Podlachia’s heart beats in Białystok, the region’s largest city and cultural hub. Once a center of textile industry and multicultural life, Białystok today blends modern energy with traces of its layered past. The influence of Jewish, Polish, and Russian communities is still visible in its architecture, cuisine, and atmosphere. The city’s wide boulevards and green parks invite relaxed wandering, while its growing creative scene reflects a youthful, forward-looking spirit. Despite its urban size, Białystok retains a calm, almost provincial charm that makes it both accessible and welcoming.

Just a short drive away lies Tykocin, a small town that feels like a living museum. With its cobbled streets, baroque church, and quiet riverside, Tykocin preserves the memory of a once-thriving Jewish community that shaped its identity for centuries. Unlike the bustling rhythm of Białystok, Tykocin moves slowly, inviting reflection. The contrast between the two towns—one vibrant and evolving, the other steeped in stillness and history—captures the essence of Podlachia: a region where the past is never far from the present.