Janow Podlaski Stud

The stud at Janow Podlaski was established in 1817 by decree, on land that had belonged to the bishops of Lublin, and it became the leading Arabian horse breeding operation in Poland and one of the most respected in the world. The Polish Arabian breeding programme, built on desert-bred imports and rigorous performance selection, produced bloodlines that are sought internationally, and the Pride of Poland auction held here each August has repeatedly set world records for Arabian mares - buyers have included Gulf royal families and, in earlier decades, a well-known American film producer. The buildings are handsome nineteenth-century stables and a manor in parkland by the Bug, with mares, foals and stallions in the paddocks. Visits and guided tours run through the season. The stud's history includes evacuations, wartime losses and rebuilding more than once, and its management has been the subject of national political argument.

What you actually see

• A stud since 1817 - one of the oldest and most respected Arabian operations anywhere.
• Nineteenth-century stables - and a manor in parkland by the Bug.
• Mares and foals in the paddocks - the working stock, seen on tours.
• The August auction - Pride of Poland, with world-record prices for Arabian mares.

When to go

May to September; August for the auction. Half a day.

Honest expectations

It is a working stud - access is on booked tours and depends on the breeding calendar. The auction is a trade event, not a spectator show, and access is restricted. The village has minimal services.

Nearby

The Bug valley runs alongside; Biala Podlaska is south-west.