Brzegi Górne: Nature Trails and History

Brzegi Górne can be explored via two nature trails and the traces of the former village. The trails have different focuses: one leads from Berehy Górne via Przełęcz Orłowicza to Wetlina-Stare Sioło. The other combines natural and local history and runs through the area of the former village. There is also a cemetery next to the site of a former Orthodox church. Together, these places offer a concrete insight into the natural and cultural aspects of the area.

Nature Trails with Different Routes

The “Połonina Wetlińska” nature trail begins in Berehy Górne. It first follows the red trail to Przełęcz Orłowicza, then the yellow trail to Wetlina-Stare Sioło. The change between the two trail colors marks a clear route with named intermediate and end points. By looking at the route, you can distinguish the starting point in Berehy Górne from the rest of the way over the pass to the destination in Wetlina-Stare Sioło.

The “Berehy Górne” dendrological and historical trail is laid out differently. It leads from Wyżniańska Pass to Wyżna Pass and through the area of the former village. Its 18 stations divide up the route. The name itself points to the connection between two subjects: dendrology deals with trees and shrubs, while the historical section focuses on the former settlement. This gives the trail a different thematic focus from the route to Połonina Wetlińska.

The two routes are easy to distinguish by their stated starting and end points. For the nature trail, these are Berehy Górne, Przełęcz Orłowicza, and Wetlina-Stare Sioło; for the “Berehy Górne” trail, they are the two passes. The number of stations and the connection to the former village further identify the second route. This can help you plan your outing depending on whether you want to focus on the route to Połonina Wetlińska or on the connection between trees and local history.

Traces of the Former Village

The dendrological and historical trail preserves several types of historical traces: remains of former manor buildings, as well as the foundations of a church and a cemetery. These traces represent different elements of the former village. The trail runs through the area it once occupied; the surviving remains give its historical focus a concrete connection to the place, without confusing the different remains with one another.

The connection between the structural remains and the surviving cemetery in Berehy Górne is particularly easy to see. The cemetery lies just north of the former Orthodox church and is surrounded by a low stone wall. The present-day cemetery and the foundations preserved by the trail therefore relate to different aspects of the village’s history: one is an existing site with a clearly visible enclosure, the other consists of traces that the trail reveals as it passes through the former village.

Cemetery, Church, and Stonework

Eleven gravestones remain in the cemetery today. Several were made by local amateur stonemason Hryć Buchwak and are decorated with archaic geometric ornamentation. The gravestones thus connect a specific name with local craftsmanship and a recurring design element. The number of surviving gravestones may change as conservation work is carried out.

The cemetery and the site of the former Orthodox church are on a hill beside the red trail to Połonina Caryńska. They are about 200 meters from the Wetlina–Ustrzyki Górne–Dwernik road junction; the site is in Bieszczady National Park. This information helps place the historic site in its surroundings: the hill, the red trail, and the road junction offer different reference points for orientation.

For your trip planning, you can focus on the interests these places actually cover: the nature trail route, the 18 stations through the area of the former village, or the cemetery and church site. If you are looking for a hotel in Brzegi Górne, this selection offers a thematic starting point for planning your stay.

For the broader travel overview: Stuposiany.