22.11.2025 13:05
Polonezköy, established by Poles who settled in Istanbul in the mid-1800s, welcomes tourists looking to escape the chaos of the megacity, breathe in the forest air, and experience the reflections of Polish culture.
Visitors to Polonezköy are greeted by the church at the entrance of the village, the Catholic cemetery, and Aunt Zosia's Memorial House. In the village square, there are Turkish and Polish flags raised on a pole, a framed Ottoman seal, a bust of Atatürk, and a sign that narrates the village's history.
SOLDIERS SETTLED IN THE VILLAGE BY BRINGING THEIR FAMILIES
According to the information on the sign and the accounts of the villagers, Polish Prince Adam Czartorski established a Polish representation in Istanbul in 1841 with his own resources. The first manager of the representation was Michal Czajkowski, while two battalions of soldiers composed of Poles and Slavic origin, who sided with the Ottomans, gathered on the lands of Polonezköy. These soldiers, who went to the Crimean War, settled in the village in 1856 after bringing their families post-war. The village was initially named "Adampol," meaning "Adam's field," in honor of Prince Adam Czartorski.
In the years when the Poles settled, the village, which engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, was officially named "Polonezköy" in 1923.
In the village, which has streets named after "Adam Mickiewicz" and guesthouses named "Fredi," "Ludwik," and "Leo," approximately 370 people reside, 35 of whom are of Polish descent.
THEY SPEAK POLISH AMONG THEMSELVES
The village, which is preferred by Istanbul residents wanting to breathe in the forest air, especially on weekends, sometimes hosts Polish tourists as well. Most locals earn their living through guesthouse services, and although their numbers are few, Poles cook their traditional dishes and speak Polish among themselves, a language passed down from their ancestors.
Christians living in the village are decorating their homes and businesses for the upcoming Christmas these days. The village head, Özer Okumuş, stated that he settled in the village when he was 7 years old due to his teacher father's assignment 40 years ago and that he has never left the village since.
Okumuş noted that the village is one of the most beautiful areas of Istanbul, saying, "It is a perfect place to breathe with its greenery, nature, and oxygen. People come here for breakfast and picnics, and to walk on the hiking trails. Although it is generally thought of as a spring and summer place, it is also very beautiful in winter and autumn. When it snows, it becomes like a fairy tale. The main roads are open, and the village is generally walkable."
Okumuş explained that there are examples of Polish architecture in the village, stating that many buildings have undergone renovations over time.
"I GREW UP WITH UNCLES NAMED OLEG, EDEK, AND VİNÇOK"
Stating that he grew up with uncles named Oleg, Edek, and Vinço, unlike the Ahmet uncles found in Turkey's Anatolian villages, Okumuş said, "Now there are Danyel, Bolek, and Fredi brothers who are trying to keep that culture alive." Okumuş mentioned that they hold a cherry festival in the summer representing Polonezköy's famous cherries, where folklore teams from Poland come to add color to their celebrations, and that businesses become quite lively with the crowds coming to the village.
Describing the guesthouse culture in the village, Okumuş said, "Initially, tourism and agriculture were practiced in Polonezköy. Over time, agriculture ended, but guesthouse services continued. The reason the names of these guesthouses are foreign is that they are the names of the ancestors of the people who actually live there. Even if the operator changes, the sign remains."
"WE HAVE JUST REALIZED THE VALUE OF THIS PLACE"
Anna Vilkoşevski, one of the oldest residents of Polonezköy, stated that there used to be more Poles in the village, saying, "Some have passed away. Some have gone to other countries, but thankfully we have stayed here. Life was difficult in the village, but we are glad we experienced that village life. We may not have as many animals as before, but thankfully our village exists."
Vilkoşevski recounted that products like butter and eggs produced in the village were taken to Istanbul for sale and that the fields were cultivated, saying, "Families we knew used to visit us in spring and autumn. We had become friends with them; now larger families are coming, and they understand the value of the village. We lived a beautiful life here, and we had cultural exchanges. Filmmakers and theater actors came here, and many films were shot. City dwellers get tired of the city and want to come to the village. We have just realized the value of this place."
Vilkoşevski stated that they learned Polish from their elders and books, saying, "My parents spoke Polish much better than we did. They used to perform plays from old books. My grandmother would take costumes out of the trunk, and they would showcase theatrical works. They used to have fun in the old barns. My grandmother would tell that she directed. They did not abandon their culture and tried to learn the language. Several languages were spoken here. We lived such a fortunate period. During holidays and vacations, everyone comes here, and the village fills up. We love to decorate the surroundings at Christmas. Not only decorations but also pastries and meals are prepared accordingly."
"IT GIVES US JOY TO INTRODUCE OUR IDENTITY TO OTHERS"
Antony Dohoda, who runs a restaurant converted from an old Polish house inherited from his ancestors, also stated that he is one of the sixth-generation youth of Polonezköy. Dohoda explained the village's establishment, saying, "We turned this place into a Polish village where we continue our traditions. At some point, it started to become a subject of curiosity for people. People said, 'There is a village in Istanbul where Europeans and Poles live. Let's go see what they are doing.'"
Dohoda noted that previously, bartering was practiced in the village, and he added:
"After our village met tourism, we started using the bedrooms of our homes as guest rooms, and as demand increased, restaurants, hotels, businesses, and facilities began to open in the village. In the 2000s, the popularity of Polonezköy reached its peak. We became a village that hosts thousands of guests on weekends."
Tourists are eagerly coming and asking what we are doing. We feel happy because when we explain our identity to others, we start to preserve this heritage even more.
Dohoda, noting that they offer Polish dishes with recipes from her grandmother's notebook in their restaurants, also mentioned that they serve Turkish cuisine. Dohoda stated that she can speak Old Polish but does not know modern Polish, and emphasized that they continue their customs and traditions, saying, "All the business owners here are Polish. You will feel a breeze of Poland wherever you go."
THE HOUSE WHERE ATATÜRK WAS A GUEST
Dohoda highlighted that Aunt Zosia's Memorial House in the village belongs to her great-grandmother, recalling that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk rested in this house for a few hours in 1937, and explained that the house, with photos on its walls and items in its rooms, carries typical Polish culture.
Dohoda emphasized that the Muslim and Christian populations in the village live peacefully together, stating, "We are here together as brothers, siblings, uncles, fathers, and it is so enjoyable. We are one of them, they are one of us, there is no discrimination. On Fridays, we pray in our mosque here. On Saturday evenings, sermons are given in our church."
"EVERYONE IN POLAND IS CURIOUS ABOUT TURKEY"
Zdzislaw Gıdaszewslı, one of two traveling families who took a break in a village after setting off from Poland in caravans, reported that they visited İzmir, Alanya, and Cappadocia. Gıdaszewslı, who visited Polonezköy 15 years ago and came to see the guesthouse owner he met back then, said, "We liked Turkey very much, everyone in Poland is curious about Turkey."