ZAKOPANE ON TOPNestled at the foot of the Tatras, Zakopane is surroun-

ded by natural greenery. The capital of the Podhale re-gion and Poland’s highest locality of alpine character, Za-kopane is a legend and a mountain resort with a specificHighland atmosphere. Zakopane attracts artists, politi-cians, people of culture and science, as well as many to-urists throughout the whole year. It is a place that drawspeople back every year. They come to Zakopane for theirhealth, the beautiful mountainscapes, sports, and becau-se it is a popular part of the country. Here you will findthe peace you need after the hum of the city. Zakopaneis a very popular destination for those who seek rest andrecreation. The Tatras – considered by many as some ofthe most beautiful mountains in the world – are the gre-atest attraction of the town. The mountain air is pure andrevivifying. The mountains are very diverse and it's onlya 3–4 hours’ walk from piedmont meadows to bare, alpi-ne crags. The Tatras are also a center of winter sportsdrawing thousands to the ski slopes and internationalcompetitions organised here in the winter.

ZAKOPANE’S HIGH LOCATIONZakopane lies between the Tatras and the massif of Mt

Guba∏ówka. It occupies the southern part of the Podhaleregion, and its built-up areas extend from 750 up to1000 metres above sea level. The crossroads oful KoÊciuszki and ul Krupowki, the town’s central point,is situated at an altitude of 838 meters above sea level.Zakopane is connected with the rest of the country byconvenient transportation links. It is located in a moun-tainous climatic zone with a relatively low annual meantemperature: +5.1 Centigrade. January (-4.5°C) is thecoldest and July (+14.5°C) – the hottest month. Thisyear, 2006, 25°C was recorded in July.

ZAKOPANE AND FOLKLOREAuthentic and vibrant Highland folklore is one of the major attractions of Zako-

pane and of the whole Podhale region. Cultivated by many local families, Highland folkculture and art are the result of Polish, Slovakian, Hungarian and Balkan traditionsmixed with elements of Carpathian folklore. Physical strength with a mixture of localastuteness and an attachment to the fatherland are the result of life in difficult

The artificial snow and night lit slopes of Mt Nosal have been attracting more andmore skiers in recent years. The Mt Nosal center has a chairlift and several Tatrapomaski hoists on its lower slopes. The area has a car park, restaurants and a number of outletswith sports gear for hire. Fans of winter sports and those who enjoy active rest andrecreation have the local skating rinks, cross-country trails as well as the infrastructurebuilt around the Wielka Krokiew ski jump, and the three smaller ski jumps nearby.Enthusiasts of mountain climbing know that thereare many special paths that lead to alpine walls.Visitors have about 240 km of hiking trails and160 km of skiing routes that crisscross the TatraNational Park. Other park facilities include eightmountain refuges, a cable car line and four ski lifts.The transportation of tourists by horse is available inthe KoÊcieliska and Chocho∏owska Valleys, on theway to Lake Morskie Oko and to the Kalatówkirefuge in wintertime. There are four biking trails.The Tatra Voluntary Rescue Service looks after thesafety of visitors.

Paragliding and mountain biking are the mostpopular activities in summertime. Several hotelsand holiday homes have indoor swimming pools,while an outdoor facility with thermal waters anda beautiful panoramic view over the Tatras is loca-ted on the slopes of Mt Anta∏ówka, east of thetown.

IMPORTANT SPORTS EVENTSJanuary – Ski Jumping World Cup on the

Wielka Krokiew Ski Jump www.tzn.com.pl

March – Bronis∏aw Czech and Stanis∏awa Marusarzówna International Memorial (Alpine ski contests)

April – International Ski Alpine Championships www.snptt.tatrynet.pl

August – Summer Ski High Jump Grand Prix www.tzn.com.pl

December – Winter Ski High Jump Competition www.tzn.com.pl

conditions, harsh winters, in bygones times. This has changed today and Highland musicis now influenced by reggae, jazz and rock. The Tatra Centre of Highland Cultureregularly hosts regional groups and bands and give concerts in country-inns, some hotelsand holiday homes.

The International Festival of Mountain Folklore in late August is the town’s majorcultural event. The programme includes seven days of music and dance, and a veryspecial ambiance created by artists from different countries and continents, all presentingtheir national traditions.

ZAKOPANE AND ARTFolk art, as seen in original artistic creations, predominates in galleries and workshops

where artists can be seen at work. Visitors can buy wood carvings, souvenirs made ofleather or metal, as well as paintings on glass. Painting on glass as a form of artisticexpression is very popular. More than a hundred professional artists live in Zakopane andcreate sculptures, paintings, drawings and tapestries. The art gallery of the Artistic Exhi-bition Bureau at Krupówki St. 41 puts on displays of their works. Many artists have theirown galleries. Krupówki St. plays the role of street gallery open all year round. Aninteresting gallery is that of the Gruszczyƒski family arranged in their garden and openeach fine day. Many portrait or caricature artists can be seen on Krupówki St. on a sunnysummer day. Classical music recitals are organized in the small concert hall of the VillaAtma – Karol Szymanowski’s Museum, in the BWAgallery and the art gallery of the Tatra Museum in theKoziniec quarter, sometimes in the Witkacy Theatreor in the aula of the Art School Complex, and also inthe Holy Cross Church on Zamoyskiego St. or in theOlcza quarter. Zakopane is not far from Cracow – thecultural capital of Poland. However, with Zakopane’sabundant offer, one does not have to go to Cracow tostay in close touch with culture.

ZAKOPANE AND THEATREOpened in 1985, the Stanis∏aw Ignacy Witkiewicz

Theatre known as the Witkacy Theatre attractspeople who have an authentic desire to be associatedwith some form of art. The Witkacy stage has itsown rhythm of life, marked by the openings ofsummer and winter seasons, premieres, the “Car-nival at Witkacy’s”, or the February celebrations ofWitkiewicz’s birthday. The theatre art gallerycollection grows after each exhibition.

The Witkacy Theatre was the first professionaltheatrical institution in Zakopane with its own stageand repertoire that includes original, ambitious andinspiring productions. The people who attend theWitkacy Theatre performances come to enjoy itsproductions as much as its unique atmosphere. Thetheatre café contains a small Anastazy Bazakbal stage.The booking office is located at Chramcówki St. 15.

ZAKOPANE AND KRUPÓWKI STREETKrupówki Street ranks fifth among the most

famous streets in Poland. More than one kilometerlong, it creates a mall where people of differentnationalities meet in search of entertainment.

Business people do business, artists paintportraits, and tourists take strolls. Once a year thestreet is crowded with sheep that depart for theirseasonal grazing grounds up in the mountains.Krupówki is neither very large nor very long, andin Zakopane you can’t really miss it. It’s trafficfree but noisy and busy. Some visitors find itpeaceful and relaxing after their own hometowns, and that’s what makes this street soexceptional in character.

ZAKOPANE’S HISTORICALMONUMENTS WHICH ARE

WORTH SPECIAL ATTENTIONThe Old Church and its Cemetery.

Most of the visitors to Zakopane visit the OldChurch and the nearby Gàsienica Family Chapelwith the Na P´ksowym Brzyzku Cemetery. Thelittle chapel is the oldest preserved sacralmonument in the town.

The cemetery next to the chapel was establi-shed around 1850 on the initiative of Father JózefStolarczyk. The land was donated by Jan P´ksa,hence the name of the cemetery. The famousPolish physician, naturalist, pioneer of mountainclimbing and the discoverer of Zakopane, TytusCha∏ubiƒski, was buried here in 1889.

With his burial, a kind of national Pantheonwas started in the little Zakopane cemetery. In thefollowing years, many outstanding representativesof Polish culture were buried here in tombsdesigned by famous artists. Folk motives from theTatra region prevail in the ornamentation of someof the burial monuments, including old crossesmade of Tatra iron.

The Jaszczurówka ChapelOne of Poland’s most beautiful shrines, the Chapel the Holy Heart of Jesus is

a perfect example of the Zakopane style used in the timber construction of sacralbuildings.

The children of Adam Uznaƒski, the owner of Jaszczurówka, founded the chapel in1904–1908. Perhaps Witkiewicz’s greatest achievement, the wooden chapel was richlydecorated on the outside, whereas the interior was kept unadorned. Known as theWitkiewicz’s chapel, the shrine is recorded on the list of Zakopane’s historicalmonuments.

ZAKOPANE AND SPORTSNot only has Zakopane a rich cultural and artistic offer, but it also provides those

who enjoy spending their leisure time in an active way with numberless opportunities.Zakopane is also Poland’s winter capital with thousands of winter sports enthusiastsvisiting the town every year. There are several dozen ski-hoists on the slopes;a funicular takes skiers to the top of Mt Guba∏ówka, and a chairlift to the summit ofMt Butorowy Wierch. Excellent skiing conditions are found on the slopes of MtKasprowy Wierch with two chairlifts for more experienced skiers. The best way to getto the top of Mt Kasprowy Wierch is to take the cable car.

EATING IN ZAKOPANEFood served in Zakopane is very good and tasty.

Local cuisine is based on traditions of serving well-prepared and copious dishes. The ˝urek and kwaÊnicasoups are excellent, and the Highland menu is well-known for its pan fried agaric mushrooms and pierogiswith lamb stuffing; fiery drinks and energetic Highlandmusic always accompany the local banquet. The fol-lowing are the restaurants that serve regional dishes:• Bacówka, ul. Krupówki 61, tel. 206 43 33,• Bàkowa Zohylina Niênio, ul. Pi∏sudskiego 6,

tel. 206 62 16• Bàkowa Zohylina Wyênio, ul. Pi∏sudskiego 28a,

tel. 201 20 45• Chata Zbójnicka, ul. Jagielloƒska, tel. 201 42 17

www.chatazbojnicka.zakopane.biz• Czarci Jar, ul. Ma∏e ˚ywczaƒskie 11A,

tel. 206 41 78 www.czarcijar.pl• Gazdowo Kuênia, ul. Krupówki 1, tel. 201 72 01

www.gazdowokuznia.pl• Morskie Oko, ul. Krupówki 26, tel. 201 50 66

www.morskieoko.pl/morskie.htm• Nosalowy Dwór, ul. Balzera 21, tel. 201 14 00

CULTURAL EVENTSApril-May: Zakopane Autumn Jazz Festival www.zakopane.plMay: Vintage Car MeetingJune-August: International Organ Music Festival www.zakopane.plJuly: Karol Szymanowski Music Day www.szymanowski.zakopane.plAugust: International Mountain Folklore Festival www.festiwal.ezakopane.plOctober-November: Zakopane Autumn Music www.zakopane.pl

THEATERS MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES• Teatr Miejski im. Stanis∏awa Ignacego Witkiewicza, ul. Chramcówki 15,

tel. 200 06 60, teatr@witkacy.zakopane.pl• Dr Tytus Cha∏ubiƒski Tatra Museum, ul. Krupówki 10, tel. 201 52 05,

fax 206 38 72, muzeum@tatrynet.pl, www.muzeumtatrzanskie.com.pl. Open: Tuesday-Saturday 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday 9 am – 3 pm

• Natural History Museum of the Tatra National Park, ul. Cha∏ubiƒskiego 42a, tel. 201 41 92, sekretariat@tpn.pl, open Mon. – Sat. 9 am – 3 pm

• Jan Kasprowicz Museum at Harenda 12a, tel. 206 84 26• Karol Szymanowski Villa Atma Museum, ul. Kasprusie 19,

tel. 201 34 93, fax 201 45 54, atmamuzeum@wp.pl Open: Wednesday – Saturday 10 am – 3 pm, Sunday 10 am – 3 pm

• Kornel Makuszyƒski Museum in Opolanka, ul. Tetmajera 15, tel. 201 22 63, open Wed. – Sun. 9.30 am – 1.30 pm

• Zakopane Style Museum, Villa Koliba, ul. KoÊcieliska 18, tel. 201 36 02, Open Wed. – Sat. 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday 9 am – 3 pm

• W∏odzimierz and Jerzy Kulczycki Art Gallery, Koziniec 9, tel. 201 29 36, Open Wed. – Sat. 9 am – 4 pm, Sunday 9 am – 3 pm

• W∏adys∏aw Hasior Art Gallery, ul. Jagielloƒska 18 b, tel. 206 68 71, open Wed. – Sat. 11 am – 6 pm, Sun. 9 am – 3 pm

• Miejska Galeria Sztuki im. W∏adys∏awa hr. Zamoyskiego, ul. Krupówki 41, tel./fax 201 27 92, mgs@galeria.zakopane.pl, www.galeria.zakopane.pl Open: Tuesday-Friday 10 am – 5 pm, Saturday–Sunday, Holidays 10 am – 2 pm

P

BRANCHES OF THE POLISH TOURIST ORGANISATION ABROAD

Private Art Galleries:• Antoni Rzàsa Gallery, ul. Bogdaƒskiego 16a, tel. 206 69 69

Open Monday–Saturday 11 am – 6 pm,• Henryk Burzyc Gallery, ul. Piaseckiego 14, tel. 201 41 10

Open Monday, Wednesday, Sunday 10 am – 6 pm• Grzegorz Pecuch Gallery Open Monady – Friday 1 pm – 4 pm• Garden Gallery of Maria and Jerzy Gruszczyƒski, ul. Skibówki 26, tel. 206 34 34

STOPS FOR CARRIAGES AND HORSE-DRAWN SLEIGHSRides in horse-drawn carts in summer and sleighs in winter around Zakopane are

very popular with tourists.:• Pi∏sudskiego St, near petrol station• Jagielloƒska St, near PKP railway station• Krupówki St, near the Tatra Museum• Przewodników Tatrzaƒskich, near Rondo• Polana Szymoszkowa, near “Kasprowy” Hotel• Kuênice, near PKS bus station• Palenica Ba∏czaƒska by the road to Lake Morskie Oko• Kiry near KoÊcieliska Valley• Siwa Polana near Dolina Chocho∏owska

HOTELS• Belvedere****, ul. Droga do Bia∏ego 3,

tel. 202 12 00, fax 202 12 50,rezerwacja@belvederehotel.pl, www.belvederehotel.pl

• Litwor****, ul. Krupówki 40, tel. 202 42 00,rezerwacja@litwor.pl www.litwor.pl

• Czarny Potok***, ul. Tetmajera 20, tel. 202 02 04, fax 202 02 95,rezerwacja@czarnypotok.pl, www.czarnypotok.pl

• Giewont Orbis Hotel***, ul. KoÊciuszki 1, tel. 201 20 11, fax 201 20 15, giewont@orbis.pl, www.giewont.net.pl

• Gromada***, fax 201 53 30,zakopanehotel@gromada.pl

• Mercure Kasprowy Hotel***, ul. Szymoszkowa 1, tel. 201 40 11, fax 201 57 00, merkasprowy@orbis.pl, www.kasprowy.pl

• Patria***, ul. ˚eromskiego 12, tel. 206 37 22,recepcja@hotelpatria.pl, www.hotelpatria.pl

TOURIST INFORMATION• Centrum Informacji Turystycznej, ul. KoÊciuszki 17,

tel. 201 22 11, fax 206 60 51, info@um.zakopane.pl Open every day 9 am – 6 pm.

• Biuro Promocji Zakopanego, ul. KoÊciuszki 13, tel./fax 206 69 50, promocja@um.zakopane.pl Open Monday 10-20, Wednesday-Friday 8 am – 4 pm

ZAKOPANE ON THE INTERNETwww.zakopane.pl

Telephoning Zakopane from Poland prefix 0-18from abroad prefix +(48-18)

• AUSTRIA, Wien tel. +(43-1) 524 71 91 12, fax +(43-1) 524 71 91 20 info@poleinfo.at, www.poleninfo.at

• BELGIUM, Bruxelles tel. +(32-2) 740 06 20, fax +(32-2) 742 37 35info@polska-be.com, www.polska-be.com

• FRANCE, Paris tel. +(33-1) 424 419 00, fax +(33-1) 429 752 25info@tourisme.pologne.org.fr, www.tourisme.pologne.net

• GERMANY, Berlin tel. +(49-30) 21 00 92 11, fax +(49-30) 21 00 92 14info@polen-info.de, www.polen-info.de

• GREAT BRITAIN, London tel. +(44-20) 87 00 67 50 12, fax +(44-20) 87 00 67 50 11info@visitpoland.org, www.visitpoland.org

• HOLLAND, Amsterdam tel. +(31-20) 625 35 70, fax +(31-20) 623 09 29poleninfo@planet.nl, http://poleninfo.tripod.com

• HUNGARY, Budapesttel. +(36-1) 269 78 09, fax +(36-1) 269 78 10bakonyi@polska.datanet.hu, ww.polska-tourist.info.hu

• ITALY, Roma tel. +(39-06) 482 70 60, fax +(39-06) 481 75 69turismo@polonia.it, www.polonia.it

• JAPAN, Tokyotel. +(81) 3 59 08 38 08, fax +(81) 3 59 08 38 09info@poland-tourism.jp www.poland-tourism.jp

• SPAIN, Madrid tel. +(34) 91 541 48 08, fax +(34) 91 541 34 23visitapolonia@visitapolonia.org www.visitapolonia.org

• SWEDEN, Stockholm tel. +(46-8) 20 56 05, fax +(46-8) 21 04 65info@tourpol.com, www.tourpol.com

• RUSSIA, Moskowtel. +(74-95) 510-62-10 fax +(74-95) 510-62-11 info@visitpoland.ru, www.visitpoland.ru

• USA, New York tel. +(1-201) 420 99 10, fax +(1-201) 584 91 53pntonyc@polandtour.org www.polandtour.org

2006 Publisher: POLISH TOURIST ORGANISATION00-613 Warszawa, ul. Cha∏ubiƒskiego 8, tel. +(48-22) 536 70 70, fax +(48-22) 536 70 71; e-mail: pot@pot.gov.plText: Maria Malkiƒska; Translation: Zygmunt Nowak-Soliƒski; Graphic layout and realisation: WERS; Photographs: POT archives, St. Ka∏amacki, Miejska Galeria Sztuki – Zakopane, BP TRIP, Skijumping.pl

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TATRZA¡SKI PARKNARODOWY