Zakopane in Polish means buried. This town is literally buried in snow during the winter. It’s a great place to visit all year round though. Here you talk freely, dance longer and laugh louder. Visitors extract from here energy – the combination of mountains, folk culture and salons gives a creative ignition. You will meet here highlanders (górale in polish) and I can assure you, you will be impressed by the stunning views of Tatra Mountains and by the cozy wooden houses. 
?
Sources: www.onet.podroze.pl , https://www.roughguides.com/, www.zakopane.pl, photo: www.jandanek.com
photo:www.shutterstock.com
Zakopane, situated at the foot of the Polish Tatra Mountains and with over a century-old tradition of skiing, offers many attractions all year round. Despite the fact it is called “Poland’s Winter Capital”, this town is not just about winter. Zakopane in summer turns into a place for hikers, mountain bikers, and sightseers. 
photo.www.wpolityce.pl Pope John Paul II in Morskie Oko
Close to the border with Slovakia, this amazing mountain getaway is a beautiful place to visit from the amazing houses to the picturesque mountains to the friendly Polish people. What is more and interesting about this town is that the slopes for skiing have received a papal blessing. Even John Paul II, being the head of the Catholic church, liked to ski from time to time in Zakopane. 
photo.www.pinterest.com Willa Koliba
Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains were fascinating. Arrivals to Zakopane were an artistic duty. Here, under Giewont, artistic bohemians met. For many of them, it was s a place of permanent residence. The place where they formed. One of the most important figures of those years, inseparably connected with Zakopane, is Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz who created a Zakopane style. In Villa Koliba – one of the branches of the Tatra Museum and one of the most important attractions of Zakopane – you can see today the essence of the style of Witkiewicz. The nearby Highland cottage near Droga do Rojów shows folk culture, the source of this style and its inspirations. 
photo:www.zakopane.pl Krupówki
The symbol of Zakopane is popular Krupówki, which is one of the most famous streets in Poland. On Krupówki there are villas, wooden cottages, shops and pubs, restaurant with delicious cuisine and so on. Zakopane survives the greatest siege during the annual World Cup Ski jumping Competition. Our winter capital is considered the largest winter sports center in Pol
photo:www.polskieradio.pl
Being in Zakopane you can’t miss oscypek – a traditional smoked cheese made from the salted sheep milk and formed in traditional wooden forms. Oscypek is an absolute “must taste” while visiting Polish mountains. You can eat it as cold or hot (grilled and served with the cranberry). 
Photo: trekearth.com
Above Zakopane, in the Gubalowskie Foothills is Mt Gubalowka. This is a popular tourist attraction providing breathtaking views of the Tatras. The place is extremely popular because of the easy accessibility and amazing views. From the top, there is a panorama of Zakopane and the Tatra mountains towering above it. You can easily see Giewont and Kasprowy Wierch, and in good weather also the highest peaks of the High Tatras. The most interesting attraction is a funicular ride to Gubałówka, from which you can admire the vast panorama of the Tatra Mountains. 
Photo: our sources
During the visit to Zakopane, don’t miss visiting the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima. The history of this sanctuary began in 1951, when a chapel was built, in which special services were celebrated in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. Its main element is the church of Our Lady of Fatima. The sanctuary was consecrated by John Paul II on June 7, 1997 during the sixth pilgrimage to Poland.
photo: onetpodroze.pl
Nevertheless, one of the most beautiful place in the region is Morskie Oko lake, which literally means “the eye of the sea”. It is the largest lake in the Tatra Mountains, both Polish and Slovakian. Many believe that its name comes from the fact that it looks like a mini sea surrounded by the mountains. In fact, the name is related to the legend that Morskie Oko was connected with the sea (Baltic Sea) with an underground tunnel, which, of course, is untrue as the distance is over 700 kilometers (435 miles).
______________________________________________________________________________
Have you already fallen in love with Zakopane just by seeing all those beautiful photos? See our offer and come here with DLI Travel during your pilgrimage through Sacred Poland. Why not combining spiritual experience with unforgettable holidays, admiring beautiful wooden houses and picturesque landscape of Tatra Mountains? If you have enjoyed reading this article, why not join our our Facebook group (click) or subscribe to our newsletter! So that where there is a new blog you could be notified. Also, you can win take part in our competition that we organize from time to time to win holidays to Prague or to Cracow. It would be nice to keep in touch!
Recent Comments