A hexagonal market square and twelve streets radiating from its corners define Krynki’s historic town plan. The town also has churches and synagogues with different histories of construction and rebuilding. If you are looking for a theme for your stay, you can explore the town’s layout, its religious heritage and the “Kresowe Wędrówki” cycling loop as different ways to discover the destination.

The market square and streets as landmarks

Krynki’s 18th-century town plan, which has been preserved, is considered unique nationwide. Its hexagonal market square is now a park, with twelve straight streets radiating from its corners. The layout can therefore be described both from the square and along the streets. Sokólska, Kościelna, Cerkiewna and Garbarska are among the historic streets, in use for centuries. Together, the shape of the market square, the course of the streets and their historic names make the town’s layout a tangible theme for a walk through local history.

Sacred buildings from different centuries

The wooden Church of St. Anne was founded by King Sigismund I in 1521 and built in 1522. The brick parish Church of St. Anne on Kościelna Street, by contrast, was built between 1907 and 1913 to a design by Stefan Szyller. The St. Anne church complex includes a gate bell tower dating from the second half of the 18th century and a churchyard dating from the 18th century. The churchyard contains tombstones belonging to the de Virion family, former owners of Krynki and several estates in the surrounding area.

The Orthodox building history also spans different periods and styles. The brick parish Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, dating from 1864, stands at 5 Cerkiewna Street. The Orthodox cemetery chapel of St. Anthony is a wooden church dating from the first half of the 18th century: originally Greek Catholic, it is now Orthodox. It was reconstructed between 1989 and 1991. The different dates and construction styles are a reason to consider each sacred building in the context of its own history, rather than treating them as part of a single period.

The Jewish heritage includes several buildings, each with its own chronology. The brick synagogue ruin on Garbarska Street dates from the 17th century, was altered in the 19th century and destroyed by fire in 1944; it stood on the site of an earlier wooden synagogue. The brick synagogue at 5 Piłsudskiego Street was built in 1850, partly damaged by fire during the Second World War and rebuilt in 1955. A brick Hasidic synagogue at 10a Czysta Street dates from the second half of the 19th century. The Jewish cemetery, dating from the 18th century, is in the northern part of the town.

Cycling route and practical information

The “Kresowe Wędrówki” cycling loop starts and ends in Krynki. This circular route runs between the eastern and western edges of the Knyszyńska Forest. It offers a different way to explore the destination from learning about the town plan and sacred buildings. Check route conditions before setting off.

For further exploration of Krynki, the Public Library makes the “In the Footsteps of Many Cultures” outdoor game available as downloadable archive material for educational and promotional purposes. It was created as a joint project by a school, a foundation and local partners. Check the file before your trip if you plan to use the material. Tourist information is available at the Gminny Ośrodek Kultury; check in advance for current opening details.

Bus information published for 2026 lists a route between Szudziałowo, Krynki, Supraśl, Nowodworce and Białystok. Another service between Sokółka and Kruszyniany runs via Szudziałowo and Krynki. Check the timetables before travelling to make sure your plans match the published services.

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