English: Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is located in the Białystok Uplands of the Podlachian Plain on the banks of the Biała River. Białystok has historically attracted migrants from elsewhere in Poland and beyond, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe. This is facilitated by the nearby border with Belarus also being the eastern border of the European Union, as well as the Schengen Area.
The first settlers arrived in the 14th century and a town grew up receiving its municipal charter in 1692. Białystok has traditionally been one of the leading centers of academic, cultural, and artistic life in Podlachian Plain, and the most important economic center in northeastern Poland. The city continues to reshape itself into a modern middle-sized city and was on the short-list for 2016 European Capital of Culture.
The Scotch Mist Gallery contains many photographs of historic buildings, monuments and memorials of Poland.