Zakopane

Zakopane is the southernmost city in Poland. Located in the valley, near the highest part of the Tatra Mountains . The nearest major cities are Nowy Sacz and Krakow . The city has the terminal station of the railway line going from Krakow. Zakopane is 120 km from it, it is less than three hours by train or bus and an hour and a half by car.

The first documented references to Zakopane date back to the 17th century , when it was first mentioned under this name as a village ^[1] . In the XVII century, the borders of the kingdoms of Poland , Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (territories dependent on it) were connected here. The latter gives reason to believe that the name Zakopane is associated with the Ottoman word sekban “(Ottoman) border troops, jaegers” سگبان ^[2] . In 1676, the population here totaled 43 people.

In the XIX century, Zakopane became the metallurgical center of Galicia and gained some fame.

By the end of the XIX century, Zakopane became known as a center of tourism ^[3] .

In 1899-1901, a railway line was laid through Zakopane.

In February 1939, the 9th World Alpine Skiing Championship was held here .

During the Second World War , after the end of hostilities in September 1939 , the city was occupied by German troops and incorporated into the Governor General .

As the front line approached the city, Zakopane was turned into a German stronghold (by the end of December 1944 there was a garrison of 1,000 Wehrmacht soldiers and officers, as well as about 150 SD and security police officers). January 29, 1945 Soviet partisan detachment to them. N. Schorsa (commander -V.S. Matsnev ) simultaneously attacked German positions from the highway to Vituv and from the south, as a result the garrison was defeated and capitulated. After that, the detachment held the city until the approach of the Red Army units. Later, with the active assistance of local residents, two hospitals were equipped here and the city power station exploded by the Germans was restored ^[4] .

The city was a candidate for the 2006 Winter Olympics .

Zakopane is considered the highest city in Poland. It is located at an altitude of 750-1100 meters above sea level. These places are distinguished by a mild climate. Winters are sunny, snowy and warm. In January-February, the thermometer shows −5 ° -10 ° C. The ski season: December, January, February, March and April.

The tradition of skiing originated in these places one and a half centuries ago. The tracks are simple and gentle, complex and steep. The difference in height is 930 meters. There are 90 ski lifts per 10 ski centers of the region. The length of the tracks is 80 thousand meters. In the center of Zakopane are "Gubalowka", "Antalowka" and "Kozinets"; here is located the largest ski jump in the country - Velka Krokev . In summer, these places attract lovers of mountain walks: the most visited peaks are Pig and Giewont . Winter Zakopane is a recognized ski resort . Due to its convenient position (as a starting point for numerous routes), Zakopane is the most famous mountain resort in Poland.

• The Tatra Museum , the oldest in the city, was opened in 1889.

• Wlodzimierz Blotsky (1885-1920) - Polish artist.
• Krupsky, Jan (1924–2018) - Polish climber, rock climber, mountain rescuer.
• Cornel Makushinsky (1884-1953) - Polish writer and poet, honorary citizen of Zakopane.
• Camille Stoch (b.1987) - Polish ski jumper.
• Andrzej Bahleda-Tsurus' (b.1947 ) - Polish skier.

In the song of the group “ Scriabin ” - “Mіstsya chashlichih people” (from Ukrainian - “Places of happy people”):

And pam'yataєsh

Bicycles in Paris,

I in Zakopanomu ligі,

Msstsya happy people? ..