Lying at the southern end of the Podkarpackie region, this little massif of medium-altitude mountains straddles Poland, Slovakia and the Ukraine. Sparsely populated as a result of its topography and recent political history, the Bieszczady is today a favourite destination among nature lovers and religious heritage buffs. Nature here remains in its wild state, alternating small round verdant mountains with wooded river valleys. Sanok is the gateway to the area.