The Zbójna Commune is a country-commune covering 18477 ha area. It is situated in western part Podlaskie Voivodat close to communication road from Warsaw to Lomza, (Nº 61) next to way from Lomza through Myszyniec to Olsztyn (Nº 645). The Commune is located on Kurpie Flatlands, among the Green Forest woodland on the Green Lungs of Poland and Europe area. All area distinguishes comparatively little transformed natural environment and high wooded (44% its area are forests). These forests are very natural most of the time. Fast current meandering Pisa River for years carving, sandy, steep bank constantly translocating riverbed, invariable accompanies repeated every year marvellous nature transformation.

Pisa River

Only during winter, when strong frost makes ice bridge will connect both riverbanks – Pisa, covered with thick feather bed of snow falls asleep, in spring will shine again with millions solar reflexes. When over melted by more and more warmer rays snow - coat will lean out delicate snowdrops and pasque-flowers, when Pisa flood waterses will cover with vivid yellow carpets of marsh marigolds, and hazel panaches will sprinkle with soft and downy catkins – in whitened every spring hut girls, like many years ago Kurpie's Easter eggs.

Easter Palms

Covered with decorative ornament, using hot wax sewn on eggs with special pencil, dye in coloured decoction, will decorate Easter - tables, to emphasise its unrepeatable colouring exploding delight with spring coming up and joy life victory. Easter eggs and subtle decorating, rising to heaven with prayer for fertile year, high up to 10 meters palms, carried during solemn procession is not only decorative elements but also expression attachment to tradition and religion.

Cranes

Rustle leafs moved by wind, murmur Pisa coming up from night mist and bell’s morning play on church’s steeple alternate with bird’s singing is creating exceptional harmony. Here and elsewhere you can find and see vociferous eagle, which are diving and on marshy grounds dancing in mating - dance cranes.

Storks

Frequent picture are crowning hut with stork’s nest, what looks like stork is returning Kurpie people kindness and decide to stay for ever and feel at home in these part of Earth. Local people believe, that house, on which stork built its nest will not experience fire, and its inhabitants will have good, long and healthy life. Stork is also good sign for young married women, who wait with longingly to have baby.

Juniper

Perfectly preserved reserves “Kaniston, “Czarny Kat” or “Uroczysko Lokiec” are mainstay for many unique animal species. In Green Forest you can meet face to face with wolf, perceive nimble roe deer or walking with dignity deer. Very often it is possible to observe wild boar, fox, badger, forest marten, hare or zuol squirrel shaking wheedlingly elegant tuft. Between branches and leaves attentive careful observer will espy eagle owl whether European roller and with a little luck will see black stork majestic flight. Kurpie forests richness is also undergrowth: mushrooms, blackberries, whortleberries and herbs. Woodland since ages grants generously Kurpie people, while they love slender pines, silver-plated birch’s trunks and junipers.

Beaver

In exceptionally clean water live here a lot of beavers, which are building from twig and mud their beaver’s lodges.

Kierce

Rapid river’s current creates good terms for great number living here different kind of fishes, and among them daces, pikes, perches, breams and burbots. Interior Kurpie hut built from hewed timber with window’s and door’s embellishment ornaments, characteristic shutters and wind bents is decorated with traditional paper out-cuts placed on walls, kierce (chandeliers made of paper flowers and amber) and spiders fastened to ceiling.

Kurpie Singing

Since many years bread in Kurpie tradition occupies exceptional place. It is wealth and welfare symbol. In many houses until today, when there is a specially occasion woman bake their own “familiar” (swojski) bread, and loaves before putting them to stove are marked with cross sign whispering prayer, so that nobody never lacked it. Tradition of pickling cabbages, and especially honey harvest holiday give remembrance times like used to be. Beekeeping, what Kurpie people were doing because of king's bestowal, was income source for their many generations. Honey taken out from forest’s behoves had exceptional taste and uncommon features also healing. Makings out-cuts, blacksmithing, embroidery and plaiting, at last amber processing art are results handicrafts artistic, strengthen and develop for ages fixed on this land.
All of that, completed by Kurpie singing, dance, rich rites and natural kindness Kurpie people, create exceptional, unrepeatable colour and climate that region. It is worth visiting this land. It is worth tasting familiar bread largely poured with honey, and breathing clean, healthy air. It is worth listening intently Kurpie night silences interrupt by eagle owl’s wings murmur and beating Kurpie people friendly hearts.

More information:
The Zbójna Commune Office
Ul. Lomzynska 64
18-416 Zbójna
Poland
Tel. (04886) 2140029
The Head of the Commune: Zenon Bialobrzeski
Or Kurpie Centre of Agri-tourism Information
Tel. (04886) 2140213