Location:

Zakopane is situated in southern Poland, about 100 km to the south of Cracow, close to the border with Slovakia. It lies in a valley at the foot of The Tatras, the highest mountains in Poland (Mount Rysy 2499 m). On the map Zakopane can be found at 48 (18" latitude and 19 (57" longitude. The centre lies at about 840 m above sea level, but some parts are even as high as 1000 m above sea level on the slopes of Gubaówka, a hill that surrounds it from the south.

Zakopane is a town commune. It neighbours on Kocielisko and Poronin villages and is not very far from the well-known town of Nowy Targ anf the villages of Bukowina Tatrzaska and Czarny Dunajec.

History:

Zakopane is only four centuries old and was founded between XVI and XVII c. as a farmers and shepherds' settlement. Legend says that one day a man called Gsienica came here with his sons Pawe and Jdrzej and they built a mill here. For dozens of years, Zakopane was a godforsaken village. In the middle of the XVIII c. in nearby Kunice, a steelworks was set up to process iron ore mined in The Tatras. There was also the owners' manor that received travellers visiting the mountains. Soon the beauty of the nearby sunny valley of Zakopane was discovered.

In the XIX century, Zakopane became famous as a tourist and health resort. In 1845, the first parish was set up in the village and two years later Zakopane was visited by one of its legendary persons - priest Józef Stolarczyk. He encouraged the highlanders to rent their houses to the visitors, later on people started to build special houses for them. In 1878 the first house was built by a "newcomer from lowlands" called Walery Eljasz, the author of many guidebooks to The Tatras. The first hotel called "Pod Giewontem" was built in 1885. In 1899 Zakopane was connected by the railway, which started a new chapter in its history. The development of Zakopane is also connected with Towarzystwo Tatrzaskie (The Tatra Society - 1872) and with doctor Tytus Chaubiski, who is described as "Zakopane discoverer" and "the king of The Tatras". In 1886 the village got the status of a health resort. It received the town rights in 1935.

Pope John Paul II's visits to Zakopane have become the most important events in the town's history. He has been attached to Zakopane and The Tatras since his youth. As an alumnus of the Cracow seminary he did a lot of hiking and skiing here. He did not abandon his passion for the mountains even when he became the Cracow metropolitan. His favourite places were the chapel in Jaszczurówka and "Ksiówka" - the holiday house of the Polish Episcopate. In The Tatras he adored the Chochoowska Valley, which he visited again in 1982 after he had become the Pope. His next visit to Zakopane and The Tatras took place in June 1997. He spent here a few days. He visited Mount Kasprowy Wierch, Morskie Oko Lake, he went to Ludmierz along the ridge of Gubaówka. There are many souvenirs of his visit - e.g. the altar, which was used by him during the mess was transported from Krokiew Hill to the gardens of Virgin Mary Sanctuary in Krzeptówki Street

The most characteristic monuments:

- Kocieliska Street. A complex of wooden buildings typical of the Podhale region, which originated in XIX century.

- Stary Koció (Old Church). A wooden church built in 1845-1851, the seat of the first parish in Zakopane. Situated in Kocieliska St. - Kaplica Gsieniców. The chapel was the first sacred building in Zakopane built in 1800 by Pawe Gsienica. Situated in Kocieliska St.

- Stary Cmentarz na Pksowym Brzyzku. The old cemetery, the first cemetery in Zakopane, the place where famous writers, artists and mountaineers are buried. Situated in Kocieliska St.

- Nowy Cmentarz Zakopiaski. The new cemetery opened in 1907; the place where artists, mountaineers, mountain rescuers, priests and The First and The Second World Wars veterans are buried. Situated in Nowotarska St.

- Willa "Koliba". The mansion is the first example of Zakopane style built in 1893 according to Stanisaw Witkiewicz's design. Situated in Kocieliska St.

- Willa "Pod Jedlami". The mansion of the Pawlikowski family designed for them by Stanisaw Witkiewicz. It is the biggest and the most beautiful example of the Zakopane style. Situated in Koziniec St. - Willa "Witkiewiczówka". The mansion in the Zakopane style designed in 1904 by Jan Koszyc Witkiewicz. In the 1930s it was the residence of Stanisaw Ignacy Witkiewicz (Witkacy). Situated in Antaówka St. - Kaplica w Jaszczurówce. The wooden chapel was built in 1904-1908 according to Stanisaw Witkiewicz's design. Situated in Jaszczurówka.

- Chata Sabay. A wooden building from the early XIX century, situated in Stare Krzeptówki, in the western part of Zakopane.

Tourism:

Zakopane district is considered the most attractive tourist region in Poland. The Tatras, the hills of Podhale as well as the town itself are ideal places for walks or longer or shorter hikes. A walk around the town can be combined with visiting its monuments and other interesting places. Here are some of them that we would like to recommend:

* Northern part of the town: the centre of Zakopane - Krupówki St - The Tatra Museum - market at the foot of Gubaówka - taking a tram up Gubaówka (panorama of the Tatras and Zakopane!) - walking downhill along the yellow trail - Droga na Szymoszkow - Kocieliska St (the old church and cemetery) - the centre. About 5 hours.

* Southern part of the town: the centre of Zakopane - Krupówki St - Zamoyskiego St - Bulwary Sowackiego St - Antaówka hill - Koziniec (Dom pod Jedlami, art. Gallery) - Bystre - Kunickie roundabout (Natural Museum TPN) - COS Sports Centre complex (ski jumps etc.) - Dolina Biaego - Grunwaldzka St - the centre. About 4,30 hours.

* Along the ridges of Gubaówka: Chochoów (by bus, visiting the village and the Chochoów Uprising museum) - Ostrysz - Butorowy Wierch - taking the cable car downhill. About 4 hours.

* The Tatra walk at the foot of The Tatras: the centre of Zakopane - Orkana St - Kasprusie St ("Atma", Karol Szymanowski Museum) - Stryska St - Czerwona Przecz - Przecz Biaego - Kalatówki (Albert Sisters' convent) - Kunice. About 5 hours.

* Through the valleys of The Western Tatras: Gronik (by bus) - Dolina Maej ki - Przysop Mitusi - Dolina Kocieliska - Hala Pisana - visiting Zimna cave - Kocielisko-Kiry. About 5 hours.

* The Tatra lakes: Kunice - Kasprowy Wierch (by cable car) - Dolina Stawów Gsienicowych - Karb - Czarny Staw Gsienicowy - Murowaniec chalet - Kunice. About 5,30 hours.

* To Morskie Oko lake: Wierch Poroniec (by bus) - Rusinowa Polana - Gsia Szyja - Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza - Morskie Oko - back to ysa Polana (by bus to Zakopane).

Advanced tourists can take trails along the ridges of The Zachodnie (Western) Tatras (e.g. from Kasprowy Wierch reached by cable car to the west, climb up Czerwone Wierchy, around Dolina Chochoowska) or trails in The High Tatras (from Kasprowy to winica, from Zakopane through Zawrat and Szpiglasowa Przecz to Morskie Oko, difficult trails of "Orla Per", climb up Rysy). The trails in The Tatras are marked well with plates and colour stripes. In difficult areas there are special buckles, chains and even ladders. However, to use them you must not be afraid of heights, need to be fit and have good health. In the Tatras you can also do some winter hiking. However, it requires high tourist qualifications, good equipment (clothes, boots, alpenstock and crampons) and good skills in using them. You should take your first steps under supervision of some qualified Tatra guides. The Tatra National Park has made some trails available for cyclists. These are Droga Pod Reglami, Dolina Chochoowska and Suchej Wody Gsienicowej, trail to Kalatówki.

The Tatras are high mountains and can be dangerous. You must always remember about the changeability of the weather - even in midsummer there may be some snowfall, beautiful sunny weather may turn to thick confusing fog. Another serious danger is storms; when you see there is going to be a storm you must take the nearest trail down from the ridge to the lower areas. When planning climbs in the higher parts of the mountains you should ask some experienced people for advice or hire a guide. In case of an accident you should call for help by using the international signal - light or voice signals six times a minute. The injured or lost in the Tatras are rescued by TOPR which uses a helicopter if necessary. Zakopane can be a starting point for longer trips - to the Gorce Mountains, to Babia Góra and to the Pieniny Mountains. On such trips you can find unique monuments in the nearby villages: Chochoów, Dbno, Orawka and Zubrzyca (heritage park).

Another attraction is rafting along the gorge of the Dunajec River in the Pieniny Mountains, which has been popular for 150 years. source: http://www.zakopane.pl/