Nowy Targ

Nowy Targ is a town in southern Poland, serving as the administrative centre of Nowy Targ County in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Located in the Dunajec (Nowy Targ) Valley on the Dunajec River, at the foot of the Gorce Mountains, it is the informal capital of the Podhale region and a key commercial, communication, and industrial hub. Surrounded by picturesque mountain landscapes, Nowy Targ is a convenient base for exploring the Gorce and nearby mountain areas.

The history of Nowy Targ begins with the foundation of a Cistercian monastery, which received land in the village of Szczyrzyc. In 1252, Abbot Peter was granted the privilege to establish a new town under German law. The city received a new location privilege from King Casimir III in 1346. Already in the Middle Ages, Nowy Targ was an important trading point on the route from Silesia to Hungary.

Nowy Targ is known for its weekly market, a tradition dating back to the 13th century. The town is famous for its furrier workshops, producing renowned sheepskin coats and leather goods. Notable religious sites include the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Catherine's Church, St. Brother Albert's Church, the Church of Our Lady of the Angels, Queen Jadwiga's Church, John Paul II Church, St. Anne's Church, and the Chapel of Our Lady Queen of the Gorce near Turbacz.

Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities in Nowy Targ. Numerous hiking trails start or end here, such as Mały Księstanów – Kowaniec, Szczebel – Turbacz – Kowaniec, the Seweryn Goszczyński Trail, and Grywałd – Polana Gabrowska. Mountain enthusiasts can climb Turbacz or visit mountain huts: "Koliba" on Łapsowa Polana, the hut on Maciejowa, and the hut on Turbacz. Highlights include the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ludźmierz (Podhale's Hostess) and the Podhale Museum. Local crafts are represented by the Nowy Targ market and the "U Borzanka" inn. For relaxation, there are thermal complexes: Terma Bania, Gorący Potok (Szaflary), and Szaflary Thermal Baths (Podhale Thermal Baths).

Getting there from Ukraine

Lviv – Zakopane ≈421 km, ≈5 h 10 min without border queues. Route: M-10 Lviv – Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa checkpoint → A4 motorway (Rzeszów – Tarnów – Kraków) → Kraków southern bypass → S7/DK7 → DK47 ('Zakopianka') via Nowy Targ → Zakopane. The A4 Katowice – Kraków section (Balice and Mysłowice toll plazas) is tolled, but this route does not use it. In summer and at weekends the DK47 near Zakopane is often congested.

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