Pogórze Bukowskie

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Pogórze Bukowskie, also called the Bukowskie Upland, is a hilly region in southeastern Poland. It is part of the Beskidy mountains in the Outer Eastern Carpathians, located between Beskid Niski and the Bieszczady near the Osława and San rivers. The highest point is Żurawinka, at 664 meters. The area runs about 45 kilometers from west to east and 15–20 kilometers from north to south, covering around 720 square kilometers. It lies in Sanok County and the Podkarpacie region and borders the Bieszczady Mountains and the Low Beskids. The rocks here are granite, gneiss, and limestone. The name comes from the West Slavic word buk, meaning “beech.”

Key towns in the region include Bukowsko, Komańcza, Nowotaniec, Zagórz, Wola Sękowa, Wola Piotrowa, and Lesko. The area is home to the Uniwersytet Ludowy, opened in 2005, which showcases folk art. Pogórze Bukowskie is one of Poland’s poorer regions.

Historically, the area has seen many changes. Since the 9th century it was contested by Poland, Kievan Rus and Hungary. Before 1947, Lemkos and Dolinians (Rusyn subgroups), Polish Uplanders, and Jews lived here. After World War II, the 1947 operation known as Vistula forced large population moves, following tensions after the murder of General Karol Świerczewski in Jabłonki.

Nature remains strong with beech forests, protected by Jaśliski Landscape Park. Wildlife includes black storks, deer, and wolves.

For visitors, there are historic wooden churches in Wisłok Wielki, Komańcza, Kulaszne, Rzepedź and Szczawne, plus ski resorts at Karlików and Puławy Górne. The region also hosts a Hucul Horse event at Rudawka Rymanowska.

Cattle farming has a long history here. Simmental cattle were brought to Poland in the late 18th century. By 1909 there were 21 Simmental farms in the Polish Kingdom, and in 1920 the Association of Highland Cattle Breeders was founded. In the interwar period, breeding was strongest in Eastern Małopolska, especially Biłoboki, with some farms producing about 6,295 kg of milk at around 3.9% fat. After World War II the breed declined, but breeding was regrouped in 1955 at a center in Brzozów. Between 1956 and 1974, 1,770 cows and 61 bulls were imported from Switzerland, Romania, Austria and Germany. Since the early 1990s the sector has recovered somewhat, and today the Simmental cattle population in Poland is around 40,000.