Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Poland Green Mosque of Kruszyniany
AO Edited

Green Mosque of Kruszyniany

This wooden mosque is one of the few remnants of medieval Poland's Muslim Tatar community in this deeply Catholic country.

Kruszyniany, Poland

Added By
Kris Best
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The Green Mosque in Kruszyniany   gypsyblue / Atlas Obscura User
The Green Mosque in Kruszyniany   gypsyblue / Atlas Obscura User
Interior of the Green Mosque in Kruszyniany   gypsyblue / Atlas Obscura User
Interior of the Green Mosque in Kruszyniany   gypsyblue / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Deep in the far east of Catholic Poland are two historically Muslim villages with histories dating back to the Middle Ages. Kruszyniany and its smaller sister village, Bohoniki, are the last Polish villages still inhabited by the Lipka Tatars, a Muslim Turkic people who originally came to Europe in the 1200s. The Tatars joined the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in every major military campaign of the time, notably the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, and as a reward for their loyalty, the Tatars were granted the right to settle in eastern Poland.

Over the centuries, the Tatars adopted the Polish language and integrated into Polish society while maintaining their distinct religious and cultural identity. Despite their religious differences with the Polish state, they were considered full citizens who had earned their place in Polish society on the battlefield. After World War II, however, the resulting border shifts in Eastern Europe resulted in these Tatar communities being splintered between Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus, with only the villages of Kruszyniany and Bohoniki remaining within Polish borders.

Today, Kruszyniany is the center of Poland's original Tatar community, and its modest yet impressive Green Mosque attracts visitors from all over the country who are interested in learning more about Poland's Muslim minority. The mosque is maintained by descendants of the original Lipka Tatars who are enthusiastic about sharing their unique history and culture with their fellow Poles and with the rest of the world. Across the street is also a restaurant (Tatarska Jurta) serving traditional Tatar cuisine with English- and Polish-language descriptions of Tatar dishes.

Kruszyniany's smaller sister village of Bohoniki, about 30km to the north, also boasts a traditional wooden mosque maintained by Tatar-descended locals who are happy to explain their history and religious customs to curious visitors.

Related Tags

History & Culture Architecture Mosques Islam Religion

Know Before You Go

The Green Mosque is best reached by car, but there are daily (although infrequent) bus services to Kruszyniany from Białystok. Its less-touristed sister mosque in Bohoniki has no bus service, but is 7km from the Sokółka railway station and can be reached by bike (or hike) or a pre-arranged taxi. There is usually a community representative on site during the day to receive visitors, but tours and information are only available in Polish. Some limited English documentation is available for purchase at the Green Mosque in Kruszyniany.

Community Contributors

Added By

gypsyblue

Published

June 14, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Green Mosque of Kruszyniany
Kruszyniany 62
Kruszyniany, 16-120
Poland
53.177764, 23.813756
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

'Pracownia (Studio) Forresta Bessa'

Poczopek, Poland

miles away

The Land of Open Shutters

hajnowski, Poland

miles away

Museum of Interesting Things

Hrodna, Belarus

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Poland

Poland

Europe

Places 201
Stories 14

Nearby Places

'Pracownia (Studio) Forresta Bessa'

Poczopek, Poland

miles away

The Land of Open Shutters

hajnowski, Poland

miles away

Museum of Interesting Things

Hrodna, Belarus

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Poland

Poland

Europe

Places 201
Stories 14

Related Places

  • Grand Mosque of Mopti

    Mopti, Mali

    Grand Mosque of Mopti

    Every year, people come together to cover this mud-brick mosque with a fresh layer of earth.

  • Lahore, Pakistan

    Shab Bhar Masjid

    This mosque was built overnight as an act of defiance against the British colonial authorities.

  • Bibi-Khanym Mosque

    Samarkand, Uzbekistan

    Bibi-Khanym Mosque

    Controversially restored in the 1970s, this giant 15th-century mosque is shrouded in legend.

  • Katra Masjid interior

    Murshidabad, India

    Katra Masjid

    This 18th-century complex has served as a mosque, mausoleum, and one of the largest caravanserais in India.

  • Mosque during renovation- this is how the facade looks today

    Kodungallur, India

    Cheraman Juma Masjid

    Inside India's oldest mosque, a lamp is said to have burnt for 1,000 years without going out.

  • Grande Mosquée de Bangui

    Bangui, Central African Republic

    Grande Mosquée de Bangui

    This mosque is an enduring symbol of Central African Republic's rich Muslim heritage.

  • Missiri Mosque

    Fréjus, France

    Missiri Mosque

    This mosque was based on Sub-Saharan Islamic architecture and created for the Senegalese Tirailleurs.

  • The Great Mosque.

    Xian Shi, China

    Great Mosque of Xi'an

    Although resembling a grand Buddhist temple, this structure is actually the largest mosque in China.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.