Zakopane

Hidden gems in Zakopane

Beyond the main tourist thoroughfares, Zakopane preserves its cultural identity through the Zakopane Style of architecture. This collection includes Villa Koliba, the first building designed in this local style, and the Jaszczurówka Chapel, a timber masterpiece from 1904. The Pęksowy Brzyzek Cemetery serves as a historic necropolis with artistic headstones, while Villa Atma highlights the life of composer Karol Szymanowski. The Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima offers a modern votive site with panoramic Tatra Mountain views.

Agnieszka Baranowska / CC BY 2.0

Museum of Zakopane Style at Villa Koliba

The Museum of Zakopane Style at Villa Koliba is a division of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane, and a museum of Zakopane style.

Dariusz.Biegacz / CC BY-SA 4.0

Villa Atma

The Villa Atma in Zakopane, Poland, is a historic chalet housing the Karol Szymanowski Museum, department of the National Museum in Kraków.

M.Bucka / CC BY-SA 4.0

Cmentarz Zasłużonych na Pęksowym Brzyzku

The oldest cemetery in Zakopane, established in the mid-19th century. It features unique, artistically carved headstones made of wood, stone, and metal, serving as the final resting place for prominent Polish artists, writers, and Tatra explorers.

AlexKazakhov / Public domain

Kaplica pw. Najświętszego Serca Jezusa w Jaszczurówce

A timber chapel designed by Stanisław Witkiewicz and completed in 1907. Built without the use of nails, it is a primary example of the Zakopane Style, featuring intricate wood carvings and stained-glass windows depicting Polish heraldry.

MARELBU / CC BY 3.0

Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima

A Roman Catholic sanctuary built in the 1990s as a votive offering for the survival of Pope John Paul II following the 1981 assassination attempt. The complex features modern architecture with traditional highland motifs and views of the Giewont massif.