Things to see and do Carpathians

Established around 1580, it is one of the largest and oldest Jewish cemeteries in Poland, which miraculously escaped the Nazi barbarism. With some 3,000 graves, it bears witness to the historical importance of the Jewish community. It also evokes the finality of the Nazi extermination plan, when the number of graves still standing outnumbered the number of Jewish practitioners in the city. The former gateway is now housed in the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.

The museum focuses on the city's rich gypsy community, which still exists today. Costumes, photos, paintings and musical instruments immerse visitors in the daily life of this people. Panels present the Roma language. Others recall the discrimination to which the gypsy people were subjected. 35 000 gypsies of Polish origin were exterminated in Nazi camps. In the summer, the garden becomes a camp for the groups that sometimes perform there. On this occasion, violins and cymbalums resound on the stone walls.

This beautiful castle, which successfully combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture, is a former residence of the Kmita and Lubomirski families of the high nobility of Lesser Poland. Today it is a harmonious blend of military and residential architecture. The natural wooded and hilly scenery contributes to the castle's enchanting silhouette. The castle houses an exhibition dedicated to its history.

Originally a small place of worship, a simple brick parish church built in the 14th century, the cathedral was repeatedly remodeled and extended by successive additions in a faithful Gothic style. After a major renovation in the 19th century, it took on its present form and its beautiful Gothic and Neo-Gothic decoration was born. Apart from these elements, it is known for its Renaissance tombstones of the great Tarnowski and Ostrogski families.

Dating from the middle of the 15th century, founded in the south of the city, not far from the old Catholic cemetery, this beautifully decorated wooden church is typical of the Carpathian building style that inspired the architecture of Zakopane. Dating from 1440, it features a painting of the Virgin Mary to which several miracles are attributed, the ceiling with its floral motifs and remnants of the original wall paintings is quite exceptional and justifies a detour on its own.

Żydowska Street leads into the old Jewish quarter of the city. Here one can see the remains of a very old synagogue built in 1661 and unfortunately destroyed by Nazi barbarism during their invasion in 1939. Due to the lack of an active Jewish community after the war, the site remained uncultivated, a sort of monument to all those who disappeared. Today, only four stone columns stand around the Bimah, the holy of holies of this place of worship (similar to an altar) from which the Torah was read.

Built in the 14th century in the northern part of the city, this building, which housed Polish monarchs during their visits to the region, was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1616, and today only the Kowalska tower (Baszta Kowalska) remains. The castle was occupied by the Austrian authorities, who turned it into a barracks and a prison. It was partially renovated after Poland's independence and became a museum of the region, and during the German occupation, the castle was transformed into a military barracks and arms depot.

It dates back to the medieval period (1292) and is at the heart of the checkerboard plan characteristic of German town planning at the time. A total of ten perpendicular streets flow into its square. The Rynek is uniformly in a not-so-old Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque style, which is the consequence of the fire that struck the city in the 19th century. No. 2, on the square, is the only building that has retained its original appearance. The 19th-century town hall is the centerpiece of the reconstructed square.

This tourist information center is the perfect address before setting out to explore the town and its surroundings. The office provides information about Nowy Sącz and excursions in the area. The tourist information center also offers the services of qualified guides for those wishing to be accompanied. Finally, a number of brochures and maps are available free of charge. Don't forget to stop off on your way!

Located on the east side of the Rynek, in a beautiful 16th-century house, this museum is the main one of the complex making up the regional museum of the city of Nowy Sącz and presents a significant collection of objects and works of art from the 14th century to the present day. In particular, it includes representative objects of craft and folk art (painting and sculpture related to the so-called Łemkowie people), Orthodox art, watercolors by Nikifor Krzynicki and temporary exhibitions.

In the oldest of the houses on the square, known as "Dom na Dołkach" (the house on the wells), this small museum presents the history of the town from old objects (paintings, sculptures, embroidery, pottery, military objects, numismatics, clocks). It also has an exhibition of religious art, an exhibition about the visit of John Paul II in 1999 (which says a lot about the exciting life of the city). It's... typical and empty, almost fun.

Here's a handy address to remember before arriving in Szczawnica! The tourist information office for the Pieniny mountains (Pienińskie Centrum Turystyki) offers documentation to help you prepare your hikes, sports outings and excursions into the beautiful surrounding countryside. The office also provides information for visiting spa guests and can organize well-thought-out coach tours, guided tours..

This museum occupies the Villa Atma, where composer Karol Szymanowski lived in the 1920s. The museum is located on the first floor of the villa and presents basic information on the composer's life and work, shows his contacts with Zakopane and Podhale folklore, collects his personal effects and also includes a reconstruction of Karol Szymanowski's study. Free concerts are held here from time to time. Find out more!

It is a historical and ethnographic museum, which tells the story of the life of the Pieniny Highlanders in the early 20th century, which has always been at the border of cultures, religions and nationalities. The cultural heritage is closely linked to the natural heritage of the Pieniny region. We get to know the inhabitants of the Pieniny villages through different themes: their common pastoral economy, a common architecture and folk art and costumes.

The synagogue was built in 1746 on the site of an earlier wooden synagogue, and rebuilt in the 19th century after a fire. This beautiful former place of worship is the only surviving synagogue from the Nazi exactions in the city. During the Second World War, it was located inside the ghetto that the Nazis had created in Nowy Sącz. Rebuilt in the 1970s, it has long housed a gallery whose collection commemorates the city's Jewish population.

The waters of Szczawnica have been known for their medicinal properties for 200 years. The Szczawnica Water Gallery, thanks to a successful cooperation with the Pieniny Museum, has also become a meeting place. Promoting the unique traditions and history of the region, it is also a place for cultural and historical education. Venture for the blind test: taste the 8 natural varieties of water and try to guess their compositions!

In the thirteenth century, Princess Kinga had built a convent for the order of the Clarisses, which she became the first ablose to the death of her husband, Boleslas le Pudique. The convent, which represents the city's main attraction, is still dedicated to its founder. In its interior, the church of the Trinity (Kościół Sw. Trójcy), of Gothic style, keeps many relics concerning the life of the princess. It is also rich in baroque paintings.

Originally a small wooden fortress that tradition associates with a valiant Polish crusader knight, its stone version dates back to a project by Casimir the Great (again and again) in the 13th century. Seat of several conflicts, it took part in many fights before falling into ruin after a fire in 1790. Still undergoing rehabilitation and open to the public since 1996, the castle is open to the public. The visit is worthwhile especially for the magnificent panorama which offers a view on the lake below as well as on the Tatras and the Pieniny.

Villa Kolyba, the first villa built by the creator of the Zakopane style Stanisław Witkiewicz, in 1892, is the must-visit in town. Superb Art Nouveau wooden realization inspired by motifs of Carpathian folklore, with a number of delightful sculptures and ornaments. The exhibition, which allows you to see the interior, presents the history of the style and the life of its creator. It also contains beautiful pastels by Stanisław's son, Witkacy.