Zakopane is the highest located town in Poland. Its administrative borders also embrace part of the Tatra Mountains range, where the summit of Mr Świnica at 2301 m above sea level makes the highest point.
1. Route planning Before we start packing, we should consider our destination. Where to go, what to see and, most importantly, are we strong enough to finish the walk. Tatra trails are well prepared and marked, but it doesn't mean that tourists shouldn't equip themselves with map – paper or digital (bear in mind that connection can be lost at some places!). First and foremost, to feel safe and call for help in need, we should know the trail color, the place of our departure and the expected destination of our walk. It's recommended to inquire about estimated track finishing time and its description (track characteristic, possible difficulties). It's worth remembering that trails in Tatra are closed from dusk till dawn, so one should make plans for accomodation after nightfall. 2. Clothing Outfit prepared for the journey should primarily be comfortable and adjusted to the time of year. You can equip yourself with thermoactive underwear which helps body ventilation. You should keep in mind that even in summer, the higher parts of mountains can be cool and...
The Red Mansion, located in the very heart of Zakopane on Krasprusie Street, which leads towards the Strążyska Valley, is one of the most beautiful and important villas in Zakopane. It was built in the Zakopane style in 1901-1902 by Wojciech Roja, a close associate of Stanisław Witkiewicz, for Oktawia Lewandowska, sister Zygmunt Gnatowski, owner of the Koliba Villa designed by Stanisław Witkiewicz. At first the house was called ‘Władysławka’ after Mrs. Lewandowska’s husband Władysław. In 1904, Artur Rubinstein lived here. Writer Stefan Żeromski spent the World War I years here, and it was here in November 1918 that the...
Zakopane is the highest located town in Poland. Its administrative borders also embrace part of the Tatra Mountains range, where the summit of Mr Świnica at 2301 m above sea level makes the highest point.
A mountain resort of Zakopane is located well within the Sub-Tatra Trench, demarcated from the north by the Gubałówka hillside, and from the south – by the Tatra Mountains range. Kornel Makuszyński once wrote: "To the left towers Mt Giewont, to the right there the Gubałówka hillside, while in between these two – rain just keeps pouring". Fortunately enough, it is not as bad as the writer would like us to believe.
HISTORY The first settlers may have arrived here in the 15th c. They would start off by felling spruce and making spacious glades, to make way for their settlements. This log clearing business on the glades – in local dialect "kopane" – may have something to do with the actual origins of the village's name. Za-kopane (located behind the cleared glades...