Kalatówki Glade

Kalatówki is a large, level glade in the Bystra Valley (Dolina Bystrej) in the Western Tatras, just above Kuźnice — the southern part of Zakopane. It is surrounded by forest on all sides, and from the glade there are views of the Kasprowy Wierch massif. The lower part of the glade by the Bystra stream lies at 1,160–1,200 m, the upper part at 1,200–1,250 m; they are separated by the lateral moraine of an ancient glacier, on which the mountain hotel stands. Above the glade rise Kalacka Turnia and Kalacki Upłaz, and between them a long grassy gully, Kalackie Koryto, runs down. The glade belongs to the Tatra National Park (TPN).

The name comes from the Kalata family, who from the 14th century provided the village heads (sołtys) of Szaflary and once grazed sheep here. The glade was mown from the 18th century, and in 1938 it had 11 huts; after the shepherds were removed from the Tatras, part of it became overgrown with forest. One tall wooden hut from the early 20th century recalls the pastoral past, and the TPN has reintroduced cultural sheep grazing here. Thanks to it, in spring as the snow melts the glade is covered with crocuses; among plants rare in Poland, the least gagea (Gagea minima) grows here.

Kalatówki is the cradle of Polish skiing: in 1910 the first ski competitions in the Tatras were held here, slalom and downhill were skied on the slope of Suchy Żleb, there was even a small ski jump, and in 1913 the first hut was built for skiers. The present PTTK mountain hotel "Kalatówki" (1,198 m) was built by the Tatra Skiers' Society for the 1938 FIS World Championships — by volume it is the largest tourist building in the Polish Tatras, built in the Swiss style. In 1959–1960 and again from 1997 the famous "Jazz Camping" was held here.

What to see and do

• The moraine in the middle of the glade — the best place to see Kasprowy Wierch and Kalackie Koryto.
• The Albertine Sisters' convent by the road (1898, designed by Stanisław Witkiewicz) with a Zakopane-style chapel and the cell of St Brother Albert (1902). Brother Albert was canonised by John Paul II in 1989, and in 1997 the Pope himself visited the place.
• Spring crocuses and autumn colours, and in winter ski lifts and a ski school on the glade. From January to March an avalanche training centre operates here, and on Easter Monday the retro ski race "Wielkanocne Jajo" takes place.

Getting there

The road from the John Paul II roundabout (the "Kuźnice roundabout") to Kuźnice is closed to cars, so people come by minibuses from Zakopane bus station marked "Kuźnice" (stops by the roundabout) or on foot. From Kuźnice the granite-cobbled Brother Albert Road leads to Kalatówki — this is the blue trail Kuźnice – Hala Kondratowa – Giewont: 35 minutes to the hotel according to the signposts, 25 minutes back. The start is a little steep, but overall it is a short walk suitable for families. Beyond the convent there is a TPN ticket point. From the glade you can continue on the blue trail to Hala Kondratowa (50 minutes from the hotel) or along the black Ścieżka nad Reglami.

Season and safety

Entry to the TPN is paid: as of October 2026 a ticket costs 11 zł, reduced 5.50 zł, children under 7 free. People walking the shortest way to the Albertine chapels on Kalatówki need no ticket. From 1 March to 30 November TPN trails may be used only from dawn to dusk; dogs are not allowed in the park. After rain the rocks on the path above the glade are slippery. TOPR rescue: 601 100 300 or 985.

Nearby

Higher up the valley lies Hala Kondratowa below Giewont; Nosal rises above Kuźnice, and to the east a path leads to Hala Gąsienicowa.

Official website: tpn.gov.pl

Photos: Cybularny, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Paweł Opioła, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.