Národný park Poloniny

Poloniny National Park lies in the very easternmost tip of Slovakia, in the Bukovské vrchy hills on the border with Poland and Ukraine. It is a land of rounded, forested ridges, mountain meadows known as poloniny, and deep valleys, giving it a remote, untouched feel. It is precisely this distance from major cities that makes it one of the most peaceful areas in the country.

The park was declared on 1 October 1997, covering an area of over 298 km², and together with its buffer zone forms a continuous protected territory. It doesn't stand alone – it directly adjoins Poland's Bieszczadzki Park Narodowy and, on the Ukrainian side, the Uzhansky National Nature Park, together forming an extensive cross-border protected area in the heart of the Carpathians.

Poloniny is a paradise for lovers of silence and wild nature. Here you'll find preserved beech primeval forests, a rich diversity of plants and animals, and mountain meadows with sweeping views. Thanks to minimal artificial lighting, the night sky over Poloniny is among the darkest in Slovakia, making it ideal for stargazing too. Hiking trails lead to border peaks and ridges from where you can see into three countries at once.

The gateway to the park's wildest part is the village of Nová Sedlica, from where hikes set out to the tripoint of borders and into the surrounding valleys. Poloniny is best explored without rushing, over several days – which is exactly why it helps to have a base right in the region. Accommodation in the surrounding villages lets you wake to mornings full of birdsong, set off on the trail right from your door, and enjoy the sky free of light pollution in the evening. Poloniny is a great tip for anyone seeking nature without crowds and wanting to experience Slovakia in its most natural form.