Zatwarnica was one of the largest towns in the Bieszczady Mountains in terms of area. Forest and agricultural land within its borders covered 40.77 square km. The southern border of the village was constituted by Połoniny Wetlińska and Smerek, and the northern border was the ridge of Otryt. The buildings were concentrated in four sectors. The proper village of Zatwarnica stretched along the Głęboki stream, and there were three hamlets: Sękowiec - on the right bank of the San, Kalinów - on the lower course of the Hylaty stream and Dry Rzeki in the upper part of the village by the Rika stream.
For many centuries, the inhabitants were pastoralists, as evidenced by the name of the village, derived from the word tworienie and denoting the place where cheese is made. Until the 16th century, this area belonged to the Kmita family, however, there were princes who took the name of the Zatwarnicki family, SAS coat of arms from their seat.
In 1580, the estate was inherited by the Herburtów family, and after them by the Stadnicki family, then the Lubomirski family and the Daniłłowicz family. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, Zielonków, Dubrawcy and then the Cetner family were listed as heirs of the village. It was probably then that the estate was divided and three manors and farms were created. In the 18th century, the local church became an important religious center, as evidenced by the location of the Greek Catholic deanery here. At the end of the 18th century, Antoni Niesiołowski bought the property rights from several co-owners, the next owners of the village were Głowaccy and Jordanowie. In the second half of the 19th century, the property frequently changed owners. Eventually, in 1907, it was purchased by the timber entrepreneur M. Fischer. At the mouth of the Głęboki stream to the San, a large steam sawmill of the "Falter 8 Datter" company was built
The plant was expanded in the interwar period and produced about 200 m of sawn timber per day. The town became a local economic center and the seat of a collective commune. In 1931, it had 1,056 inhabitants and 148 houses. In addition to farmers, numerous craftsmen lived here, there were also two water mills of the Mucha and M. Tokarczyk.
In 1939, San became the border between the Third Reich and the USSR, in the case of Zatwarnica, it meant the separation of the village. Also in 1944, the Polish-Soviet border was marked out in the same way. Zatwarnica, Kalinów and Suchhe Rzeki remained in Poland, while Sękowiec was in the USSR. The terrain conditions and vast forests made the area of the village on both sides of the San become the basis of the UPA's activities. In 1945, one of the sotnias burnt down the manor house and sawmill in Zatwarnica. In 1946, battles between the LWP and the UPA took place in the vicinity of the village. Part of the buildings and the church were burnt down during them. In May 1946, the entire population of the village was displaced to the USSR, but some of them returned to their homes illegally. Eventually, the remnants of the inhabitants were relocated to the Western Territories during Operation Vistula, and the existing buildings of the village were burnt. In 1951, the borders of Poland were returned to Sękowiec, and its inhabitants at that time were relocated to Odessa.
A forest settlement was established in the deserted area. In recent years, tourism has started to play an increasingly important role in rural life.
Few traces of the past can be found in Zatwarnica. In its southern part, the foundations of a steam sawmill are well preserved. A housing estate for employees of the State Forests was built in the former manor area. The remains of the mills in Zatwarnica that used to function in various sections of the Głęboki stream are quite visible. The small waterfall that was created in the bed of the former mill stream above the place where the Hylata and Ryk streams meet is particularly picturesque.
After the former church of Relics of St. Nicholas from 1774, only the foundations have survived. There is also a former village cemetery with several tombstones. In addition to many generations of inhabitants of the village of Boyko, Polish policemen who died in 1946 are buried here. The place of their burial is commemorated with a modest monument.
For many centuries, the inhabitants were pastoralists, as evidenced by the name of the village, derived from the word tworienie and denoting the place where cheese is made. Until the 16th century, this area belonged to the Kmita family, however, there were princes who took the name of the Zatwarnicki family, SAS coat of arms from their seat.
In 1580, the estate was inherited by the Herburtów family, and after them by the Stadnicki family, then the Lubomirski family and the Daniłłowicz family. At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, Zielonków, Dubrawcy and then the Cetner family were listed as heirs of the village. It was probably then that the estate was divided and three manors and farms were created. In the 18th century, the local church became an important religious center, as evidenced by the location of the Greek Catholic deanery here. At the end of the 18th century, Antoni Niesiołowski bought the property rights from several co-owners, the next owners of the village were Głowaccy and Jordanowie. In the second half of the 19th century, the property frequently changed owners. Eventually, in 1907, it was purchased by the timber entrepreneur M. Fischer. At the mouth of the Głęboki stream to the San, a large steam sawmill of the "Falter 8 Datter" company was built
The plant was expanded in the interwar period and produced about 200 m of sawn timber per day. The town became a local economic center and the seat of a collective commune. In 1931, it had 1,056 inhabitants and 148 houses. In addition to farmers, numerous craftsmen lived here, there were also two water mills of the Mucha and M. Tokarczyk.
In 1939, San became the border between the Third Reich and the USSR, in the case of Zatwarnica, it meant the separation of the village. Also in 1944, the Polish-Soviet border was marked out in the same way. Zatwarnica, Kalinów and Suchhe Rzeki remained in Poland, while Sękowiec was in the USSR. The terrain conditions and vast forests made the area of the village on both sides of the San become the basis of the UPA's activities. In 1945, one of the sotnias burnt down the manor house and sawmill in Zatwarnica. In 1946, battles between the LWP and the UPA took place in the vicinity of the village. Part of the buildings and the church were burnt down during them. In May 1946, the entire population of the village was displaced to the USSR, but some of them returned to their homes illegally. Eventually, the remnants of the inhabitants were relocated to the Western Territories during Operation Vistula, and the existing buildings of the village were burnt. In 1951, the borders of Poland were returned to Sękowiec, and its inhabitants at that time were relocated to Odessa.
A forest settlement was established in the deserted area. In recent years, tourism has started to play an increasingly important role in rural life.
Few traces of the past can be found in Zatwarnica. In its southern part, the foundations of a steam sawmill are well preserved. A housing estate for employees of the State Forests was built in the former manor area. The remains of the mills in Zatwarnica that used to function in various sections of the Głęboki stream are quite visible. The small waterfall that was created in the bed of the former mill stream above the place where the Hylata and Ryk streams meet is particularly picturesque.
After the former church of Relics of St. Nicholas from 1774, only the foundations have survived. There is also a former village cemetery with several tombstones. In addition to many generations of inhabitants of the village of Boyko, Polish policemen who died in 1946 are buried here. The place of their burial is commemorated with a modest monument.