Podhale is a picturesque region of Poland that captivates tourists with its beautiful mountain landscapes, climate, and numerous attractions. Here are the most interesting places worth visiting when in Bańska Wyżna:
Zakopane
Zakopane, located just 15 km from Bańska Wyżna, is a famous tourist resort where you definitely have to see:
- Krupówki – the main promenade of Zakopane
- Wielka Krokiew – the legendary ski jumping hill where Ski Jumping World Cup competitions take place every year
- Gubałówka – the highest hill in Zakopane, accessible by cable car, with views of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane
- Nosal – a scenic peak that is one of the easier summits to hike in the Tatras
- The “Meritorious” Cemetery on Pęksowy Brzyzek in Zakopane – the first cemetery in Zakopane, founded in the 19th century by Priest Józef Stolarczyk
- Tatra Museum named after Dr. Tytus Chałubiński – one of the oldest and largest regional museums in Poland
- Kornel Makuszyński Museum – dedicated to the famous writer
- National Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptówki
During a stay in Zakopane, it is also worth visiting Chochołów. It is a charming village famous for its wooden highlander-style architecture and a historical church from the 17th century. Chochołów is located just 17 km from Bańska Wyżna.
Tatra National Park
Tatra National Park is a park with numerous trails, picturesque valleys, lakes, caves and high mountains. The most famous places include:
- Morskie Oko – The Largest Lake in the Tatra Mountains
- Rysy (2501 m above sea level) – Poland’s Highest Peak and a Part of the Crown of Europe
- Czarny Staw pod Rysami – Black Pond Below Rysy
- Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy – Gąsienicowy Black Pond
- Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich – Valley of the Five Polish Ponds
- Jaskinia Wielka Śnieżna – The Great Snowy Cave, with Corridors Extending Over 23 km
- Jaskinia Mroźna – The Frozen Cave, with a Length of 773 m
- Dolina Chochołowska and Dolina Kościeliska – Chochołowska Valley and Kościeliska Valley
- Giewont (1894 m above sea level) – Home to a Metal Cross Erected in 1901 in Commemoration of the Birth of Jesus Christ
- Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m above sea level) – Accessible by Cable Car from Kuźnice
- Jaworzyna Tatrzańska and Rusinowa Polana – Locations of the Sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of the Tatra Mountains (Our Lady of Jaworzynka) in Wiktorówki
Nowy Targ and surrounding areas
Nowy Targ, located just 12 km away from Banská, is a city founded around the year 1233. It is home to significant historical landmarks, including the Church of St. Catherine, built in 1346 and funded by King Casimir the Great himself, dedicated to the city’s patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria. Additionally, there is the Church of St. Anne, a charming wooden church from the 15th century, exuding its unique charm.
Near Nowy Targ, the Sanctuary of Our Lady, Queen of Podhale, in Ludźmierz stands as the spiritual heart of Podhale. For centuries, faithful pilgrims from Poland and across Europe have journeyed here. The history of this sanctuary dates back to the year 1234, making it a place of immense historical and religious significance.
Skałka Rogoźnicka is a nature reserve located between the villages of Rogoźnik and Maruszyna. It houses an exceptionally rich and well-preserved Alpine-type Jurassic fauna. It is just 10 km away from Bańska Wyżna.
Orawa Ethnographic Park
The open-air museum in Zubrzyca Górna showcases the traditional architecture and construction of Upper Orava. Located just 40 km away from Bańska Wyżna.
Żywiec Beskids
Babia Góra is a mountain massif in the Babiogórski Range, belonging to the Western Beskid Żywiecki. Its highest peak is Diablak (1725 m above sea level), located 55 km away from Bańska.
Gorce National Park
Gorce, a mountain range famous for its picturesque trails, is situated between the Tatra Mountains and the Beskid Żywiecki. The highest and closest peak in Gorce is Turbacz (1310 m). It is located just under 25 km away from Bańska Wyżna.
Pieniny National Park
Located on the border of the Sądecki Beskids and the Pieniny Mountains, Czorsztyńskie Lake is situated just 30 km away from Bańska Wyżna. It stands as one of the largest artificial reservoirs in Poland and is home to a dam and hydroelectric power plant.
On the southern side of the lake lies Niedzica Castle, a historic stronghold known for the legend of the Inca treasure, making it a must-see attraction.
In the Pieniny National Park, located 45 km away from Bańska Wyżna, there are several must-visit attractions. These include the Three Crowns Massif, Czorsztyńskie Pieniny, Pieninki, and the Zielone Skałki. Another essential experience is taking a rafting trip on the Dunajec River Gorge aboard traditional wooden rafts, known as the Dunajec River rafting adventure.
On the way to Pieniny, it’s worth visiting the Przełom Białki Nature Reserve, home to the Obłazowa Cave. In this cave, traces of Neanderthal humans dating back 50,000 years were discovered, along with a boomerang made from a mammoth’s tooth. Additionally, the iconic Skałka Obłazowa was featured in the films “Janosik” and “Karol: A Man Who Became Pope”.
As you can see, in the vicinity of Bańska Wyżna, there are many extraordinary places worth exploring. Both mountain hiking enthusiasts and fans of historical sites and highland culture will find something for themselves here.