Wola Michowa: Memorial Sites and Hiking Trail to Balnica

• In January 2019, a memorial stone with a commemorative plaque was erected in the Jewish cemetery; in July 2019, name plaques and an information board about the cemetery’s history were unveiled there.
• The memorial stone commemorates around 150 Jewish people murdered there.
• At the entrance to the Greek Catholic cemetery stands a memorial stone for residents of various nationalities buried there.
• A brick Greek Catholic church dating from 1843 stood on a former church site; it no longer exists.
• The “Kija chata” mountain tourism center is located in Wola Michowa.
• The yellow hiking trail to Balnica starts in Wola Michowa and leads to the former Balnica–Osadne border crossing.

Several installations in the Jewish cemetery commemorate the history of the Jewish community and the cemetery. In January 2019, a stone with a commemorative plaque was erected there for around 150 Jewish people who were murdered. In July of the same year, plaques bearing the names of Jewish people from Wola Michowa and the surrounding area, as well as an information board about the cemetery’s history, were added. The two dates distinguish the erection of the memorial stone from the later unveiling of the name plaques and information board.

The Greek Catholic cemetery has a different commemorative focus: at its entrance stands a memorial stone with a plaque honoring residents of Wola Michowa of various nationalities who are buried there. Including the memorial sites in your travel plans gives you two clearly distinct themes: remembrance of the Jewish people murdered at the Jewish cemetery and commemoration of the residents buried at the entrance to the Greek Catholic cemetery.

Local history can also be explored at a former church site. A brick Greek Catholic church dating from 1843 once stood there, but it no longer exists. It should therefore be understood as a historical trace, whereas the memorial stone at the cemetery is described as a feature still present there. This distinction helps avoid mistaking the church for a building that still exists today.

The yellow-marked hiking trail starts in Wola Michowa and leads to the former Balnica–Osadne border crossing. The destination is explicitly a former crossing: since Poland joined the Schengen Area, it has no longer served as a border crossing. For orientation, it is therefore important to understand the name Balnica–Osadne as referring to this historic destination, not as an indication of a border crossing that is still operating today.

The yellow-marked hiking trail starts in Wola Michowa and leads to the former Balnica–Osadne border crossing. To choose according to your interests, you can focus on the route itself: it connects Wola Michowa with a historic border location. If you are more interested in local history, the memorial sites and former church site offer different points of interest from this hike.

The “Kija chata” mountain tourism center is located in Wola Michowa. Its focus on mountain tourism adds another point of interest to the cultural and historical themes described above.

Discover more destinations: Sanok, Siemuszowa, Rzepedź, Wysoczany, Pastwiska, Nowy Łupków, Kalnica, Komańcza.

When were the commemorative plaques at the Jewish cemetery unveiled?

The memorial stone was erected in January 2019. The name plaques and the information board about the cemetery’s history were unveiled in July 2019.

What does the memorial stone at the Greek Catholic cemetery commemorate?

The plaque on the stone honors residents of Wola Michowa of various nationalities who are buried there.

Is the Balnica–Osadne border crossing still operating?

No. Since Poland joined the Schengen Area, the former crossing has no longer served as a border crossing.

To the main travel overview: Sanok.