Polonezkoy (Adampol)… For breathing outside the metropolis in the company of nature and birds’ chirps, you can experience both the heavenly nature and culture here in this unique corner of paradise, the Istanbul’s back garden…
Polonezkoy (meaning “the village of the Poles”), is a pretty village located in the Beykoz district of Istanbul, on the Asian side, and it stands out as a Polish village within the borders of Turkey. The old name of the village was known as Adampol. The village was founded in 1842 by Prince Adam Czartoryski (Chairman of National Uprising Government and the Leader of a Political Emigration Party), who lived in exile after the 1830 Polish uprising.
The word “Polonez” is related with Polish in Turkish language, and “köy” means “village”, which gives a meaning of “Polish Village”. The former name of “Adampol” stands for the founder Adam Czartoryski, which means “the land of Adam”.
Today, it still has the character of a Polish village with its culture. The village is frequently preferred to get away from the crowds of the city on weekends, and has many attractions and sights for its visitor. The warm atmosphere of Polonezköy mostly starts in June, and continues throughout the summer.
Some History
The existence of “Polonezkoy-Adampol” within Istanbul is a cultural and historical event that has never before been seen in the world. This village was established in Istanbul in 1842, Turkey, after Poland was invaded by its neighbors Russia, Austria and Prussia in 1772.
The Ottoman Empire was against the idea of this invasion. Ottoman Empire supported Poland and Polish immigrants by giving them this heavenly place for settlement. The inhabitants also took the Turkish citizenship in 1938.
In 1841, the famous writer Michal Czarkowski came to Istanbul and established the Polish representation. He then becomes a Muslim and takes the name Mehmet Sadik Pasha.
During the Crimean War between 1853-1856, Mehmet Sadik Pasha, together with approximately eight thousand people, gave the Poles permission to settle in the lands where Polonezkoy is located today.
Michal Czarkowski leases the current Polonezkoy lands indefinitely and Polish refugees, immigrants and military families are settled here.
Read more on the brief history of Polonezkoy.
In the early 1900s, the village started a concept of a clean family pension service to Istanbul and opened its door to tourism. This type of accommodation has become very famous in the village with its green nature, wooden houses that are like smiling with their landscape of trees full of flowers and fruits.
Today’s Polonezkoy is one of the most preferred places in Istanbul to choose from an exciting weekend breaks, day trips, to nature walking, cycling, picnics, barbecue, dinners in luxurious and quality restaurants, weddings and various parties.
Polonezkoy is also one of the most famous villages in the world. And for more than 150 years, the inhabitants of the village have preserved the Polish language, culture and the traditions of their ancestors.
Many famous people have visited the village, including the French Liszt in 1847, Gustave Flaubert in 1850, founder of Turkey Mustafa Kemal ATATURK, Pope 23rd Jean, former President Kenan EVREN and Polish President Lech WALESA and author Pierre Loti.
Czech author Karel Droz says in his novel that, “Even this is a fairy tale, it is very real. Far away from the motherland, inside somewhere by the Anatolian hills covered with forests, lies a hidden Polish village.” He describes the view of the village as “a smile of a corner from heaven”.
Poland culture lives here through the buildings of the village, people’s life style, leisure activities and wedding ceremonies at the same time.
Attractions & Sights
Polonezkoy is a heavenly place, a unique village with its success in protecting its green nature and environment around Istanbul. Even on the way the village, passing through the forest road, you’ll feel the peaceful environment.
The village itself is a place where you can have the respect, feel yourself free from the crowd, noise and stress of Istanbul.
While you were passing through the roads surrounded with forests of pine trees, you’ll suddenly feel your soul purified from the crowd, noise and chaos of the city.
At the entrance of the village, the Mother Mary Church and the Catholic cemetery welcomes you. About 100 meters ahead, you’ll arrive to the village’s pretty small square.
The House of the Memory of Zofia Ryży, where the village history and old photographs are exhibited, the historical Czestochowa’s Mother Mary Church, that was built between 1900-1914, the Polish Cemetery, also home to the tomb of the Mehmet Sadik Pasha’s wife, the house where Ataturk (the founder of Turkish Republic) stayed during his visit to the village, culture house or the open air wooden arts exhibition, are among the most popular places to visit and see in Polonezkoy.
You’ll find variety of great activities to choose from in Polonezkoy, from an exciting weekend breaks, day trips, to nature walking, cycling, picnics, barbecue, dinners in luxurious and quality restaurants, weddings and various parties.
You can start the day with a rich village breakfast or brunch in this heavenly village, then you can enjoy a rest in hammocks or cushions in the beautiful gardens, and then you can continue the day with a nature walk, hike or cycling tour.
When you want to take a break, you can have a rest, eat and drink in the pretty cafes and restaurants that offer delicious and different alternatives, have a picnic, barbecue in the gardens, or reward yourself with cakes, donuts and desserts specific to the village during at the tea time.
You can also visit the village shops selling souvenirs.
If you won’t want to go back to Istanbul at the end of the day, you can stay at the variety of pretty hotels and pensions in the village and have a wonderful stay in the nature.
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