Szczawa

Szczawa is a village in Limanowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland. It is situated among the mountains and forests of the Island Beskids and Gorce, in the valley of the Kamienica River, where the streams Głębieniec, Mogielica, and Szczawa flow in. The area is surrounded by peaks such as Kiczora and Wielki Wierch, as well as the Papieżówka glade, which is part of the Gorce National Park. Szczawa lies at varied altitudes: the lower part by Kamienica is about 500 m, while the highest buildings on the Kiczora Kamienicka ridge reach up to 880 m.

The name of the village comes from the many mineral water springs called "szczawa" in the area. Szczawa was part of the estates of the Poor Clares from Stary Sącz and was likely founded by the local headman Stanisław from Rozprza. In the 18th century, the village passed to the Austrian government, later becoming the property of Józef Kirchner and then Maksymilian Marszałkowicz. In the 19th century, small metallurgical plants operated here, and timber exploitation developed. During World War II, the area was a base for Polish partisans, with the headquarters of the 1st Podhale Rifle Regiment of the Home Army on Wielki Wierch.

Szczawa is known for its mineral waters, mentioned by Jan Długosz and Stanisław Staszic. Springs such as "Hanna", "Krystyna", and "Dziedzilla" are used today, with waters considered to have health benefits. The village is famous for its mountain scenery, forests, and the preserved culture of the Biali Górale, an ethnographic group related to the Sądecki Highlanders. Szczawa is a popular destination for recreation, winter sports, and tourism.

Visitors to Szczawa can enjoy numerous hiking trails, including "Szczawa – Nowa Polana", "Dolina Kamienicy – Kudłoń", and "Ochotnica Górna Jamne – Polana Przysłop Dolny", as well as routes to the peaks Mogielica and Kudłoń. Natural attractions include the Spad waterfall in Szczawa, the Gorc Kamienicki and Jaworzyna Kamienicka glades. For accommodation, there are shelters such as "Ustrzyk" and "Na Skale". Those interested in traditions can visit the fruit harvest festival in Łącko, featuring local villages and folklore.

Getting there from Ukraine

The most convenient way from Lviv to Szczawa is by car via the Krakovets – Korczowa border crossing, then the A4 motorway to Brzesko, DK75 to Nowy Sącz, and through Łącko to the destination. The journey from the border takes about 4 hours.

Джерела: Вікіпедія, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, дані Karpaty.rocks. Докладніше — у Вікіпедії