Zakopane lies near Poland's border withSlovakia, in avalley between the Tatra Mountains andGubałówka Hill. It is connected by rail and road to the provincial capital,Kraków. Zakopane lies 800–1,100 metres (2,600–3,600 ft)above sea level and centres on the intersection of its Krupówki and Kościuszko Streets.
The earliest documents mentioning Zakopane date to the 17th century, describing aglade calledZakopisko. In 1676, it was a village of 43 inhabitants. In 1818, Zakopane was a small town that was still being developed. There were only 340 homes that held 445 families. The population of Zakopane at that time was 1,805: 934 women and 871 men.[5] The first church was built in 1847, by Józef Stolarczyk.[5]
Zakopane became a center for the region'smining andmetallurgy industries; by the 19th century, it was the largest center for metallurgy in the region ofGalicia. It expanded during the 19th century as theclimate attracted more inhabitants. By 1889, it had developed from a small village into a climatichealth resort. Rail services to Zakopane began on October 1, 1899. In the late 1800s, Zakopane constructed a road that went to the town ofNowy Targ and had railways that came fromChabówka.[5] Because of easier transportation, the population of Zakopane had increased to about 3,000 people by the end of the 1800s.[5] In the 19th century, Krupówki Street was just a narrow beaten path that was meant for people to get from the central part of town to the village of Kuźnice.
The ski jump onWielka Krokiew was opened in 1925.The cable car toKasprowy Wierch was completed in 1936.The funicular connected Zakopane and the top ofGubałówka in 1938.
Because of Zakopane's popular ski mountains, the town gained popularity which made the number of tourists increase to about 60,000 people by 1930.[5]
From 1942 to 1943, 1,000 prisoners from the GermanKraków-Płaszów concentration camp were set to work in a stone quarry.[8] In 1944, during theWarsaw Uprising, the Germans deported thousands of Varsovians from theDulag 121 camp inPruszków, where they were initially imprisoned, to Zakopane.[9] Those Poles were mainly old people, ill people and women with children.[9] In mid-October 1944, there were 3,800 registered Poles, who wereexpelled fromWarsaw, and probably another 3,800 unregistered expellees.[9] In January 1945, the Germans retreated from Zakopane and theGerman occupation ended.
Immediately after the war, a children's Home forHolocaust Survivors was established in Zakopane.[10]
Zakopane has ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classification:Dfb),[11][12] with the main factor behind its relative coldness compared to the rest of Poland is its altitude. In general, the temperaturetends to fall with altitude, therefore Zakopane is almost 3 °C (5.4 °F) colder than northernKraków, which is more than 600 m (2,000 ft) lower than Zakopane. With higher altitudes, the climate gets even colder, therefore, on the top ofKasprowy Wierch (1,987 m (6,519 ft) above sea level), the climate istundra-like (Köppen:ET). The tree line is located at about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level in the Tatra Mountains.
Winters are typically frosty but are relatively sunny for Poland - in fact, Zakopane receives among the most sun in winter in the country.[13] Snow is normally abundant, particularly in the higher altitudes, which makes Zakopane among the most popular ski resorts in Poland. Summers are cool to warm but rarely get hot.
The defining feature of the local climate is the location on the northern slope of the Tatra mountains. Zakopane receives significantly more precipitation than cities on the lowlands to the north of theCarpathians, and just like in the mountains in general, there might be sudden weather changes from sunny to rainy, and vice versa. Occasionally, a very warmfoehn wind locally known ashalny may dramatically increase the temperatures, sometimes beyond 10 °C (50 °F) in winter.
Extreme temperatures range from −34.1 °C (−29.4 °F) on February 1, 1956 up to 32.8 °C (91.0 °F) on August 8, 2013;[14][15] the record cold daily maximum is −19.6 °C (−3.3 °F), set on February 1, 1956,[15][16] while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 23.4 °C (74.1 °F) on August 29, 1992.[17][18]
Since the end of the 19th century Zakopane was an important place for many artists, who frequently visited, worked or lived here, especially during theYoung Poland period.
TheHigh Tatras offer excellent opportunities for climbing.Świnica, here as seen fromKościelec, is the highest peak within the city limits, at 2,301 m (7,549 ft).
There is a network of well-marked hiking trails in the Tatras and according to the national park regulations the hikers must stick to them. Most of these trails are overcrowded, especially in the summer season.
In summer, lightning and snow are both potential hazards for climbers, and the weather can change quickly. Thunderstorms are common in the afternoons. In winter the snow can be up to several meters deep.
In the winter, thousands arrive in Zakopane to ski, especially around Christmas and in February. The most popular skiing areas areKasprowy Wierch andGubałówka.[36] There are a number ofcross country skiing trails in the forests surrounding the town.
In Zakopane, there are two football clubs – one of them is KS Zakopane, which was established in 2007 as a result of the merger of ZKP Zakopane and Jutrzenka Zakopane. It currently competes in the B-class league, in the Podhale II group. Its matches are played at the facility located at Orkana Street 6.
In the 2015/2016 season, the Football Club Zakopane was reactivated. After a successful 2015/16 season, in which the ZKP players managed to secure a promotion-eligible spot in the Podhale C-class, they are now playing in the Podhale B-class league.
Zakopane is visited by over 2,500,000 tourists a year.[citation needed] In the winter, Zakopane's tourists are interested in winter sports activities such as skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, snowshoe walks, and Ice skating.[38] During the summer, Tourists come to do activities like hiking, climbing, bike and horse ride the Tatras mountain, there are many trails in the Tatras.[38] Tourists ride quads and dirt bikes that you can rent. Swimming and boat rides on the Dunajec river are popular.[38] Many come to experienceGoral culture, which is rich in its unique styles of food, speech, architecture, music, and costume. Zakopane is especially popular during the winter holidays, which are celebrated in traditional style, with dances, decorated horse-pulled sleighs calledkuligs and roast lamb.
A popular tourist activity is taking a stroll along the town's most popular street: Krupówki. It is lined with stores, restaurants, carnival rides, and performers.
During the winter and summer seasons, Krupówki Street is crowded with tourists visiting the shops and restaurants.[38] In the summer, a local market along Krupówki Street offers traditional Goral apparel, leather jackets, fur coats, shoes, and purses.[38] Venders also sell foods like the famousoscypek smoked sheep cheese, fruit, vegetables, and meats. There are also many stands with Zakopane souvenirs.[38]
Zakopane is popular for its nightlife. At night there are always people walking around town checking out the different bars and dance clubs. Most of these bars and dance clubs are located on Krupowki street.[1]
Other activities include also Zakopane's Thermal Baths - a modern aquapark with outside swimming pools with thermal water.
A scene inAndrzej Wajda's filmMan of Marble (Człowiek z marmuru) was filmed in Zakopane, introducing the town to a worldwide audience.
The mountain scenes from theBollywood filmFanaa were filmed around Zakopane.
Jan Kasprowicz, (1860 – 1926) poet, playwright, critic and translator; a foremost representative ofYoung Poland
Mariusz Zaruski, (1867–1941) Polish Brigadier-General, a pioneer of Polish sports yachting, a climber of theTatra Mountains, a photographer, painter, poet, a seaman, a conspirator, a social activist and teacher
Jerzy Żuławski, (1874 – 1915) Polish literary figure, philosopher, translator, alpinist and nationalist
Karol Szymanowski, (1882 – 1937) Polish composer and pianist, member of the modernist movementYoung Poland; his house in Zakopane, theVilla Atma, is now a museum
^"Główny Urząd Statystyczny" [Central Statistical Office] (in Polish). To search: Select "Miejscowości (SIMC)" tab, select "fragment (min. 3 znaki)" (minimum 3 characters), enter town name in the field below, click "WYSZUKAJ" (Search).
^ab"Miesięczna suma opadu".Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived fromthe original on 9 January 2022. Retrieved5 February 2022.
^ab"Liczba dni z opadem >= 0,1 mm".Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived fromthe original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved5 February 2022.
^ab"Średnia grubość pokrywy śnieżnej".Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived fromthe original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved5 February 2022.
^ab"Średnia suma usłonecznienia (h)".Normy klimatyczne 1991-2020 (in Polish). Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Archived fromthe original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved5 February 2022.
^Krystyna Tokarzówna and Stanisław Fita,Bolesław Prus, 1847–1912: Kalendarz życia i twórczości (Bolesław Prus, 1847–1912: A Calendar of His Life and Work), edited byZygmunt Szweykowski, Warsaw, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1969, pp. 232, 235,et passim.
^abcZdzisław Najder,Joseph Conrad: A Life, translated by Halina Najder, Rochester, New York, Camden House, 2007,ISBN1-57113-347-X, pp. 458–63.
^abZdzisław Najder,Joseph Conrad: A Life, translated by Halina Najder, Rochester, New York, Camden House, 2007,ISBN1-57113-347-X, pp. 463–64.
^Döblin, Alfred (1991).Journey to Poland. Neugroschel, Joachim., Graber, Heinz., Mazal Holocaust Collection. (1st American ed.). New York: Paragon House Publishers. pp. 211–227.ISBN1557782679.OCLC21950967.
^Zdzisław Najder,Joseph Conrad: A Life, translated by Halina Najder, Rochester, New York, Camden House, 2007,ISBN1-57113-347-X, p. 463.
^Madeleine Masson,Christine: A Search forChristine Granville, G.M., O.B.E., Croix de Guerre, with a Foreword byFrancis Cammaerts, D.S.O., Légion d'Honneur, Croix de Guerre, U.S. Medal of Freedom, London, Hamish Hamilton, 1975, p. 24.
^Photo of HRH The Prince of Wales Thursday 13 June 2002, walking "around the lake Morskie Oko during a walk at Tatras National Park on the final stage of his tour of Poland"
Stanisław Kasztelowicz and Stanisław Eile,Stefan Żeromski: kalendarz życia i twórczości (Stefan Żeromski: A Calendar of His Life and Work), Kraków, Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1961.
Krystyna Tokarzówna and Stanisław Fita,Bolesław Prus, 1847–1912: Kalendarz życia i twórczości (Bolesław Prus, 1847–1912: A Calendar of His Life and Work), edited byZygmunt Szweykowski, Warsaw, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, 1969.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
