Napierajce

Napierajce is a small village located in the eastern part of Poland, within the administrative district of Gmina Polanówka, in Biała Podlaska County of the Lublin Voivodeship. The settlement lies roughly 5 kilometres northwest of Polanówka, 20 kilometres southeast of Biała Podlaska, and 100 kilometres north of the regional capital Lublin. According to the most recent census data from 2021, the population of Napierajce is approximately 320 residents, reflecting a steady decline in population that mirrors broader rural depopulation trends in the region.

The history of Napierajce dates back to the late Middle Ages. First recorded in a royal charter of 1375, the village was originally part of a larger manorial estate belonging to the noble family of Tarnowski. Over the centuries it was incorporated into different administrative entities—including the Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian-controlled Congress Poland following the Partitions of Poland, and later the Second Polish Republic. The village endured both World Wars, suffering damage and population loss during the German occupation.

The local economy remains largely agrarian, with most residents engaged in crop cultivation and small-scale animal husbandry. In recent years, there has been modest development of agritourism, with a few homestead cottages offering accommodation for visitors interested in rural life. Notable landmarks include the 18th‑century wooden parish church of St. Michael the Archangel, which serves as a focal point for community life, and a 19th‑century manor house that now houses a small local museum dedicated to the history of Napierajce and its surrounding area.