyn, dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – according to the monastery tradition recorded in 1797 by Father Karol Gaudenty Żero (1743–1802) in his work entitled "Fenix de pulveribus resuscitatus svaviter suam candit modulenam," the Franciscan convent in Drohiczyn was founded by Mikołaj Nassuta, mentioned in 1430 as the starost of Drohiczyn. The monks are said to have settled on a square known as "Narożnik" (Corner). The first endowments for the monks were confirmed in 1407 by Duke Witold Kiejstutowicz, who also provided offerings from the castle. During the reign of Janusz I the Elder, Duke of Mazovia, a wooden monastery and church dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary were built in 1409. In 1451, the guardian was Father Jan of Ruda, and in 1470, Father Szymon of Kraków. In the years 1460–1470, funds for the monastery were donated by, among others, the Drohicz court assessor Maciej Miłkowski (d. ca. 1478) and his wife Katarzyna. The Franciscan monastery was burned down by dissenters in 1583, and around 1595, the wooden church burned down. In 1595–1596, it was rebuilt thanks to the efforts of Father Mateusz Studziński, guardian, but in 1601, both buildings were destroyed by fire again. Another wooden Franciscan church was built in 1615 through the efforts of the guardian, Father Bartłomiej Klucziata vel Klimczata, and consecrated on October 4, 1618, by the titular bishop of Argivensis and suffragan of Lutsk, Father Stanisław Udrzycki (d. 1621). During this period, a new monastery building was constructed. In 1657, during the Swedish Deluge, following Misericordiae Sunday, the monastery was destroyed again, and several monks were murdered by Cossack, Transylvanian, and Swedish troops commanded by Magnus Gabriel de La Gardie.

One of Drohiczyn's tourist attractions is the "May Island," which covers several hectares. Several years ago, the island was developed with nature trails, nature observation platforms, and nature listening tubes. Access to the island is via a footbridge.

A viewing point overlooking the Bug River and the monastery. A ferry crossing the river is located next to the tower.

Benedictine Church in Drohiczyn, dedicated to All Saints – a church belonging to the Benedictine Sisters. In 1621, Wojciech Niemira brought Benedictine Sisters from Toruń to the church dedicated to All Saints, which had existed since 1560. The building was built between 1734 and 1738, funded by Wiktoryn Kuczyński. The Benedictines taught girls from the nobility. Despite restrictions, the Benedictines of Drohiczyn continued their educational activities until the order was dissolved in 1865. By the end of the 19th century, the monastery and church had fallen into serious disrepair. It was then that Krystyn Ostrowski, the owner of the neighboring village of Korczew, began efforts to rebuild the Benedictine church and convent. In 1919, the Committee for the Reconstruction of the Church and Monastery of the Benedictine Sisters was established. Thanks to its efforts, the vaults were renovated, windows were installed, and floors were laid during the interwar period. During the interwar period, the prefect of the Drohicze high school, Father Kazimierz Dobrzycki, took charge of the reconstruction. During this time, the church served as a school church. The building features a Rococo façade.

it's worth climbing the mountain next to it, there's a beautiful view

Before organizing your route, be sure to check the ferry times and ticket prices: https://podlasie.siematycze.pl/83-siematycze-przeprawa-promowa-mielnik-zabuze It's worth having cash with you.