Natural tourist attractions

Mińsk County contains a number of exceptionally attractive natural areas; large woodland complexes are intersected by natural watercourses and rivers whose water is clean, thriving with populations of crayfish and beavers, with growing numbers of fish, especially trout. The forests remain a mainstay for various species of animals and birds; moose, fallow deer, black storks, kingfishers, hoopoes, cranes; white-tailed eagles also found their breeding areas here. All forests and remaining areas are located in a natural and unspoiled environment, and therefore are perfectly suitable for relaxation and leisure for the citizens of Warsaw and nearby towns.

Leisure resort and reservoir „Marianka” is located in Huta Mińska by the Mienia river; the resort is equipped with recreational facilities, has water and sport equipment rental, as well as the necessary gastronomical and lodging base.

Another spot of leisure and relaxation is the sport-recreation complex „Itaka” near the „Tirest” inn in Grąbiszew in Mińsk Mazowiecki commune, providing a modern lodging and gastronomical base.

Agritourism farms provide services in Ciopana and Goździówka in Stanisławów commune, in Ptaki in Siennica commune and in Kolonia Rąbież in Dobre commune.

Vast areas suitable for summer recreation are located in each commune, however the majority of these areas are concentrated across the picturesque rivers: Rządza, Czarna, Osownica, Rynia, Kobylanka, Boruczanka, Mienia, Srebna, Sienniczanka, in communes of: Dobre, Stanisławów, Siennica, Jakubów, Mińsk Mazowiecki.

There are also natural monuments of single trees, groups of trees, alleys, glacial erratic stones; the most significant and valuable of which is Poland’s oldest scots pine, located nearby Srebrna river, the age of which is estimated at 350 years.

The county contains 8 nature reserves:

• "Rudka Sanatoryjna" in Mrozy commune, the second largest reserve of firs in Mazowieckie voivodeship, and „Jedlina” reserve in Cegłów commune cover the best preserved north-eastern-most wood stands of European silver fir, growing scattered beyond the limits of its natural appearance.
• "Rogożnica" in Mrozy commune, the area of unique alder trees and marshes, overgrown with protected and rare peat bog plants.
• "Bagno Pogorzel" a huge natural reservoir in Mińsk Mazowiecki commune, along with areas of plants entirely or partially protected located in its range.
• "Florianów" in Mrozy commune displays preserved natural geological and geomorphological forms of glacial and fluvioglacial origin, such as eskers, terminal moraines, parabolic dunes with areas of greenery characteristic for them. * "Przełom Witówki" reserve in Mrozy commune, in the picturesque valley of Witówka river.
• "Wólczańska Góra" in Siennica commune is a geological reserve in form of an esker, it constitutes a very interesting scenic view on Świder river and its surroundings. Nearby is a fragment of the „Świder” landscape reserve stretching further across the Otwocki county.

Within the limits of the county there are also other valuable natural areas not yet covered with formal means of wildlife protection, for instance „Torfisko” lake in Jakubów commune, „Dęby Piaseczyńskie” in Cegłów commune and „Strugi Krzywickie” bogs in Siennica commune.

Objects such as these can be encountered everywhere across the county, although the majority of them is not concentrated within the protected areas of Miński Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu (Mińsk Area of Protected Landscape), stretching across a surface of 30 000 ha across seven communes – from Dębe Wielkie to Kałuszyn; Nadwiślański Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu (Vistula Area of Protected Landscape) covering the southern part of Siennica commune and Warszawski Obszar Chronionego Krajobrazu (Warsaw Area of Protected Landscape) covering the northern part of Sulejówek city and Halinów commune.

In Kałuszyn commune there is the environmental use area „Sosny Olszewickie”, covering a group of pine trees, 14 oldest of which are about 300 years old.

Elements of landscape across urban areas are historic parks of scenic character, the most interesting of which are the parks in Mińsk Mazowiecki, Ruda (Dęby Wielkie commune), Kuflewo (Mrozy commune), Waliski, Wielgolas and in Dąb Mały (Latowicz commune), in Janowo (Mińsk Mazowiecki commune), w Rudzienku (Dobre commune), in Pogorzela, Dłużewo, Boża Wola and Kąty (Siennica commune)