Polany lies in the Beskid Niski, in the municipality of Krempna and near the Slovak border. The village combines a clearly defined landscape with a long history of Lemko settlement: for centuries, Polany was an important centre of this community’s religious and cultural life. This offers two perspectives for planning a trip: cultural and architectural history, and the village’s location in a valley shaped by forests and hills. Taking both into account when choosing a destination can help you assess Polany through these themes.

Lemko History and Sights

The long history of Lemko settlement and Polany’s role as a religious and cultural centre give the village’s history a distinct focus. This perspective extends beyond the architectural history of a single building: it looks at a community and the place where its religious and cultural life was important for centuries. The cultural context therefore begins not just with the church building, but with the history of settlement and Polany’s significance to the Lemko people.

Sights in Polany include the Church of St. John Chrysostom and Lemko “chyże” (traditional houses). These provide different points of reference alongside the general history of the village: the named church building and the chyże, which are also listed as sights. If you are interested in Polany’s Lemko heritage, you can consider the settlement history, cultural role, and these sights together as themes of the village. This makes it possible to understand Polany not only through its location in the Beskid Niski, but also through its history.

The Former Church of St. John Chrysostom

The former Greek Catholic Church of St. John Chrysostom was built in 1914. It is an example of Neo-Byzantine architecture and has a Greek-cross floor plan. A stately dome in the centre dominates the building. The year of construction, the church’s former denominational affiliation, and its architectural design are different aspects of the same sight: the year dates its construction, while the floor plan and dome describe the building’s form.

The spatial arrangement also contributes to the church’s architectural character. The Greek-cross floor plan describes its basic shape; the centrally positioned dome emphasises the middle of the building. Together, these features give a concrete impression of the Neo-Byzantine church without reducing its significance to the year it was built or to its architectural style alone. For travellers interested in architecture, Polany offers a clearly identifiable cultural highlight that is also embedded in the village’s longer history.

Valley, Forests, and Hills

Polany lies in a valley surrounded by forests and hills in Magura National Park. This setting adds a landscape perspective to the village’s history and architecture. Together with its location in the Beskid Niski and its proximity to the Slovak border, this provides a sense of place at different scales: Polany itself, the municipality of Krempna, the mountain region, and the border area. These geographical details answer different questions about how to situate the destination, rather than repeating the same location reference.

When choosing a destination, you can therefore consider which aspect of Polany appeals to you most. The history of Lemko settlement and the church point to cultural and architectural themes; the valley, with its forests and hills, describes the landscape. Both are part of Polany’s character, but they are different reasons to consider visiting.

Discover more destinations: Kołaczyce, Jasło, Nowy Żmigród, Nawsie Kołaczyckie, Krempna.

Go to the main travel overview: Jasielski.