although still within the city of Istanbul, is 25 km. away from the centre and not easy to reach by public transport. Translated as “village of the Poles”, the village has a fascinating history: It was established in 1848 by Prince Czartorisky, leader of the Polish nationals who was granted exile in the Ottoman Empire to escape oppression in the Balkans. During his exile, he succeeded in establishing a community of Balkans, which still survives, on the plot of land sold to him by a local monastery.
Since the 1970s the village has become a popular place with local Istanbulites, who buy their pig meat there (pig being forbidden under Islamic law and therefore difficult to get elsewhere). All the Poles have since left the village, and the place is inhabited now by wealthy city people, living in the few remaining Central European style wooden houses with pretty balconies.

What attracts most visitors to Polonezkoy is its vast green expanse, which was designated Istanbul’s first national park, and the walks though forests with streams and wooden bridges.
Because of its popularity, it gets crowded at weekends and the hotels are usually full.Polonezköy is a unique town which has succeeded in protecting the environment around Istanbul, and thus, is respected by Turkish people and foreigners alike.
If you're coming to Polonezköy from Beykoz, you will pass a church and a Catholic cemetery just at the entrance. After you have driven about 100 meters ahead, you will arrive at the town's small square where horses can be hired. There are many little villas in the area which act as guest houses and pensions. The houses in the village are surrounded by low walls which have been strengthened with a number of tall trees. The entrances to the houses have been entwined with a type of ivy named everblooming roses. It is quite common to see village folk selling glassware in the village square.This Polish town on the outskirts of Beykoz brings together both modern life and tradition. When you go to Polonezköy, it is said that there are around 500 or so Polish residents. It is worth listening to the story of the town which has been told for the past two centuries.
In Polonezköy you might even get a chance to find out why the village was known as "Magical Soils" by the gypsies.Polonezköy is known for it's fresh air, natural beauty, butter, honey, and cherries. In fact, it's cherries are so well known that a cherry festival is organized every June.
The town has become an area which has gained popularity in recent years. People can now visit Polonezköy for a few days, or they can even make a day of it. One of the facilities which makes this possible is Polka Country Hotel. Polka Country Hotel offers the most pleasant possibilities for those who want to experience the beauty of Polonezköy. http://www.istanbulhotelreservations.com/istanbul/sightseeing/polonezkoy.htm

Thanks for that Roswitha... how interesting. May i add that it would be a good idea to include a reference for the excerpt.

I did

Thanks for adding it.

Because of my nationality I had always wanted to see Polonezkoy. However, to my greatest disappointment, all my friends living in Istanbul would do their best to talk me out of it. As I'm that kind of person who doesn't give up easily, I finally managed to talk one of my friends into assisting me during the Polonezkoy trip. I'm sure he hated me for a few moments when we ended up at the police station because I had forgotten to take my passport along from the hotel. Still, everything ended up well, the hotel faxed my passport, we spent a lovely time drinking tea with the 'komutan,' and I was able to see how Polish Polonezkoy really is.

I noticed a few Polish restaurants (Polish because of the name and/or Polish flag in front of them as the menu was Turkish). My friend asked the waiter if there were any Polish people around but, to my disappointment, there were hardly any and those who were, were assimilated so much that it was impossible to tell them from Turks.

When I told my friends I had been to Polonezkoy with a friend and we taken a stroll in the forest, they laughed and told me that Polonezkoy forest was famous for what tourist guide books do not mention...

Polonezkoy today: pork chops in paradise
http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/archives.php?id=3148

After leaving Beykoz, a 25 kilometer easy drive, first through the TEM highway and then on a wide two lane road winding through a forest of pine trees and green lands, will take you to the entrance of Polonezkoy - a charming village founded in 1842 by refugees from Poland.

Following the 1772 treaty partitioning Poland, Ottoman lands had become a shelter for Polish refugees. The exiled Polish leader Prince Czartoryski founded a Polish Agency in Istanbul in 1841. One year later he received permission from the Ottoman government to establish a Polish colony on 5,000 acres of land near Istanbul which belonged to the Lazarists. During a religious ceremony on March 19, 1842, the village was given the name of Adampol after the name of Prince Adam. Almost two centuries have gone by since then, but the village, now known as Polonezkoy has kept some of its ancestral flavor. The few hundred descendants of the original settlers who are left run family-owned pensions, farm the land mainly for organic products, make their own cherry and walnut liqueur and bake Polish pies and breads.