Bialowieza National Park

History
The entire area of northeastern Europe was originally covered by ancient woodland similar to that of the Białowieża Forest. The name, translating as the Forest of the White Tower, appears in the name of village Białowieża on its Polish side, but also in the neighboring town of Kamyanyets (Kamieniec) in the Belarusian section, which features a tower referred to the White Tower (Belaya Vezha). However, the Tower of Kamyanyets built of red brick, was never white. Until about the 14th century, travel through the woodland was limited to river routes; roads and bridges appeared much later. Limited hunting rights were granted throughout the forest in the 14th century. In the 15th century the forest became a property of King Władysław II Jagiełło, who used the forest as a food reserve for his army marching towards the Battle of Grunwald. A wooden manor in Białowieża became his refuge during a plague pandemic in 1426. The first recorded piece of legislation on the protection of the forest dates to 1538, when a document issued by King Sigismund I the Old instituted the death penalty for poaching a wisent (European bison). King Sigismund also built a new wooden hunting manor in Białowieża, which became the namesake for the whole forest.
The forest was declared a hunting reserve in 1541 for the protection of wisent. In 1557, the forest charter was issued, under which a special board was established to examine forest usage. In 1639 King Władysław IV Waza issued the "Białowieża royal forest decree" (Ordynacja Puszczy J.K. Mości leśnictwa Białowieskiego). The document freed all peasants living in the forest in exchange for their service as osocznicy, or royal foresters. They were also freed of taxes in exchange for taking care of the forest. The forest was divided onto 12 triangular areas (straże) with a centre in Białowieża.

Here liave a european bison. In 1409 king of Poland Yachaylo issued a decree about interdicted of hunting on large animals.In 1802 Alexander interdicted hunting a bison on territory of park.

In 1992 UNESCO decision the State National Park "Bialowieza Forest" is included in the List of World Heritage Site. In 1993 it was granted the status of a biosphere reserve, and in 1997 he was awarded the diploma of the Council of Europe.

Park was called to honor White tower. It was founded in 1271-1288. In romantic style with gothic elements. It 31 m. and situated in Kamyaneck.