'''Polonezkoy''' is a village in in the Asian side of Istanbul, located about 20 km far away from central parts of the city. Its name translates "Polish village" in Turkish. The Polish name of the village is '''Adampol'''.

Understand

The village was founded in 1846 by Polish settlers who sought refugee in Turkey after the invasion of Poland. Although not all people of the village is of the same ethnicity any more, the majority of the population of the village is still of Polish descent and retain the Polish language.

The village is located inside the forests and declared a _gnature park_h in 1996.

Get in

by car

From Istanbul_fs European side, first cross the Second Bosphorus Bridge (officially called ''Fatih Sultan Mehmet Koprusu'', usually referred to as ''FSM Koprusu'' or ''2. Cevreyolu'' on the the traffic signs). After crossing the bridge, leave the motorway in the first exit, first follow the _gBeykoz_h signs, after you have totally left the motorway behind, follow the _gPolonezkoy_h signs you_fll see in every junction.

Get around

See

  • '''Village houses''' with a traditional Polish style.
  • little '''Catholic chapel''' which dates back to 1914
  • Do

    Buy

    Eat

    There are many restaurants in the village mainly servicing Istanbulites visiting the village for a day in the nature at weekends. Some of them serve traditional Polish meals too. But all restaurants are reported to be expensive, so it may be best to bring your sandwiches from the city and perhaps have a picnic in the park (which contains some beautiful wooden sculptures) situated right in the centre of the village if you are on budget.

    Drink

    Sleep

    You can stay in Istanbul and visit Polonezkoy as a day-trip. If you have an irresistable will to overnight in the village, there are a few guesthouses and hotels here too.

    '''Polka Country Hotel''' ? tel ''+90 216'' 432 20 21

    '''Gulay?m Hotel''' (2*) 75. Y?l Caddesi no: 64 ? tel ''+90 216'' 432 31 34

    Contact

    Telephone

    The area code of the village is '''216''', which it shares with the rest of the Asian side of Istanbul. The area code should be dialed not only when calling from out of Istanbul, but also when calling from the European side of Istanbul.

    Get out

    ?ile is about a further 40 km away, follow the road passing through the village which eventually reaches the shore of Black Sea.