The history of the locality
Bańska Wyżna (formerly Bańska Górna) is a village in Poland located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship (małopolskie), in the Nowy Targ County, within the Szaflary municipality (postal code: 34-424). The history of the village dates back to the 16th century. In the past, Bańska Wyżna and Bańska Niżna constituted a single hamlet of Szaflary known as Bańska. Bańska primarily focused on the areas of present-day Bańska Wyżna (as can be seen on the archival maps below).
The town, founded based on a royal charter from 1532 and chartered under German law by Prokop Pieniążek in 1591, was an integral part of the Nowy Targ district. Jędrzej Jarząbek, during the reign of Sigismund III Vasa, led the local courts, handled taxes, and maintained order as the first documented mayor of Bańska.
The name of the locality originates from the road leading to the metal ore mines in the Tatra Mountains, known as “bań.” However, there are also opinions that the name “Bańska” comes from “Brzóska Mała,” the present-day settlement of Bańska Niżna, which is also called Osiedle Brzyzek (Brzeżek or Podbrzyskami).
Bańska Wyżna is already mentioned in church documents of the Szaflary parish as early as 1611. In 1819, the village became part of the Uznański estates (specifically, under Tomasz Uznański). At that time, the locality was within the region of Galicia and under Austrian rule. Like the rest of Podhale, the village was primarily connected to agriculture and animal husbandry.
Bańska (similarly to Biały Dunajec, Gliczarów, Maruszyna, Leśnica (Groń), Skrzypne, Zaskale, and Ząb (Zubsuche)) was once part of one of the oldest parishes in Podhale, Ludźmierz, and later the Szaflary parish. In 1938, the Biały Dunajec parish was established, and Bańska Wyżna became part of it. The parish in Bańska Wyżna was created on December 3, 2006.
The residents of Bańska served in the ranks of the Austro-Hungarian Army, the Polish Legions during World War I, and during World War II, they fought against the German occupiers, including the Slovak Field Army “Bernolák,” which occupied Podhale on September 2, 1939.
Archival maps
Galicia and Lodomeria (1779–1783) – The first military review
Hungary (1819–1869) – Second military review of the Habsburg Empire
Galicia and Bukovina (1861–1864) – Second military review of the Habsburg Empire
The Habsburg Empire (1869-1887) – Third Military Review
Location
Bańska Wyżna is located in the Gubałówka Foothills, on the northern ridge of Gubałówka.
The village consists of the small settlements: Bustryczany, Gielatówka, Kubaczówka and Pitoniówka, including the Szlak Papieski Street, Cieślów Street, Gielatówka Estate, Kubackówka Estate and Pitoniówka Estate.
It is one of the highest located settlements in Poland and serves as a viewpoint from which you can see the panorama of the Tatra Mountains, Gorce Mountains, Babia Góra, Nowy Targ Basin and Orawa. The village is adjacent to the following villages: Bańska Niżna, Biały Dunajec, Leszczyny, Sierockie, Skrzypne, Czerwienne and Maruszyna. The nearest cities are Nowy Targ (12 km) and Zakopane (15 km). The highest peak in the village is Świerków Wierch, which stands at about 907 meters above sea level.
Within Bańska Wyżna, you can find the following streams (rivers): Krajowy, Florynów, Pitoniowski, and Mościska. All of them meet in the Biały Dunajec river, with Pitoniowski and Mościska first flowing into the Mały Rogoźnik river and then into the Biały Dunajec, which eventually flows into the Dunajec river, followed by the Vistula, which flows into the Baltic Sea.
Other objects
In Bańska Wyżna there is also a primary school and a kindergarten for children from 3 years of age, more information in the PRIMARY SCHOOL tab.
The village offers numerous guest accommodations and a restaurant (which we recommend), testifying to its tourist-friendly character. Currently, there are 3 grocery-industrial stores and a shop with a regional costume rental service in Bańska Wyżna.
The area around Bańska Wyżna offers many attractions, such as thermal pools and ski lifts which can also be enjoyed in the summer season, as they offer scenic gondola rides.
Residents
According to the 2021 National Census of Population and Housing, the population of the village of Bańska Wyżna is 1,145, with 583 individuals being females and 562 individuals being males. Approximately 60% of the residents of Bańska Wyżna are in the working-age group (18-65 years old), 25.0% are in the pre-working age group (0-18 years old), and 15% of the residents are in the post-working age group (65+).
Folklore and traditions
The “Bańscany” (also known as Górnobańscany or Wyźniobańscany) are highlanders from Podhale, and that’s why traditional Highland folklore and the Podhale dialect can be encountered at every turn here. A significant number of children, teenagers, and adults from Bańska are part of the Highland ensemble “Watra” and the “Podhale Association” where they uphold the traditions of Highland singing, music, dance, and attire, preserving the overall folklore of the rocky Podhale highlanders.
In Bańska Wyżna, regional cheeses are produced, such as oscypek (also spelled oszczypek or łoscypek), ser gazdowski (known as gołka, pucok, brusek, or kara), redykołki, korbacze (korbace or korboce), and bundz (bunc or grudka). These traditional cheeses are an integral part of the local culinary heritage.
One of the local traditions is also membership in the Volunteer Fire Department, more information can be obtained in the VFD tab.
Trivia
Bańska Wyżna has also been the hometown of several individuals who have made a name for themselves in the world of music, including Piotr Topór (from the Zespół Zbóje) and Małgorzata Babiarz (known as Megitza). A promising ski jumper (Nordic combined) from Bańska Wyżna is Andrzej Szczechowicz.
It is also worth mentioning that the film “The Gorals – Highlanders of Carpathia” and the program “Górale” feature, among others, resident of Bańska – Stanisław Babiarz “Kaprol” with his son. However, in the program “Wife Swap” we could see Andrzej and Larysa T., who are also residents of Bańska Wyżna. Additionally, Piotr Topór, a resident of Bańska, also took part in the “Ugotowani” program.
Other informations
If you are looking for current news and announcements regarding Bańska Wyżna, please use the ANNOUNCEMENTS tab.
The bus timetable from Bańska Wyżna to Zakopane or Nowy Targ can be found in the BUS TIMETABLE tab.
Unofficial Facebook page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081455799908