3. Zakopane is a town in the extreme
south of Poland, in the southern part
of the Podhale region at the foot of
the Tatra Mountains. From 1975 to
1998, it was part of Nowy Sącz
Voivodeship; since 1999, it has been
part of Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
As of 2017 its population was
27,266.
Zakopane is a centre of Goral culture
and is often referred to as "the winter
capital of Poland". It is a popular
destination
for mountaineering, skiing,
and tourism.
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4. HOW TO GET TO
ZAKOPANE
We have three routes to get
to Zakopane.
It is best to take the toll
route, as it is the safest and
avoids traffic jams.
While driving, it's also easy
to find places to stop and
eat.
7. Zakopane is a lovely town situated at the foothills of the majestic Tatra
mountains. It has a population of 30,000 inhabitants. The unusual location of
the town, hidden between a gentle range of Gubałówka and the rocky Tatra
summits was a decisive factor in its career as a tourism centre.
As early as at the end of the 18th century Zakopane, a small and remote
village located at the southern end of Poland, started to attract the first
summer holidaymakers. The visitors arrived mainly from Cracow in horse
carts, often carrying various domestic equipment, which they couldn't find in
the modest highland peasant cottage.
In 1889 Zakopane obtained the status of a health resort attracting patients
suffering from tuberculosis. When, in 1898 the construction works on a railway
track were finished, the first train from Cracow reached the town. This resulted
in a rapid increase in the number of tourists from 1600 in 1898 to over 10,000
in 1900 (over 3 million at present).
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8. The thirties of the 20th century were a period of a sudden skiing boom. Before
the outbreak of the Second World War two huge investments in Zakopane had
been finished, which secured Zakopane's status as the winter capital of
Poland.
In 1936 a cableway to Kasprowy Wierch (1,998 m above the sea level) was
constructed in just six months. Soon afterwards, in 1938 a chair rail which took
the tourists from the centre of Zakopane to Gubałówka, where they could
admire beautiful views over the Tatra mountains stretching away from the hill,
was opened.
During the Second World War uninvited guests started to appear in the town.
They were the Nazis and their families who used the confiscated hotels and
boarding houses to spend their holidays in. Many of the Tatra tourist guides
and Zakopane skiers put their life at risk during the war, helping the refugees
to cross the Polish border through the mountains.
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9. After the war, till the end of the 80s, Zakopane
was mainly visited by Polish tourists who spent
there their summer and winter holidays,
because traveling abroad was very difficult to
organize until 1989.
After the collapse of the communism the
number of Polish tourists visiting the Tatra
Mountains decreased slightly, but more and
more international visitors began to come to
Zakopane.
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11. KRUPÓWKI
It's the center street in Zakopane, mainly
pedestrian. The promenade is over kilometr
long, and there are souvenir shops, rustic
restaurants, museum as well as as hotels and
guesthouses. Every year there are thousands
of tourists walking through Krupówki, not only
during holidays. There are many charming
corners to be discovered, that are eagerly
documented with phones and cameras by the
visitors. This is definitely a must-see place in
Zakopane and a primary base for further
exploration of the city.
12. GUBAŁÓWKA
It is an elongated hill on Gubałowski
Foothill which is over 1100 meters high. It
offers a beautiful view of the entire panorama
of the Tatra Mountains. You can reach the
peak on foot or by funicular, where a well-
stocked hotel and a tourist base awaits you. It
is equipped with gravity slide and ski runs for
thrill-seekers as well as restaurants and SPA
if you're looking for relax. All of those make
Gubałówka into a very popular tourist
attraction which is why the queues and
crowds are to be expected.
13. KASPROWY
WIERCH
It's the mountain peak located on the Polish-
Slovak border and it's a base for many other
mountain trips. The name comes from the
Kasprowa Hall at the foot of the mountain, which
got its name from a famous highlander- Kasper,
who owned it. The mountain peak is made of
crystalline rocks. You can get to the peak on foot
or via a cable car. There are a hotel and a
restaurant base near the peak where you can
attend various cultural events. Due to its location,
Kasprowy Wierch is available to tourists, but it's
not overly crowded since you need an
appointment before going there. In winter, trails
are often closed due to the danger of avalanches.
14. KOŚCIELISKA
VALLEY
It's characterized by an amazing location. It
serves beautiful views, on trails that can be
conquered not only by mountain lovers and
athletes but also by ordinary tourists. The routes
are friendly to families with children. The flat
terrain is accessible for prams and strollers.
Families can have a good time admiring nature
and watching the flocks of sheep. It is definitely
one of the most beautiful places in the Polish
mountains. It is worth noting that the Kościeliska
Valley faces the biggest surge of tourists during
spring when there are crocuses in full bloom,
which attract not only domestic tourists but also
people from all over the world.
15. MORSKIE
OKO
Loosely translated to English as Sea's Eye is
the largest lake in the Tatra Mountains. It is
located at an altitude of 1395 m above sea
level. This post-glacial lake is a great place
for pictures, it's green waters and remarkable
transparency look beautiful through the
camera lens- which attracts plenty of tourists.
The route to the lake is an 8 km long walk on
an asphalt road. It's not a tiring hike, and you
can admire the view, but if you don't want to
walk you can always use horse carriages.
Right next to the lake there is a shelter where
you rest after the hike or spend the night.
16. PĘKSOWY
BRZYZEK
NATIONAL
CEMENTARY
Zakopane is not only an amazing nature but also
hundreds of years of culture and unique art.
Highlander influences are particularly visible in
elements of everyday life. Beautiful, small,
wooden church in Pęksowy Brzyzek is a real work
of art. Right next to it in the Cementary, you can
pay your respects next to the graves of artists:
painters, poets but also politicians, doctors and
many other important figures in Zakopane, who
were all buried with honors- including having
special tombstones made for them by local
craftsmen. It is worth visiting this place, despite
your religious affiliation, because this Cementary
is above all a place of culture and remembrance
of people who contributed to the city of Zakopane.
17. CHAPEL IN
JASZCZURÓWKA
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in
Jaszczurówka is a great photo opportunity.
Picturesque chapel with wooden walls looks
amazing especially during winter when everything
is frozen around it. It was built by a local
entrepreneur at the beginning of the 20th century
as a gift to the community. The most amazing part
is that there was not a single nail used to build it.
Instead, they used a trick many highlanders used
and crafted the wooden panels in a way that
made them overlap with each other so they
wouldn't need additional reinforcement.
Jaszczurówka is worth visiting not only because
of its architectural features but also as a place of
worship and highlander culture.
18. VILLA KOLIBA
When visiting Zakopane you must not forget
about many museums located in the city.
Everyone who is interested in local tradition
and culture should set aside a few hours to visit
at least a few of those places. The most famous
one is Willa Koliba, where you can learn about
the history of the Zakopane style. It is also a
great opportunity to get acquainted with various
different highlander art pieces as well as seeing
an original highlander interior design.
19. GREAT
KROKIEW
Several times a year, a ski jumping competition
is held on one of the most beautiful natural hills
in the world, which is located in Zakopane. Great
Krokiew attracts fans from Poland and all over
Europe. This perfectly prepared and organized
spectacle ensures amazing experiences not only
for jumpers but also for the fans. Great Krokiew
can also be visited outside the competition.
Tourists can visit the back rooms, or take the
cable car to the top and stand next to the starting
beam. That, however, is reserved only for the
bravest, considering ski jumping being an
extremely dangerous discipline.
20. KAROL
SZYMANOWSKI
MUZEUM
Not many people know who Karol Szymanowski
was. He was an extremely talented Polish
pianist, composer, and writer. The museum is
located in a wooden villa that once belonged to
him. It is worth noting that Zakopane was a
source of inspiration for many artists. They
found shelter and inspiration here. The villa has
preserved traditional furnishings in the
highlander fashion which you can admire along
with a lot of souvenirs from Szymanowski's life.
23. When you are visiting Zakopane, one of
the first things you will admire on
the landscape are the majestic Tatra Mountains.
The silhouette of the Tatra peaks simulates the form of
a person that is sleeping, and the legend
of this mountain is known as ‘The Legend of the
Sleeping Knights of Poland’.
Long time ago, in a small village in Zakopane there
was a blacksmith shop. One day a stranger visited the
blacksmith to offer him a special job, the reward for
completing this special task would be a bag full of gold
coins, but there was only one requirement: he would
never talk about it with anyone. The blacksmith was
quite sceptical for some moments, but he accepted the
job.
When the blacksmith accepted the terms, the stranger
took a huge piece of gold and asks him to make a
horseshoe with that gold. The blacksmith started
working on it and he was able to complete this first
task.
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24. The stranger asked the blacksmith to come with
him to a cave that was hidden behind some
trees and rocks. Before they entered into the
cave, the blacksmith noticed a reflection that
came from inside, when they finally entered he
saw an army of knights that were sleeping
besides their beautiful armours and helmets.
He was impressed when seeing this, and then
he noticed that the knight’s horses were
sleeping too covered with delicate gold
blankets.
The stranger told the blacksmith to change the
horseshoe of one of the horses that was
sleeping. The blacksmith took the golden
horseshoe he previously made in his shop and
started to replace it. He noticed that the horse
did not move or give a signal of being
uncomfortable.
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25. When he completed the job, the blacksmith started to ask
a lot of questions to the stranger: one of those questions
was: Who are they? The stranger replied:
Those knights had been in a deep sleep for hundreds of
years and they only would wake up if it is time to fight on
a great battle. When this day comes, the earth will move,
there will be thunders that would shake the sky, many
trees will fall and break, and there would be noises when
the Border Mountains will break. On that moment the
knights will take their horses and they will gallop to fight
for Poland once again.
The blacksmith received the payment of his job, a bag
full of gold coins. The blacksmith went back to his shop
and of course he was not able to keep what he saw in
secret. He told his wife and friends, and after some time
all the people knew about that incredible event. The
blacksmith broke his word and his bag full of gold
coins turned into sand. The blacksmith returned to that
cave to know what happened, but he was never able to
find it once again.
That is why the mountain is known as ‘The Sleeping
Knights’.
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27. Centuries ago, a dense wilderness
stretched under the Tatra Mountains.
The nearest human settlements were
in the valley of the White and Black
Dunajec rivers. Only hunters ventured
deep into the primeval forest, as
animals and fish were plentiful.
Highlanders only looked at the peaks of
the mountains. One gazda from
Szaflar, and he was called Peter, was
extremely curious, how is it under the
Tatras?
He decided to settle near the Tatra
Mountains. On his expedition he took
only some food and a ciupaga. After a
long walk, Peter arrived at a tiny forest
clearing by a stream.
It's beautiful here, this is where I will
stay - thought Peter.
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28. The next day Peter set to work hard. He
chopped down the forest, dried the wood,
and burned the branches and trunks to
make the soil more fertile. When he had
gathered enough wood he built a hut in
which he lived. On the land acquired by
cutting down the tree he grew potatoes,
oats and vegetables. After work he went
hunting and fished in mountain streams.
He was a happy man.
The clearing where Peter gazed was
called "Kopana" by the people of the
surrounding villages, and Peter's gazebo
was hailed as Gąsienica, due to the
striped clothing in which he walked. Later
people said that Caterpillar was sitting on
"Za kopane."
And so it has stayed that way.
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29. One day Peter was visited by his oldest
brother Jedrek.
- How are you living? - he asked his younger
brother.
- Well, I have my hut, a small farm, I hunt
animals, I fish. It's beautiful here! This is
where I will stay! - replied Peter.
- You don't have a woman," said Jedrek.
- And where will I find a woman here? - asked
Piotr.
- In our village there is a beautiful women
named Kasia, maybe you could take her as
a wife?
Piotr and Jedrek went to the village. Kasia
turned out to be a pretty girl, and Piotr also
liked Kasia. Their parents blessed them and
held a wedding. The young couple settled in a
shack at Jędrek's house in Zakopane. After
two years, son Szymon was born, then Pawel
and daughters Marysia and Hania were born.
Sons Szymon and Pawel were hunters and
builders. The daughters helped around the
house and beautifully sewed and embroidered
highland clothes.
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30. In time, Peter and Kasia's
children started their own
families. And so the Gąsienice
family grew. They all called
themselves Gąsienice - so they
decided to choose nicknames
by which they could be
distinguished. In Zakopane, the
Caterpillar families were:
Danieli, Kasprusi, Szymoszek,
Bednarze, Szostak and many
more.
To this day it is said that
cabbage will not grow in
Zakopane, because there are
too many Caterpillar families.
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32. https://wsb.edu.pl
1851–1915
Stanisław Witkiewicz, (1851 –
1915) Polish painter, architect,
writer and art theoretician
1860–1926
Jan Kasprowicz, (1860 – 1926)
poet, playwright, critic and
translator; a foremost
representative of Young Poland
1885–1939
Stanisław Ignacy
Witkiewicz (1885 –
1939), Witkacy, a painter,
philosopher, playwright, novelist
and photographer
1952
Andrzej Gąsienica-
Makowski (born 1952 in
Zakopane) politician, led
the Nonpartisan Bloc for Support
of Reforms
1952
Wojciech Fortuna (born 1952 in
Zakopane), ski jumper, Olympic
gold medallist
1987
Kamil Stoch, (born 1987 in
Zakopane) Polish ski jumper,
world champion and three-
time Olympic gold medalist
33. List of links from which information and
photos were taken
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