Найкрасивіші гори Польщі! 🇵🇱 Чому всі обирають Татри, а не Буковель?

Найкрасивіші гори Польщі! 🇵🇱 Чому всі обирають Татри, а не Буковель?

Autumn is the best time to go to the mountains and feel their true atmosphere. Welcome to the channel “Where to Go.”
Today we’re heading to the Polish Tatras. In this video — everything worth seeing
in the Polish Tatras in autumn. We’ll feel the power of the mountains, their greatness and peace.
We’ll meet a real baca (highlander shepherd). Yes, we invite you to Podhale. We’ll try highlander cheese and learn
the secret of oscypek. We’ll go kayaking on the Dunajec River. Unbelievable. And we’ll meet an Olympian whose family has been
kayaking for over 70 years. We’ll learn about his family and their Guinness record.
We’ll relax in the best thermal baths and of course, we’ll hike up to the most famous
lake. We’ll attend the biggest autumn festival called Redyk.
And I’ll also show you where to taste authentic highlander cuisine and tell you
why the Tatras in autumn are the best idea for a trip around Poland.
So grab your favorite snacks, a cup of tea or some highlander cheese, and let’s go! And we’ll start with the road.
We went to Zakopane by car. The route from any part of Poland is great —
you can get there really quickly. And the scenery is picturesque.
If you don’t have a car, you can also travel by train from Warsaw, Kraków, Gdynia, or Katowice —
there are direct connections, and also buses. Once we arrived, we checked into our apartment.
Right at the entrance, there’s a kitchen and a dining area.
The kitchen has everything you need.
It’s very colorful — look at the colorful details, the little dots.
There’s a chandelier that matches the plates’ decor — traditional Polish
blue floral patterns. Lots of flowers, a small dining table.
And then we move to the bedroom. This is our bed. Very beautiful — and it opens right into the living room.
The living room is spacious.
There are two armchairs, panoramic windows, and we should have a mountain view.
Well, maybe — if we’re lucky. And on top of that — a small balcony. Oh, the smell of mountain air and rain —
it’s wonderful. As for the price, for three nights we paid 950 złoty — about 230 dollars.
What I like about Zakopane is that you’ll have no problem finding accommodation.
At every corner, there are lots of options — from hotels to apartments like this one
or small rooms. Just open Booking, and you’ll find
a price range from the cheapest to the most expensive. And from Zakopane begins our journey
into the heart of the Polish Tatras. Zakopane isn’t just a town by the mountains.
It’s often called the capital of the Polish Tatras. And rightly so — but first, a bit of history,
because it’s truly fascinating. Zakopane is a small town in southern Poland,
located right near the border with Slovakia.
It lies in a valley at the foot of the Tatra range. Zakopane not immediately became a popular resort. The word “Zakopane” literally translates from Polish as “dug” — it used to mean
a cleared patch of land in the forest. Once, it was a settlement hidden among the mountains.
In 1676, it was a tiny village of shepherds and woodcutters — only about 43 inhabitants. With modest infrastructure.
The real growth began in the second half of the 19th century, when doctor Tytus Chałubiński started promoting Zakopane as a resort for improving
the respiratory system — mountain air, climate, and sanatoriums. In 1886,
Zakopane received the status of a health resort — Uzdrowisko in Polish.
The key moment came in 1899, when a railway line was built
from Kraków to Zakopane, and the town turned from a quiet village
into a popular resort. Today, the population is about 27,000,
and over two million tourists visit each year. Over two million tourists every year. Zakopane is the highest located town in Poland.
Its elevation ranges from 750 to 1,126 meters above sea level. And now — Krupówki. It’s the heart of the town
and its main street. Once, it was just a simple path to the forge in Kuźnice,
and today it’s the liveliest place in town. Everything here is full of life —
the aroma of oscypek, mulled wine, the scents from restaurants and cafés, and many souvenir shops
filled with crowds of tourists from all over the world. And make sure to visit Krupówki in the evening.
That’s when the street comes alive in a new way. The lights shine, music plays everywhere.
It’s always busy, fun, and loud. Even locals joke: whoever hasn’t
strolled along Krupówki after sunset hasn’t seen the real Zakopane. And now we’ve come for żurek
to our favorite restaurant — Góralski Browar. The menu deserves praise right away. It looks very beautiful — great design and graphics. Here’s the main page — and this is Góral,
the main character of the place, famous on Instagram. He’s a local celebrity here. You definitely have to try the żurek.
It tastes exactly as it should — sour, creamy, rich, perfect.
Look — with sausage, and egg.
Oh, that smell! Oh wow. That’s going to be good. Nothing else needed — 10 out of 10, or even 20 out of 10. The best żurek you’ve ever had?
Mhm. The best żurek I’ve ever had. Really decent, as they say.
Try the beer here too — it’s brewed on site.
My favorite one? The honey one. For the main course, we ordered dumplings
with bryndza cheese and grated oscypek, served with sour cream.
Let’s try them — they smell smoky, just like oscypek. A little sour cream. Oh, they look so creamy inside. Mmm…
Smoky in taste. Very smoky and cheesy — like a cheese filling, almost like in a cheesecake.
Everything so smooth and uniform. But good — a nice dish.
Look how many of them there are — 2, 4, 6, 8, nine dumplings. A very large portion.
And overall, dinner for two cost 176 zloty. My overall rating of this place — definitely yes.
When you’re in Zakopane, first of all, visit this restaurant. First, it’s
centrally located — in the heart of the town, with a very beautiful interior.
There’s an incredible number of details: wooden carvings, lamps, tables —
everything deserves attention. And of course — the food. Both traditional highlander, Polish,
and European cuisine. So everyone will find something to their taste.
And of course, the beer — their own craft beer. Lots of different flavors.
So — come and try it. If you’re in Zakopane for the first time,
you’ll definitely notice the architecture. Almost all old houses here are wooden, with sharp roofs,
carved cornices, and windows with balusters and unique details.
It’s not by chance — it’s part of the style known as the Zakopane Style.
It was created by the artist and architect Stanisław Witkiewicz at the end of the 19th century.
He wanted Zakopane to have its own identity — something that reflected the spirit, theater,
and highlander traditions. That’s how unique wooden villas appeared,
decorated with ornaments similar to those that once adorned shepherds’ huts. The first building — Willa Koliba —
was constructed in 1892–1893 and became the model of this style.
Today, it houses a museum. And even now, new villas and guesthouses
continue to be built following the motifs of the Zakopane style — a living heritage
that says: “This is not just architecture, but a story, a way of life,
and respect for mountain traditions.” Be sure, while in Zakopane,
to take the funicular up to the viewpoint Gubałówka. Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky —
the funicular was closed for several days, and the weather didn’t help — rain and fog.
But I still have a few shots to show you how this place looks when it’s sunny.
From there, you get one of the best views of the Tatras and all of Zakopane.
The ride takes only about three minutes, and a return ticket costs 29 zloty. Right under Gubałówka there’s the Góralski Targ — a market that operates here practically all year round. They sell almost everything here: from sheepskins to warm wool sweaters and wooden tableware, magnets, keychains, and of course, cheese. At this market, everything is mixed together — authenticity and tourist business. But still, there are dozens of stalls — plenty to see and choose from. Many people come here looking for oscypek, the highlander sheep’s milk cheese. But there’s one thing worth knowing. In this market they sell a lot of highlander cheeses, but not all of them are genuine. Often they’re made from cow’s milk. So before buying, don’t hesitate to ask what they’re made of. Thank you.
Enjoy. Thank you. Goodbye. The moment of truth.
We got three grilled cheeses with cranberry jam, of course. And now — yes. Everything I told you, you really need to do it: ask what they’re made of, because
the lady said they’re all from cow’s milk. There are fewer and fewer bacówkas,
less sheep’s milk. So most of these cheeses — the majority of them — are cow’s. That’s how it is. But they’re no less tasty, so let’s try them.
They’ve all stuck together into one. It has a nice smoked flavor.
It stretches easily, but doesn’t pull much like a regular cheese. In this kind of weather, it’s a great snack. It even squeaks against your teeth. But it’s good.
Now it’s time to find out how they make real Oscypek and how it differs
from the fakes. We’re heading to the museum, where we’ll meet a real baca. So don’t
switch off and, of course, subscribe to the channel and leave a like, because the most interesting part is yet to come. Look at these sheep. Oh, how nice it is.
So cool, warm. And now it’s time
to show the main symbol of Podhale — the cheese OSCYPEK. We’re at the Oscypek Museum in
Zakopane. Here they not only show how to make it, but also teach you to understand how
this highlander cheese is born. Welcome. My name is Baca Stanisław Tylka. At the beginning, Baca Stanisław told us
that you won’t find real baca near the main road to Zakopane. They work high in the mountains, on mountain pastures. In total, there are about 30 bacas in the region,
located in five communes: Zakopane, Kościelisko, Bukowina Tatrzańska,
Biały Dunajec, and Ząb. In his community, Stanisław says they herd about
300 sheep. So who is a baca? A baca is the chief shepherd in the mountains — the person
who manages all the grazing and the production of oscypek cheese. He is responsible for the flock, the
cheese dairy — called a bacówka — and for everyone who helps him: the younger shepherds,
called juhasi. That barrel is called puciera. This bucket — cebzyk.
And this mug is called cirpok, from the word “to scoop.” Traditionally,
this is what they used for drinking żentyca at bacówki. And this stirring tool is called ferla, used
for mixing milk. These holes are for breaking up the curd.
Then the most interesting part begins — the demonstration. The baca pours in warm milk, adds rennet,
then strains the curd and shapes it in wooden molds with ornaments, each of
which has its own pattern — like the master’s signature —
and places it in a salt brine. Then the cheese goes into the smokehouse, where
the alder wood smoke gives it its golden color and unique aroma. Oscypek is made only during the grazing season — from May to October —
when there’s fresh sheep’s milk. The best time to taste real oscypek is
from May to August, when production peaks and the cheese is made daily. Real oscypek,
the baca says, is actually quite rare. And when it is made, it’s mostly
for weddings, friends, or simply highlanders for highlanders. The first written
recipe dates back to 1748 — and, amazingly, it hasn’t changed to this day.
Importantly, on February 14, 2008, Oscypek received the status of Chroniona Nazwa Pochodzenia —
that is, a product with Protected Designation of Origin. This means that real oscypek can only
be made in specific regions — in the Tatras, in Podhale, and in parts
of the Żywiec and Limanowa districts — and only from at least 60% sheep’s milk.
Authentic oscypek must have the characteristic spindle shape. Besides oscypek, the list
of products with protected designation of origin also includes Bryndza Podhalańska and Redykołka cheeses. How many generations in your family
have been making oscypek? My father made it, I make it too, but my grandfather didn’t.
He had a flock of sheep. Is oscypek always made only
by the baca? No, no — the helpers too.
Then we made our own little cheese in the shape of a sheep, which
you can take home as a souvenir. You need to press the mold onto the cheese, push it firmly, and
hold it for a minute. Just make sure it doesn’t come out as a two-headed sheep. Then, after that, remove the mold and leave it for a day so
it can dry, and later you can trim the edges to make it a nice shape. By the way, you can’t eat them. They must
be salted — they’re only meant as a keepsake, something to put
on a shelf at home. Let me also tell you about a cheese that’s often
underestimated — and unfairly so. Gołka is not oscypek. It’s made only from cow’s
milk. It has a different shape, but it’s also very tasty. You can always see gołka
on the market stalls, and most people mistakenly think it’s oscypek. And here lies
a true paradox — almost everyone eats gołka cheese thinking it’s oscypek,
while most have never actually tried the real one. Oscypek. Oh, thank you.
Yes, we invite you to Podhale, here in Zakopane, to my commune, Poronin.
A short summary — after an hour and a half, we got a lecture on what is and what isn’t
oscypek. We met the baca, learned the whole truth about oscypek,
and had a great time. It’s the only place where you can truly see and
learn everything about this cheese. And at the end, we even got a little gift.
The museum ticket cost 45 zloty per person. We’ve already seen the town, tried
the local cuisine — and now it’s time to lift our heads a little higher, because
the main reason we came — is the mountains. The Tatras are the highest mountains in Poland
and the most majestic part of the Carpathians. Their highest peak is called Rysy,
and it reaches 2,499 meters — and it’s somewhere over there.
The Tatras are young mountains, carved by glaciers — steep, sharp,
and incredibly photogenic. They’re all part of the Tatra National Park, established in 1954. It’s a protected area and part of
the UNESCO biosphere reserve. Here, the mountains are rocky, sharp, and stony —
resembling the Alps in some ways. The Tatra Park covers not only wild peaks but also dozens
of tourist trails — more than 275 km of marked routes, from short
valley walks for beginners to technical climbs for experienced hikers.
And that’s why the Tatras attract absolutely everyone — from those who just want
to stroll among spruces and take Instagram photos, to those dreaming of conquering
their first two-thousander. And of course, we took the most popular route
to Morskie Oko — the most famous lake in the Polish Tatras. To get here, you first need to reach the parking lot
called Palenica Białczańska. It’s the most popular starting point
for many different hiking routes in the Tatras. The drive from Zakopane takes about 30 minutes,
and you can also get there by bus. It’s best to book your parking spot
in advance online through the official website of the Tatra National Park. I recommend
doing this as early as possible, because the day before our hike, parking cost
70 zloty, and a week earlier it was 50. On-site it’s also more expensive,
and the entrance to the National Park costs 11 zloty per person. Then, it’s about 8 kilometers
of a scenic road leading to the lake itself. Along the way, you can see several beautiful
viewpoints — for example, the Mickiewicz Waterfalls, right behind me. The path is paved and very well marked,
so it’s suitable for everyone — even those with no previous mountain hiking experience —
for example, children, moms with strollers, even elderly people —
you can easily walk this route. Some choose to take a horse-drawn carriage,
but honestly, it’s better not to. First of all, the animals have to pull heavy carts
up a mountain road, and second — walking allows you to feel the atmosphere
and see how the nature gradually changes. That’s the real essence of this trail. Along the route, you can take detours
to several popular trails — one of them is the Valley of Five Lakes.
Recently, you can also reach Morskie Oko by electric minibuses — a new, more
eco-friendly alternative to horse rides. For people with reduced mobility,
the trip is free, and for other tourists the ticket costs from 55 zloty one way. During the hike, you can slightly shorten
your route by taking this rocky mountain path. We’re already reaching Morskie Oko,
and just ahead of us — the Schronisko, a mountain shelter right by the lake.
Look — almost no people around. And at the very end,
we descend to the lake down these steep steps. Beautiful, even though not all the mountains
are visible — still impressive. After a two-hour hike,
there it is — Morskie Oko. A view that’s hard to describe with words.
I’ve seen this place before, and every time it feels just as magical. Look at that beautiful waterfall —
you rarely get to see it. There’s also a secluded spot here
where people often hold wedding ceremonies or even propose. So, guys —
with this kind of view, the whole lake right in front of you. The Schronisko above Morskie Oko
is one of the oldest mountain shelters in Poland. Its history dates back to the 19th century.
It used to serve as a meeting place for travelers, artists, and mountaineers.
Today, it’s a spot where you can drink a cup of hot tea, have some soup or a meal
after your hike — or even stay overnight. There are a few rooms for tourists.
The first shelter by the lake was built in 1874,
but ten years later it was destroyed by lightning. The local highlanders rebuilt it, of course.
And the best part — is simply to sit by the window,
look at the lake, and understand why you came here. Of course, we took the most popular route
to the lake Morskie Oko, the most famous lake of the Polish Tatras. To get here, you first need to reach
the parking lot called Palenica Białczańska. It’s the most popular
starting point for many different routes in the Tatras. The drive
from Zakopane takes about 30 minutes by car, and you can also get here
by bus. It’s better to book the parking in advance online through the official website
of the Tatra National Park. I recommend doing it as early as possible, because
a day before the trip, parking cost us 70 zloty, and a week earlier
it was 50. On site it’s also more expensive,
and the entrance to the National Park costs 11 zloty per person. Then about 8 km
of a scenic road to the lake itself. Along the way you can see a few beautiful
viewpoints and, for example, the Mickiewicz Waterfalls behind me. The path is paved and very well
marked, so it’s suitable for everyone, even those who have never had
mountain hiking experience before — that is, for example, children, moms with
strollers, even with prams — no problem, you’ll manage — for elderly people too,
so really for everyone. Some decide to go up by a horse-drawn
carriage, but actually it’s better not to do that. First, the animals
pull heavy carts up a mountain road, and second, walking allows you to feel
the atmosphere and gradually see how the nature changes. And that’s
the real charm of this trail. Along the way, you can turn onto several
popular routes. One of them is the Valley of Five Lakes.
Recently, you can also get to Morskie Oko by electric minibuses. It’s
a new, more eco-friendly alternative to horse-drawn rides. For people with
limited mobility, the trip is free, and for the rest of the tourists
the ticket costs from 55 zloty one way. During the route you can slightly
shorten your way by taking this rocky path into the mountains. We’re already reaching Morskie Oko, and
ahead of us we see the Schronisko. It’s a mountain shelter right above the lake.
Look, there are almost no people. And at the very end, we go down
to the lake by these steep stairs. Beautiful, even though not all the mountains
are visible, but still. After two hours of hiking, before our eyes
appears the lake — Morskie Oko. The view that is hard to describe with words. I’ve
seen this place before, and every time it’s just as enchanting. Look, what a beautiful waterfall.
It’s rarely visible. There’s also a secluded spot here
where people often have wedding ceremonies or proposals. So, guys — with
this kind of view, the whole lake right in front of you. The Schronisko above Morskie Oko is one
of the oldest mountain shelters in Poland. Its history dates back to the 19th century.
It once served as a meeting place for travelers, artists, and mountaineers.
Today it’s a place where you can have a cup of hot tea, eat soup, have
something after the hike, or even stay overnight. There are a few rooms for tourists. The first shelter by the lake was built in 1874.
Ten years later it burned down after a lightning strike, but the local
highlanders rebuilt it again. And the best thing — is just to sit by the window with a view
of the lake and understand why you came here. Silence, mountain reflections in the water, fresh air,
and a moment you want to remember forever. We have a moment to rest after
our hike to Morskie Oko, and we stopped by this mountain shelter and ordered something
from their menu. We have żurek here. Let’s taste how it is here too.
We’ll rate it. And the classic — the traditional Polish dessert — szarlotka.
Completely filled with apples. Looks delicious. Let’s try it. Look at this
piece of sausage. A piece! There’s an egg.
No egg, but it’s very rich. Hey, good żurek. I didn’t even expect
it to be so tasty here. No, the one at Góralski Browar
was better. Listen, great. For dessert — a quick szarlotka test.
Our szarlotka isn’t small, nicely baked sponge cake, lots of
filling, sprinkled with powdered sugar. Tastes like homemade, really.
They didn’t skimp on apples — better than in some restaurants sometimes. (Salad) After a short rest, it’s time to head
back. Ahead are still two hours down the road, and we’re going to the next place
to relax a bit after the mountain adventures. After a long walk or mountain hike,
it’s time to rest. And there’s no better way to do it than in the thermal baths.
Within the Zakopane area, there are several famous complexes: Bukowina, Szaflary, Bania,
Chochołowskie. And right now, we’re at the largest thermal baths in Poland — Chochołowskie. This is one of the most popular and
most modern thermal complexes in Poland.
The water here comes from a depth of over 3,500 meters and has a temperature of about 36–38°C.
It’s rich in microelements — sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and sodium — which help
relax the muscles, improve blood circulation, and simply make you forget that you walked
dozens of kilometers in the mountains. Cool. But the best thing here is the outdoor pools.
There are over 30 pools on the premises. There are outdoor pools like the one we’re in now,
many small jacuzzis, and also larger ones.
Autumn chill, steam rising from the water, and you’re relaxing in a hot bath. Here you can not only
rest but also improve your health. There are saunas, a salt cave, massages, and pools with
mineral water. And there are also water slides where, even for a minute, you can feel
like a child again. Entrance for 3 hours with access to the pools cost 89 zloty per person, and
if you come after 7 p.m., it’s 69 zloty. So you can easily spend the whole day here,
especially if you’re looking for relaxation after an active hike.
They say after such a bath you sleep like after climbing Rysy. And believe me —
it’s true. In the lower pool behind me
there’s also a bar. That means it’s a pool where you can buy drinks — both alcoholic
and non-alcoholic — and just enjoy yourself. This totally
exceeded all my expectations. It’s a great place — for families,
for couples, or even to come alone. There’s really a lot to do. I think three hours or
even a whole day can be spent here. Everything is thought out down to the smallest detail.
There’s a large changing room, showers, lockers for your belongings, dryers, and a big parking lot,
which is free of charge. And now it’s time to show you what people eat here.
And we’ll do it in the oldest tavern in Zakopane, called “U Wnuka.”
Highlander cuisine. Highlander food is an inseparable part of the
culture and traditions of the Podhale and Tatra regions. And now our first order has arrived. The first one —
Kwaśnica. It’s a traditional highlander soup made from sauerkraut cooked on
smoked ribs. It’s very filling. It’s very aromatic, sour, and nicely
warms you up after the mountains. In front of me now — Moskole. That’s also
a highlander dish — fried potato pancakes made on a griddle. You can order them with
bryndza cheese, with oscypek, or with garlic oil, like we did. They taste identical
to our potato pancakes. You know, potato pancakes taste great.
But I like them. Not bad for a start. Overall,
I recommend starting your lunch with this, and then continue with this one.
It’s called Placki Po Zbójnicku. These are large potato pancakes served with
meat goulash. In general, highlander cuisine is very simple and hearty.
It was made especially to feed people who work in the mountains. The sauce is very mild. Pancakes,
goulash, and some sour cream — they’re usually served with pickled cucumbers.
The price for lunch for two was 142 zloty. Well, I’ll share my overall impressions
of our lunch. Overall, I’d say it was quite tasty. I liked it. I can
recommend this place — except for one dish, probably the żurek, because
we’ve already had a really good one earlier. And now I’ll show you two very important
attractions that you must see when you’re in the Tatras. Although most tourists
stay around Zakopane, after about an hour’s drive you can reach
other, equally beautiful mountains called Pieniny. And the first thing we came for is
kayaking down the Dunajec River. We came here to visit
the biggest autumn festival Redyk in Poland and to meet an Olympian. But before that,
we’ll go kayaking down the Dunajec. So keep watching and don’t forget to
leave a like, comment, and subscribe, because yes, for better or worse, that’s how
the YouTube algorithm works — you have to ask. Redyk hasn’t started yet, but while we were driving
to the river, we already met a flock of 600 sheep. We start our trip from the point
where we were dropped off. We’ll be paddling about 18 km, for 3 hours.
Since it’s 10°C now, we need to warm up a bit. They gave us foam pads
to keep us warm. We put them over our clothes.
And also a life vest, so we don’t drown if someone can’t swim. Theoretically,
we shouldn’t flip over, but still, safety is safety. They also gave us
small waterproof bags so that our things don’t get wet. Now we put on a protective
skirt on top, so nothing gets soaked. And we can sit in the kayak.
By the way, this is my first time on this river, in a single kayak. Actually,
it’s an adventure for everyone, because I see families with kids, older people,
and people our age too. So the river is easy, and the route
must be very picturesque. You can come even if you’ve never
done this before. The main thing — don’t drop your camera. We’re starting our trip. As you can see,
there are no queues. You can easily come here in autumn. The route is perfect
because there aren’t many people, and the views are orange and green. Absolutely awesome. Fantastic. On the right side, we have Slovakia, and on the left — Poland. Once upon a time, people used to float down the Dunajec River on wooden rafts — and they still do today. The people who steer them are called flisacy.
It’s an old highlander profession that has been passed down from generation to generation,
similar to the gondoliers’ trade in Venice. And you can also experience
this tradition yourself. It’s enough to book a rafting trip with the flisacy in
the Pieniny Mountains. During the trip, the rafter tells stories about the mountains, legends,
and local jokes. So it’s never boring to sail with them. If you look closely,
they all wear black hats called kapelusz góralski. It’s
a felt hat made of compressed wool, decorated with a ribbon made of cowrie shells.
In the past, such a hat could only be afforded by wealthy baca or
elder highlanders, because the shells were brought from far away and were very expensive.
It’s a symbol of wealth and respect among the mountain people. After three hours of rafting, we return
to the dock of the company Port Pienin, with which we have been kayaking for five years,
and we’re going to talk with its owner and Olympian Grzegorz.
Hi, my name is Grzegorz Polaczyk, I’m from Szczawnica. I’m a former slalom canoeist
and an Olympian. multiple medalist of World and European Championships.
Now I run a rental business for kayaks, rafts, and bicycles on the Dunajec River.
So kayaking is still close to me. Whether I want it or not, it’s always part of my life.
Tell us a bit about your family’s history. When did your family’s passion for kayaking begin?
When did it all start for your family? Unfortunately, I didn’t know my grandparents,
but judging by photos and stories, they used to paddle — but only for fun, as tourists.
There was no professional sport yet, neither in Poland nor anywhere else in the world.
And since we always lived close to the river, we were closely connected to it.
Our family home stood right next to the Dunajec River. One way or another,
the river has always been part of our life. My father started professional kayaking,
but unfortunately, he had to stop his sports career because he was drafted
into the army. When he returned, he started making kayaks. We used to paddle in
those he built himself. That’s how our adventure began.
Are you the only one in your family who does kayaking, or are there others too?
I think you have a few brothers, right? Our whole family is into kayaking.
There are five boys and two girls. And all of us went through professional sport.
I stopped, you could say, about 12–13 years ago, but my brother Mateusz
is still competing. He’s a strong athlete with a strong character. He was fourth at the Olympic Games, and this year he took third place in the overall World Cup standings.
A historic achievement. He’s a multiple medalist of World Cup stages
and senior World Championships. A truly titled athlete.
Our younger brother, Rafał Polaczyk, is now the coach of the Polish national mountain kayaking team. He’s the direct coach of Klaudia
Zwolińska, who last week in Sydney
won three medals in Olympic disciplines.
That’s something that has never happened before in the history of Polish kayaking.
So, as you can see, in our family, kayaks are always present — whether in tourism
or in sport. Do you know roughly when the first
kayaks appeared here in the Pieniny, when the first rafting trips began?
Tourist rafting started around the same time as the traditional
flisacy raft trips. Judging by the photos, it was the 1930s, early 1940s.
I don’t want to give an exact date, but it was before the war. So first came
the Dunajec River, and then the kayaks appeared. What about the Guinness record?
The Guinness record — what kind of long kayak was that? That event was really interesting.
I rarely think about it — maybe almost never — but when I do remember it, I realize:
“Damn, I’m actually in the Guinness World Record!”
It was for the longest kayak in the world. Zdzisław Szubski organized this event in Bydgoszcz,
near the Mill Island. The kayak looked absolutely incredible. I was standing on the shore back then,
since I was an athlete of the Zawisza club in Bydgoszcz. I stood and watched,
they were short of one kayaker, so they just pushed me into that giant kayak.
And that’s how I ended up inside it. But yes — I really am listed in the Guinness
World Records. Or rather, probably the kayak is,
not me personally. It was a 20-person kayak. I remember us paddling on calm water,
but there was a small river flowing in from the side, or maybe water was coming out of a turbine,
since it was near a power plant. The current was strong. And as I was sitting almost
at the very end, I could see the entire giant kayak literally bending like a snake.
Maybe someday it would be worth trying to break that record? What do you love about the Pieniny and the Tatras?
What do I love about the Pieniny? You know, that’s a question you sometimes really think about.
Well, what is it? Everyone loves the place where they grew up. I got used to this land.
It became a part of me. Even though, as I said, I had the opportunity to stay in
New Zealand, I chose the Pieniny instead.
So there must be something special about them. I often hear tourists say: “Wow,
what a wonderful place! So many possibilities!” And it’s true — there are bike paths,
everything you need for living. There’s plenty of food around, rivers and lakes for
paddling — as many as your heart desires. There are beautiful mountains, flat areas,
and wonderful people all around. There are many good families here, a rich history —
and I guess that’s why I love the Pieniny. if you listen to the voices of tourists, they’ll tell you — this truly is one of
the most beautiful regions not only in Poland, but in the whole world.
Welcome — you are all invited.
Thank you. No, thank you.
Tell me — isn’t that a wonderful story? So, if you ever come to the mountains, I highly
recommend visiting Grzegorz and his family — and of course, going for a kayak trip.
A beautiful place, wonderful, warm people, and unforgettable experiences. And finally — if you’re still here —
the main autumn event in the mountains: Redyk. Right now, we’re at Redyk — the largest one
taking place this autumn. Here you’ll see the biggest flock of sheep — around 2,000 of them. The bacas and juhases, dressed in traditional
highlander costumes, lead the flock, accompanied by music, bells, and songs.
This is how the colorful parade of sheep descending from the mountains to the valley takes place. And finally, when the sheep reach the town,
everyone gathers in one place for a festive celebration. There are lots of
food stalls, snacks, and traditional highlander cheeses. Everyone celebrates together
in a joyful, festive atmosphere. There’s also a stage and a concert. There were very few food stands and a huge
crowd, but we managed to find one — and of course, how could we resist?
It’s a must! together with us in and on that note,
we conclude the Redyk. Remember — it’s best to arrive at Redyk by 8 a.m.
or even the day before, because later finding a parking spot or leaving the area
is almost impossible. Autumn in the Tatras is all about peace —
mountains dressed in golden colors, and people who always greet you with a smile. Everything here follows its own rhythm:
slower, warmer, more genuine. If you’re looking for a place to breathe out,
enjoy delicious food, walk through the mountains, and simply be — come here.
There’s something about autumn in the Tatras that you just have to feel at least once.
This was a trip to the Polish mountains. Thank you for being with me — and see you in the next exciting
journey. And in the next video, we’ll show you Biedronka —
a Biedronka like you’ve never seen before. Grab your checkered shopping bags
and let’s go shopping!

Осінь у Татрах – це справжня магія.
Без натовпів, з ароматом гір і золотими схилами. У цьому відео – все найкраще, що варто побачити восени в польських Татрах 🇵🇱.

Вирушаємо до Закопаного, розслабимось у найкращих Термах, побуваємо в музеї осципка, спробуємо гуральську кухню, побачимо Redyk і вирушимо у гори до легендарного озера – Morskie Oko.

🧀 Зустрінемось із справжнім бацою, дізнаємось секрет осципків,
🐑 побачимо, як біля 2000 овець спускаються з гір,
🚣‍♂️ і навіть познайомимось з олімпійцем, який утримує родинну традицію каякінгу!

Усе це – в одному відео 🙌🏻.
Буду вдячна за вашу підтримку 💛.
І дуже рада, якщо це відео стало для вас корисним і надихнуло на подорож у гори.

Корисні посилання та геолокації з відео:
📍 Апартаменти Inny Świat https://maps.app.goo.gl/CRzgxwE8Y9FvwDkW7?g_st=ipc
📍Ресторан Góralski Browar https://maps.app.goo.gl/F512HSfWnyetMnws7?g_st=ipc
📍Музей стилю Закопанського Willa Koliba https://maps.app.goo.gl/k77CeQMesgQyMZ569?g_st=ipc
📍 Білети на фунікулер до Gubałówka https://www.sklep.pkl.pl
📍 Музей осципка https://muzeumoscypka.pl/pokazy#
📍 Білет на паркінг Palenica Białczańska https://tpn.gov.pl/parkingi-morskie-oko
📍 Квитки до входу в національний парк: https://tpn.gov.pl/bilety?dl-open=wstep
📍 Терми Chochołowskie https://maps.app.goo.gl/gQR4r8PFiKV4gyYG9?g_st=ipc
📍 Найстаріший ресторан в Zakopane – U Wnuka https://maps.app.goo.gl/sDN2QLYjexLgzU2s7?g_st=ipc
🛶 Оренда каяків фірма Porn Pienin https://maps.app.goo.gl/uUBUyXwB8b9gfcZM8?g_st=ipc

***Таймкоди***

00:00 Вступ
01:10 Дорога до Закопаного
01:50 Приїзд – Заселення
03:30 Про Містечко Закопане
06:00 Ресторан Góralski Browar
09:14 Унікальна Гуральська архітектура
10:14 Видова точка Gubałówka
10:44 Гуральський базар
12:44 Історія сиру Oscypek
17:57 Гори Татри
19:13 Маршрут до озера в горах
21:53 Озеро Морське Око
22:38 Гірський притулок
23:23 Їжа в гірському притулку
25:05 Терми Chochołowskie
27:27 Гуральська Кухня найстаріший ресторан
29:35 Каякінг в горах Пєніни по Дунайцю
32:34 Про деревʼяні плоти Флісаки та капелюхи
33:36 Знайомство з Олімпійцем
38:44 Головна подія осені Редик
41:04 Кінцівка

#подорожі #гори #польща #tatry