San Valley Landscape Park

The San Valley Landscape Park is a picturesque region in the northern part of the Bieszczady Mountains, located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. It encompasses the Otryt Range and the upper San River valley, stretching from Beniowa to the Solina Lake. The park serves as a natural buffer for the Bieszczady National Park and also borders the Ukrainian Nadsiansky Regional Landscape Park and the Ciśniańsko-Wetliński Landscape Park, making it part of the "East Carpathians" International Biosphere Reserve. Forests cover approximately 80% of the park's area, with the Carpathian beech forest being the dominant type, nearly half of which consists of old-growth stands over 100 years old. The park is home to rare species of large mammals such as the European bison, bear, and lynx, as well as numerous native reptiles, including the Aesculapian snake. In terms of nature conservation, the park includes reserves such as "Zakole," "Krywe," "Hulskie im. Stefana Myczkowskiego," and "Śnieżyca wiosenna w Dwerniczku," as well as natural and landscape complexes that incorporate local traditions and architecture, such as churches, mills, and cemeteries. Interestingly, the park area preserves numerous traces of folk culture and historical sites related to former inhabitants. This region not only captivates with its natural values but also represents an important historical and cultural treasure, where history and tradition blend with the unique landscapes of the Bieszczady Mountains.