Today I wanted to suggest another great place to visit in Poland.
Krynica Zdrój is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodship. It lies in the valleys of four streams: the Kryniczanka, Palenica, Slotwinka and Czarny. The altitude above sea level ranges from 560 m to 720 m. Krynica is surrounded on three sides by wooded hills, and there are as many as 16 nature reserves in the region, including the Popradzki Landscape Park. The climate in Krynica has features of a sub-alpine climate, which helps to increase the immunity of the body.
It is the biggest spa town in Poland. It is one of Poland’s best known health resorts and draws many tourists around the year for its medicinal waters, beautiful landscape and many cultural activities.
Krynica’s mineral waters are known for their therapeutic properties and are beneficial in the treatment of numerous diseases. Besides the drinking therapy, the waters are used in mineral-acid-carbonic baths. For visitors wanting to try out the drinking therapy, there is a choice of twenty kinds of mineral springs.
You should make time to visit the Nikifor Museum. It was founded in 1995 and houses seventy-seven paintings by Nikifor, a self-taught painter whose works first received recognition in the 1930s. The style of his painting is usually called naive art, and his preferred subjects were urban landscapes, buildings and churches.
To admire views of the mountains, take the gondola railway – which will deliver you to the top of Jaworzyna Mountain (1114 m) in just seven minutes. The railway route is 2111 m long and it runs from Czarny Potok. If the weather is clear, you will even be able to see the Tatras from the peak. Another idea for you is the funicular train ride to Góra Parkowa, and next to the station can be found a runway tower for the bobsleigh track that kids will surely enjoy.
Beautiful as it is, some tourists use Krynica as base for exploring its surroundings. The region is home to a scattering of small villages, some of which you really should not miss. In Berest, Polany, Tylicz and Mochnaczka Nizna you can find Orthodox churches. However, the oldest Orthodox church in the area (dating from 1643), and one of the best known, is located in Powroźnik. The neighbouring town of Muszyna is also a popular spa destination due to its mineral springs.
Often referred to as the Pearl of the Polish Spas, Krynica, like Zakopane, attracted many poets, writers and artists. In fact it was visited by illustrious names like Jan Matejko, Wojciech Gerson, Leon Wyczółkowski and Stanisław Wyspiański and of course the painter Nikifor. In fact by the turn of the century Krynica had established itself as a haven for bohemian artists. Today, it hosts an economic summit every year, where important dignitaries like Presidents of various countries get together to discuss economic and political matters.
Please share your impressions with us if you visited Krynica.
Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)
