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Zakopane

Zakopane is only four centuries old, but it's surroundings and the culture of the highlanders have made it very special. It developed mainly thanks to the Tatra Mountains and their beauty that delighted those who came here. The culture and cuisine as well as the way of living of the first inhabitants was an inspiration to create a style within art and music called “The Zakopane Style”. This style is very unique and in Zakopane there are numerous monuments that represent it.

Zakopane is undoubtedly the Polish capital of winter sports and mountain tourism offering great attractions in winter and in summer. It is also the center of Polish highland culture. The mountainers traditions cultivated here can be seen in the folk costumes, the unique wooden architecture of the houses and the very tasty cuisine.

In the middle of August there is organized the International Festival of Mountain Folklore. This is one of the greatest attractions of the region that gathers thousands of artists and spectators from all around the world. The celebration is accompanied by numerous concerts, music competitions and street parades performed by local ensembles as well as the other European highlander guests.

Travel Information:
Distance:
40 km by road
How to travel:
Car or by Bus
Car Parking:
Yes, Paid and Free
Fees:
-
Open:
-
Fact's about Zakopane and the Tatra Mountians
Zakopane lies in a big valley between the Tatra Mountains and Gubalówka Hill . It is the most important Polish centre of mountaineering and skiing , and is visited by about three million tourists annually. The most important alpine skiing locations are Kasprowy Wierch , Nosal and Gubalówka Hill .

Zakopane has the highest elevation (800-1000 masl) of any town in Poland. The central point of the town is at the junction of Krupówki and Kosciuszki streets.

The earliest documents mentioning Zakopane date to the 17th century , describing a glade named Zakopisko . In 1676 it was a village of 43 inhabitants. Together with a section of the Tatra Mountains, it was sold in 1824 to the Homola family. Its further history was connected with the development of the mining and metallurgy industries in the region - in the 19th century it was the largest centre for metallurgy in Galicia and later with the progress of tourism. Its growth progressed greatly over the 19th century , as more and more people were attracted by its mild climate, and it soon progressed from being a small village, into a climatic health resort of 3000 inhabitants ( 1889).

Rail service to Zakopane started on 1 October 1899.

In March 1940 representatives of NKVD and Gestapo met for one week in the Villa Tadeusz in Zakopane, for the coordination of the pacification of resistance in Poland .

Kasprowy Wierch (in Polish ) or Kasprov vrch (in Slovakian ) is a mountain in the Western Tatras .

In 1910 Kasprowy became very popular among ski tourists. A cable car (cabin aerial ropeway) to the top was built in 1935-1936. It is the oldest such facility in Europe. Due to its modernization, cabin aerial ropeway will be closed till December 2007. In 1938 meteorological and astronomical observatories were built here. Riders have to change cars midway at Myslenicke Turnie mount. At the peak, where the cable cars dock into, are restaurants and information. Just outside lay more ski trolleys. The cable cars are extremely popular and tourists regularly have to wait up to 3 hours to buy tickets - roughly the same time it would take to ascend the mountain on foot. The cable car service has caused environmental concerns and protest both in 1935 and 2006. In 1961 - 1962 and in 1967 - 1968 chairlifts were built on the slopes of the mountain and they run in two sections.

 

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