5 ideas for a stay in the Beskids!

Podbabiogórze is that part of the Polish mountains that has not yet been appropriated by mass tourism, and therefore it is quieter, safer and cheaper than in well-known and noisy resorts. It is a region with beautiful landscapes, interesting and valuable in terms of nature (national park, landscape park, two nature reserves), where you can practice various forms of active tourism all year round. It is worth considering that, after all, not without reason, it was here, in 1906, that the first Polish shelter in the Western Beskids was built, and the first Polish hiking trail in this part of the mountains (from Sucha to Zawoja) was marked out.

Get to know Podbabiogórze

In fact, whether you are looking for a moment of relaxation or a place for a longer holiday in Podbabiogórze, you will find exactly what you need! Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, away from the trails crowded with tourists, you will rest among fabulous nature, feel the real mountain atmosphere and see fantastic monuments hiding many intriguing stories. Don't be asked for a long time and get to know Podbabiogórze!

What is Podbabiogórze?

Podbabiogórze is located at the northern foot of Babia Góra, which is the highest peak of the Polish Beskid Mountains and their undisputed queen. This is a typical mountain area, abounding in fantastic views and still untouched by mass tourism. This guarantees true relaxation and the opportunity to take a deep breath on the trails surrounded by undisturbed nature. Three parts of the Beskids meet here: Żywiecki, Makowski and Mały. The region located in the Małopolskie Voivodship includes a total of 37 towns, including Sucha Beskidzka, Jordanów and Maków Podhalański, rich in tourist attractions. A significant asset of Podbabiogórze is its cultural heritage. The colorful folklore and traditions of the region can be learned during the numerous regional events organized here, and interesting monuments, interesting places and fascinating stories await you to meet and discover. Hiking through Podbabiogórze

Hiking through Podbabiogórze

Podbabiogórze is rich in tourist routes both for those more seasoned hikers and for those who are amateurs in this field. There is no shortage of beautiful views and stunning nature, among which everyone, regardless of age, will find something for themselves. Strolls in Podbabiogórze are also praised by lovers of Nordic walking. It is also a fantastic area for mountain running, both recreational, amateur and difficult, competitive. However, regardless of how you spend time on the trails near Babi Góra, remember to choose your routes in the mountains according to the weather and your own skills.

ROUTE I (Tarnawa Górna - PTTK Hostel "Leskowiec" - Leskowiec - Targoszów - Krzeszów)
Time: 3 hours 25 minutes

A pleasant, short trip along the eastern outskirts of the Beskid Mały Landscape Park. On the route, there is a nice mountain shelter, an interesting sanctuary dedicated to St. John Paul II and a wonderful panorama from the top of Leskowiec.

ROUTE II (Krzeszów - Żurawnica - Sucha Beskidzka)
Time: 3 hours 25 minutes

A short route, ideal as a "warm-up" before trips to the higher parts of Podbabiogórze. On the trail, there are several charming corners and a very interesting rock formation on Żurawnica - Kozie Skały.

ROUTE III (Bieńkówka - Koskowa Góra - Maków Podhalański
Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

The route leads through quite rarely visited by tourists, but very picturesque areas of Beskid Makowski. The trail is not difficult, accessible to every walker, and the view from Koskowa Góra is one of the most beautiful and extensive in the entire Polish Beskids.

ROUTE IV (Stryszawa Roztoki - Jałowiec - Zawoja Przysłop - Sucha Beskidzka)
Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

A full-day trip, allowing you to get to know almost the entire main ridge of the Jałowiecki Range. The top of Juniper impresses with the panorama of the Beskid Żywiecki, also in the further part of the route there are many scenic spots, especially the massif of the "Queen of the Beskids" - Babia Góra. On the route, we will also encounter natural curiosities - the waterfall on Uporny Potok and the trunk of the mighty spruce "Siłosława".

ROUTE V (Jordanów - Wysoka - Góra Ludwiki - Jordanów)
Time: 3 hours

A short walk around Jordanów, ideal for less advanced tourists, but also lovers of history and beautiful views - the military cemetery on Wysoka commemorates one of the most important battles of the first phase of the September Campaign of 1939, and the sensational panorama from the inconspicuous Mount Ludwiki will delight everyone.

ROUTE VI (Sidzina Wielka Polana - Kucałowa Pass - Police - Mosorny Groń - Zawoja)
Time: 5 hours 05 minutes

An attractive, varied route leading through the high and dignified Police Range. There will be beautiful views (from the Kucalowa Pass or Mosorne Groń), valuable natural forests (forest nature reserves on the Polica River), as well as curiosities of inanimate nature (the waterfall on Mosorny Potok - one of the most beautiful in the Beskids). Along the way, it is worth stopping at the popular PTTK hostel at Hala Krupowa.

ROUTE VII (Zawoja Widełki - Hala Barankowa - Hala Kamiński - Mędralowa - Jałowiecka Pass - Zawoja Czatoża - Zawoja Widełki)
Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

An interesting route leading through the south-western outskirts of Podbabiogórze, often avoided by tourists due to the vicinity of the much more popular Babia Góra. On the trail, the northernmost point of Slovakia - Mędralowa, the scenic Hala Kamiński, and in the season an additional attraction is sheep grazing in Hala Barankowa.

ROUTE VIII (Krowowiarki Pass - Babia Góra - Polana Markowe Szczawiny - Krowiarki Pass)
Time: 5 hours 05 minutes

The most popular route to the top of the "Queen of the Beskids" - Babia Góra. Unforgettable panoramas, an overview lesson of the multi-storey arrangement of vegetation, a trail with a high-mountain taste, and at the same time - in favorable weather conditions - not too difficult, accessible to every intermediate mountain hiking enthusiast. In short - a must-see for every tourist visiting Podbabiogórze!

ROUTE IX (Oravska Polhora Slaná Voda - Mała Babia Góra - Przełęcz Brona - Polana Markowe Szczawiny - Zawoja Markowa)
Time: 5 hours

An interesting crossing from the Slovak to the Polish side of the "Queen of the Beskids" massif, leading along a trail rarely chosen by tourists through Mała Babia Góra, an excellent vantage point. In combination with the X route, it allows for a two-day trip, with an overnight stay in the PTTK hostel in Markowe Szczawiny, or on the Slovak side, in Slaná Voda.

ROUTE X (Zawoja Markowa - Polana Markowe Szczawiny - Perć Akademików - Babia Góra - Hviezdoslav's Gajówka - Oravska Polhora Slaná Voda)

Extremely attractive landscape trip, leading through the highest parts of the Babia Góra massif on both sides of the border. The route runs along the "Perć Akademików" - the well-known, most spectacular (but also the most difficult) trail, allowing you to climb Diablak from the north, but also allows you to discover the charms of the southern, Slovak, much less known and quieter side of the "Queen of the Beskids". Attention! "Perć Akademików" is a one-way trail, intended only for the approach! In the winter, it is also forbidden to approach it.

A WALK ON SUCHA BESKIDZKA

Sucha Beskidzka is 10 thousand. a county town located in the mid-mountain, Beskid valley at the mouth of the Stryszawka River to the Skawa River. It is also the largest city in Podbabiogórze and its unofficial capital. There are many attractions related to the history of the region that are worth visiting. The most important monuments are:

  • A castle called "Little Wawel"
  • The castle gardens with the "Gardener's House" - a permanent ethnographic exhibition
  • City Museum
  • Chapel on Mount Jasień
  • Church and monastery complex
  • The inn "Rzym" known from the legend of Pan Twardowski
  • Historic railway station
  • Viewing platform on top of Mioduszyna

 

JORDANÓW WALK

Jordanów, or "green town", is the oldest town in Sucha County, inhabited by over 5,000 people. residents. It is worth going here for a short one-hour walk, during which you should visit places such as:

  • The historic market square with the chapel of John of Nepomuk
  • Neo-Gothic Town Hall
  • The building of the former district court
  • Church of the Holy Trinity

A WALK AROUND MAKÓW PODHALAŃSKI

Maków Podhalański is less than 6 thousand. a city famous for its beautiful "Makowski embroidery", which most often depicts plant motifs combined with a chain weave of various shapes, and the Beskid Culture Week organized here for many years. When visiting this extremely charming town, you should definitely see:

  • Market Square with the "Monument to the Unknown Soldier and War Victims"
  • the Regional Chamber of Emil Wacyk
  • Mieczysław Głuch's author's gallery
  • Filas shrine
  • Ruins of the former ironworks "Maurycy"
  • Sanctuary of Our Lady the Protector and Queen of Families, the so-called "Mrs Makowska"
  • Villa "Marysin"
  • The historic building of the railway station

By car or bike through the "wooden" history of the region

One of the most interesting and undoubtedly the greatest attractions of southern Poland is the Wooden Architecture Route, which runs through four provinces. The Małopolska section of this route includes 255 monuments, such as: wooden temples, Old Polish mansions, wooden inns, open-air museums and villas. The trail of post-babiogórze monuments is a total of about 111 kilometers, which can be covered by car or bicycle. When choosing four-wheeled transport, you should reserve a whole day for it. In the second case, it is worth dividing the route into at least two days and planning it well, because here mainly public roads are used, and the road itself also contains a lot of hills - we are in the mountains, after all!

The main objects worth visiting during the trip are:

  • drewniany kościół w Lachowicach,
  • drewniany kościół w Łętowni,
  • drewniany kościół w Zawoi,
  • Muzeum Orawski Park Etnograficzny w Zubrzycy Górnej
  • Skansen im. Józefa Żaka w Zawoi Markowej,
  • Skansen w Sidzinie – Muzeum Kultury Ludowej,
  • Beskidzkie Centrum Zabawki Drewnianej w Stryszawie,
  • karczma „Rzym” w Suchej Beskidzkiej.