Discover Szczawa
Accommodation in Szczawa
Szczawa offers marked trails and distinctive natural and cultural features that characterize the area in different ways. When planning a stay, the trail destinations, the Spad waterfall in Koszarki and the central landmarks are useful points of reference.
Trails and historical destinations
The red-marked trail from Kamienica to Szczawa passes the primary school in Szczawa and crosses the Kamienica River. It then follows the blue-marked Szczawa–Mogielica trail to the monument to the 1st Podhale Rifle Regiment of the Home Army. The change from red to blue is part of navigating this route. Check local trail conditions before setting out.
Another option is the trail “Żołnierze 1 Pułku Strzelców Podhalańskich AK w dolinie Kamienicy” (Soldiers of the 1st Podhale Rifle Regiment of the Home Army in the Kamienica Valley). Its black-marked section leads to the church and museum of the 1st Podhale Rifle Regiment of the Home Army in Szczawa. The destinations are therefore clearly distinct: one trail focuses on the monument, while the other leads to the church and museum. This comparison can help you choose a route based on the historical destination that interests you most.
Waterfall and natural monument
The natural Spad waterfall is in Koszarki, a part of Szczawa, where the Kamienica Gorczańska meets provincial road 968. It is no more than 2.2 metres high. The height gives a specific measure, while Koszarki and the road pinpoint the waterfall’s location in the area.
Szczawa is also home to an ash tree more than 200 years old, designated a natural monument. Its age and protected status are its defining features; Spad can be described by its location and maximum height. Szczawa thus offers a variety of natural attractions: an old tree and a waterfall with a clearly stated height.
Town centre and cultural context
A wooden church built in 1958–1959 stands in the centre of Szczawa and serves as the parish church. Its construction and date give the town centre a specific historical connection, while its parish role describes the building’s function. A mineral-water pavilion is also located in the centre and is another local landmark.
The inhabitants of Szczawa are identified with the distinct ethnographic group of the Górale Biali. This cultural classification adds a specific cultural dimension to the area’s architectural and landscape features. If the cultural identity of a place is also a factor in choosing where to stay, it is a distinct aspect of Szczawa.
Another local feature: winter
The “Polanki” Ski Centre is located above the centre of Szczawa, on the slopes of Wielki Wierch. This gives the area a winter-sports connection with a specific location. When choosing a destination, you can consider this alongside the marked trails and cultural sites if you are interested in a winter-themed stay.
Discover more destinations: Podobin, Mszana Dolna, Kasina Wielka, Makowica, Kamienica, Rupniów, Mecina, Kasinka Mala.
For the broader travel overview: Limanowa.
