From more then one hundred years Zakopane plays important role in development of Polish culture - here is the place where most prominent Polish writers, artists, musiciens and journalists come for rest and for work. From the end of XIX century Tatra Mts - the highest chain in this part of Europe and highlanders' culture as well influenced evolution of whole-country culture. Till today the folklore of Podhale region is one of greatest tourist attractions.
Maciej Pinkwart
The Tatra Museum
The Museum of Zakopane Style at Koliba villa
.:The Tatra Museum, named after dr Tytus Chałubiński was founded in 1988 and is one of the oldest and largest regional museums in Poland. Currently, the museum has 10 branches, including 6 in Zakopane. Tatra Museum website
- The Tatra Museum - main building 10 Krupówki street
Opening hours: WED-SAT 9.00 - 17.00; SUN 9.00-15.00; MON-TUE closed
Permanent exhibitions: history, ethnography and natural history.
Though modified over the years, the exhibition in the main building has survived to this day unchanged in its basic concept. As before, the goal is to give the visitor an insight into the most important aspects of the natural environment in the Tatra Mountains and the region of Podhale, the history of the area and the local people’s way of living and culture.
- The Museum of Zakopane Style at Koliba villa 18 Kościeliska street
Opening hours: WED - SAT 9.00 - 17.00; SUN 9.00-15.00; MON - TUE closed
Architecture and interiors in Zakopane style.
The Koliba villa, the first building erected to Stanisław Witkiewicz’s design in the Zakopane Style, is situated at Kościeliska Street, Zakopane’s oldest street with time-honoured houses and characteristic Tatra crofts at every step. In these surroundings we can better understand Stanisław Witkiewicz’s concept.
- The Museum of the Zakopane Style - Inspirations 6 Droga do Rojów street
Opening hours: WED - SAT 9.00 - 17.00; SUN 9.00-15.00; MON - TUE closed
This tiny museum presents the regional architecture, arts and folk crafts, as well as ethnographic collections from the end of the nineteenth century.
The Museum of the Zakopane Style - Inspirations, along with the Museum of the Zakopane Style in the nearby Koliba villa, form an ensemble which allows the visitor to understand how Witkiewicz's idea of the Zakopane Style was conceived, from the sources of his inspiration to his specific accomplishments in architecture and the applied arts.
- The Gallery of 20th Century Art at OKSZA Villa25 Zamoyskiego street
Opening hours: WED - SAT 10.00 - 18.00; SUN 11.00-16.00; MON - TUE closed
The exhibition in Villa Oksza presents the achievements of the artistic community and artists who were temporarily associated with Zakopane at a time when the village was the leading Polish center of artistic excellence. Everyone drew inspiration from the Tatra Mountains and highlander culture. The exhibition is presented inside the Oksza villa, designed by Stanisław Witkiewicz in 1894 in Zakopane style, which was restored by the Tatra Museum in 2010.
- The Gallery of Art in Koziniec (Galeria Kulczyckich) 8 Koziniec street
Opening hours: WED - SAT 9.00 - 16.00, SUN 9.00 - 15.00
between July 1 and August 31 longer hours on Saturday: 9:00 - 17:00
Temporary exhibitions.
- The Władysław Hasior Gallery 18b Jagiellońska street
Opening hours: WED - SAT 11.00 - 18.00; SUN 9.00 - 15.00
Permanent exhibition of Władysław Hasior's works.
Gallery presents Władysław Hasior’s famous banners, spatial compositions and sculptures made of various materials as well as objects of daily use, often bordering on junk, which have in the artist’s hands acquired a new meaning.
- The Kornel Makuszyński Museum 15 Tetmajera street
Opening hours: WED - SUN 9.30 - 13.30
The much-loved writer's flat with works of art and his possessions on display.
The Makuszyński Museum houses merely a fraction of what the writer, an art collector on friendly terms with many outstanding artists, had assembled. The Museum was set up in 1966 following a donation made by Janina Gluzińska-Makuszyńska (1896–1972) the writer’s widow.
Other museums and galleries in Zakopane:
- The Nature Education Center of the Tatra National Park (Centrum Edukacji Przyrodniczej TPN) 42a Chalubinskiego street
Opening hours: MON-SAT - 9.00 - 14.00
The largest mock-up of the Tatra Mountains in Poland, films 3D showing the Tatra nature from the perspective of their wild inhabitants, a cave and a children's discovery room. Great place for adults and children.
- City Art Gallery (Miejska Galera Sztuki) 41 Krupowki Street
Opening hours: TUE-FRI 10.00 - 18.00, SAT-SUN 10.00 - 16.00
The oldest art gallery in Zakopane - the first exhibition was opened here in 1911. Currently, the gallery presents primarily Polish contemporary art.
- The Karol Szymanowski Museum at Atma villa 19 Kasprusie street
Szymanowski Museum is closed until 2013!
Opening hours: TUE-THU 10.00 - 16.00; FRI 10.00 - 18.00; SUN 10.00 - 15.00
The only Polish museum of the life and work of Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937), the greatest Polish composer after Frederic Chopin. Szymanowski gladly stayed in Zakopane ever since he was a young man. Towards the end of his life he settled there for good taking up residence in the Atma. Museum tours are accompanied by pieces of Szymanowski music from a rich sound library.
- Oscypek / sheep's cheese / Museum (Muzeum Oscypka) 28 Jagiellonska Street
Very informative tour not only about oscypek making process but also about highlander lifestyle. Number 1 thing to do in Zakopane on the Trip Advisor.
- The Antoni Rzasa Museum and Gallery 16a Bogdanskiego street
Opening hours: TUE-SUN 11.30 - 17.30
- The Jan Kasprowicz Museum Harenda
Open: WED-FRI 9.00 - 17.00; SAT-SUN: 10.00 - 15.00
- The Art Gallery of Zakopane 41 Krupówki street
Opening hours: TUE-FRI 10.00 - 17.00; SAT-SUN 11.00-16.00
- Modern Art Gallery YAM 63 Krupówki street
Opening hours: MON-SAT 11.00 - 18.00
- Galeria pod Makiem 29 / 11 Krupowki street
You can see (and buy) here: paintings, sculptures, stained glass, graphics, ceramics, oil painting, traditional Podhale glass painting, watercolours, original jewelry, original and unique hand embroidery, icons
When planning a cultural walk around Zakopane, make sure please if all the museums listed above are open and, just in case, check their opening hours.
Barbara
Cinemas and theater in Zakopane
Important! In all Polish cinemas, foreign movies are screened in their original language with subtitles. The exceptions are children's films, which are always shown in a dubbed version (or with the lektor/reader).
Barbara
.:We have three cinemas and one theater in Zakopane (cinema is in polish kino
, theater - teatr):
- SOKOL cinema (Digital 3D) 2 Orkana street / www.kinosokol.z-ne.pl
Sokół Cinema is the most modern and at the same time the oldest (the first film "Quo vadis" directed by Enrico Guazzoni screened here on August 11, 1913!) A cinema in Zakopane. Various cultural events take place here - concerts, cabarets, shows and lectures.
- MIEJSCE cinema 2 Orkana street / www.kinomiejsce.zakopane.pl
The cinema-cafe Miejsce (The Place) is located in the same building as the Sokół cinema - entrance directly from Orkana street, down the stairs.
This is my favourite cinema - it has only 60 seats (35 cinema seats and 25 seats at the cafe-tables), presents "top shelf" movies and allows viewers to watch films with a glass of wine (beer, tea or coffee). Note that you can rent an exclusive cinema and organize a birthday party, business meeting or a professional presentation of your services or products here.
- GIEWONT cinema 4 Kosciuszki street / www.kinogiewont.pl
This small cinema is located in an old tenement house, a few steps from Krupówki Street. Despite the rather historic interior, it offers a modern 4K screen.
- WITKACY theatre 15 Chramowki street / www.witkacy.pl
The Witkacy Theater was founded in Zakopane in 1985. Its main goal is to discover and refer to the extremely valuable cultural heritage of Zakopane. All plays are staged in Polish.
