Tarnawa Wyżna is one of those rare Bieszczady places that speaks to you through silence. A former village on the San River, today almost completely abandoned, it draws hikers and history lovers searching for raw, untamed landscape and traces of a turbulent past hidden beneath the grass and forest.

The area is among the wildest corners of the Polish Bieszczady Mountains — wide river valleys, beech forests on the slopes, the winding San River and views towards the border ridges all create an unforgettable atmosphere. Spring brings wildflower meadows, summer offers lush greenery, while autumn paints the beech forests in spectacular colours. In winter the area sinks into deep, peaceful silence, perfect for those seeking a true escape.

• From Lutowiska — follow the road along the San River towards the border area; the route is relaxed and well-suited for cycling or walking, difficulty: easy.
• From Zatwarnica via the San valley — a scenic approach for those who enjoy gentle wandering, difficulty: easy to moderate.

The village was founded in 1537 on the San River and witnessed centuries of turbulent history — from the Austro-Hungarian era and fierce World War I battles in early 1915 to the post-war forced deportations of 1944–1951 that left it virtually empty. At its peak nearly 900 people called it home.

A fascinating historical detail: before World War II, a local factory produced beech wood furniture components that were exported to Belgium, France and the Netherlands — a reminder of the surprising vitality this now-forgotten Bieszczady village once had.