Zakopane - my city

Zakopane has enjoyed widespread fame as one of the most alluring tourist resorts in Poland. The well - earned reputation of Zakopane, which was first noticed in the late 19th century has not only remained the same throughout the years, but quite to the contrary - it has got stronger and stronger. Zakopane attracts more and more tourists and holidaymakers every year. Once they have tried the beauty of the Tatras, they promise themselves to come back here frequently. The popularity of the town comes from the numerous attractions it offers. In winter - it offers many ski lifts and perfect skiing conditions for experienced skiers as well as for those who take their first steps. In summer - it offers both difficult paths on the spectacular precipitous routes of the Tatra Mountains and easier paths in the charming valleys or along the ridges of the hills surrounding Zakopane. The unique climate of the town attracts and fascinates. The authentic folk culture of the Tatra Highlands\' mountaineers coexists with the sophisticated repertoire of the \"Witkacy\" theatre or with frequent concerts of Szymanowski\'s music. The agreeable place allures with the \"in between\": with the charm of cafes, the concerts in cellars, a fleeting glance at the mountains and the colourful crowd in Krupówki Street. Making the use of public buses or small private busses is a good possibility to travel fast and inexpensively to almost everywhere.
The high absolute altitude and the mountainous environment are the main cause of the mountainous climate of Zakopane. The average winds are not too strong. In autumn, winter and at the beginning of spring there are also local winds of foehn type, which are called here Foehn winds. The foehn is a warm dry wind blowing from the Tatras - from the south. Its speed often reaches 100 km an hour, causing much damage and melting of the snow cover.

The Tatras are the only mountains of Alpine character in the Central Europe. The highest Tatra summits reach up to 2655 m.a.s.l. (Gerlach); the highest Polish peak is Rysy (2499 m.a.s.l.). The Tatra Mountains are made of hard granite forming jagged rocky ridges in the landscape and of limestone, which contributed to the creation of more gentle shapes, which often conceal extraordinary caves.

Zakopane has indeed been famous chiefly for its winter sports and appreciated as the centre of tourism. Shortly after the war many musicians, writers and artists decided to settle in Zakopane. The Tatra Mountains attracted Ignacy Paderewski, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Karol Szymanowski, Stanisław Witkiewicz and his son Stanisław Ignacy. Nowadays, there are innumerable ateliers, art galleries and one of the most famous theatres in Poland: Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz\'s Theatre, also called the \"Witkacy\'s Theatre\". Zakopane abounds in music, film and theatre festivals as well as periodic artistic events such as performances and shows. Zakopane is also a place where people preserve and pursue the native tradition and culture: songs, dancing, speaking in dialect and mountaineer craft. For many years now, the Folk Association of Zakopane have got up the International Mountain Folklore Festival, regarded as the oldest and the largest folklorist performance in Poland and at the same time one of the most famous festivals of this type in the world. Zakopane is situated in the south of Poland, about 100 km from Kraków, near the Polish - Slovakian border. It covers the dale at the foot of the Tatras, the highest mountains in Poland with its most prominent summit - Rysy (2499 m.a.s.l.). Zakopane is to be found on maps at 4818\" latitude and 1957\" longitude. The Centre is located as high as 838 m.a.s.l. though the highest situated settlements reach 1000 m.a.s.l. These are scattered up the slopes of Gubałówka - the hill bordering on Zakopane from the south.
For the more experienced tourists we may recommend the crest tourist routes in the Western Tatras (for instance from Kasprowy Wierch to the west, way up to Czerwone Wierchy, a walk round the Chochołowska Valley) or hikes in the High Tatras - from Kasprowy up to Świnica, the way from Zakopane along the ridges of Zawrat and Szpiglasowa Przełęcz (Szpiglasowa Pass) to Morskie Oko, difficult \"Orla Perć\" trails, of the ascent of Rysy. In the difficult parts of the mountain, staples, chains and sometimes ladders have been fit up to facilitate climbing. However, it must be pointed out that following such tough tracks demands resistance to the view of very steep or almost vertical faces of rocks, it requires fitness and a good health condition.