Białystok

Białystok, city in north-east Poland, capital of Podlaskie Province. The region is a plain drained by the Bug and Narew rivers. Podlaskie Province is primarily agricultural; industry is concentrated in the capital. The chief crops are flax, oats, potatoes, and rye. The city, a railway junction, is a centre of the Polish textile industry; other manufactured goods include agricultural machinery, chemicals, cutlery, processed foods, tiles, and tools. Białystok lies about 50 km (30 mi) west of the border with Belarus.

Places of interest include several Orthodox churches, including the modern (1998) Hagia Sophia, a miniature version of the one-time church in İstanbul; the Branicki Palace (today a medical academy); a modern philharmonic hall; and several synagogues. A university and a technical university are also located there. The Białowieża Forest (Puszcza Białowieska), since 1992 a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is nearby.

Białystok was founded in 1310. In 1795 it was annexed to Prussia and in 1807 to Russia. It was returned to Poland in 1921. The city was occupied by Germany during both world wars. The province was annexed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) during World War II. Nearly half of the city’s inhabitants, including the entire Jewish population, were killed, and many buildings were destroyed. In August 1945, Białystok was ceded to Poland. Population 294,100 (2005 estimate).