A popular tourist resort in southern Poland, located in the Tatra Mountains.
The town is famous for its beautiful mountain landscapes, traditional architecture, as well as winter sports and highlander culture.
Zakopane is situated in a valley surrounded by stunning peaks of the Tatra Mountains, such as Giewont, Kasprowy Wierch, and Rysy. It is an ideal place for mountain tourism, both in summer and winter. Zakopane offers numerous hiking trails leading to mountain valleys, waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints.
Zakopane is also a center of highlander culture. The town has many shops selling handmade products such as folk costumes, decorations, and crafts. Many tourists come to Zakopane to listen to traditional highlander music, taste regional dishes like oscypek (smoked sheep cheese) or żurek (sour rye soup), or simply to experience the local culture and customs.
In winter, Zakopane attracts visitors with skiing and snowboarding. Around the town are many ski resorts, including Kasprowy Wierch, Nosal, and Polana Szymoszkowa. Every year Zakopane hosts the Polish Alpine Ski Championships and the Ski Jumping World Championships at Wielka Krokiew.
Zakopane is also an important center of wooden architecture. The town features numerous wooden cottages, churches, and chapels that are a testament to traditional highlander construction. Many of these buildings were built in the Zakopane style, characterized by decorations and carvings inspired by folk motifs.
It is worth adding that Zakopane also plays an important role in the history of Polish tourism. As early as the 19th century, it became a popular retreat for artists and intellectuals who came to relax and enjoy the beauty of the mountains. The town was visited by many famous personalities, such as Ignacy Paderewski and Karol Szymanowski, who left behind numerous works of art inspired by Zakopane and the Tatras.
Pęksowy Brzyzek Cemetery for the Distinguished
The cemetery is located on the Pęksowy Brzyzek hill in Zakopane, near the Sanctuary of the Holy Family.
It was established in 1890 by Stanisław Witkiewicz, a well-known painter and promoter of Zakopane art style, who together with a group of friends decided to create a burial place for outstanding figures connected with the Tatras and Zakopane. The cemetery contains about 200 graves, and those buried there are selected by the Cemetery’s Founders’ Council.
Wielka Krokiew Ski Jump
The ski jump was originally built in 1925 and has been modernized and expanded several times since. The current structure was opened in 2007 and allows jumps of over 140 meters.
Wielka Krokiew hosts many important ski events, such as World Cup competitions and the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships. In 2013, it hosted the Junior World Championships in Nordic Skiing. In 2023, Wielka Krokiew will again host the World Championships in Nordic Skiing.
Next to the ski jump is a sports museum and an Observation Tower offering beautiful views of the Tatras and Zakopane.
