Szymbark: Nature, Architectural History and Hotels

There are several options for planning a stay in Szymbark: a protected section of forest, a landslide lake, historic buildings and a section of cycle path. You can first consider which topics interest you most and plan your stay around them.

Nature: sycamore forest and landslide lake

The Jelenia Góra Nature Reserve protects a well-preserved section of sycamore forest in Szymbark, where the hart’s-tongue fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) grows. For travelers interested in forest ecology, the specific point of interest is this combination of a particular forest type and a named fern species.

Beskidzkie Morskie Oko is a landslide lake in Szymbark, near the Jelenia Góra Nature Reserve. The lake was formed by the Szklarka landslide, the largest landslide in the Polish Carpathians. This adds a geological theme to the nature reserve. In summer, the lake can dry up partially or completely; its water level may vary. If you are planning a trip at this time of year, bear this seasonal change in mind when forming expectations about the lake.

Churches and the kasztel: architectural history in the village

The wooden Church of Saint Adalbert was built from larch wood in 1782. Its material and year of construction offer two specific points of reference if you are interested in Szymbark’s historic architecture. There is also a small Orthodox church in the hamlet of Wólka, described as a building dating from 1790; other records may give different dates.

Another type of building is the brick kasztel. The two-storey building has a basement and four square alkierz extensions at its corners. Richly decorated attics also shape its design. Those who pay attention to architectural details will find several features to consider together: the number of storeys, the corner extensions and the decorative upper section.

Open-air exhibitions and sensory gardens

The Edukacyjny park historii budownictwa ludowego i maszyn na pograniczu polsko-słowackim is associated with the Skansen Wsi Pogórzańskiej. Its features include open-air exhibitions and sensory gardens. The exhibits are adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. This focus differs from looking at individual churches or the kasztel: here, the emphasis is on outdoor exhibitions and sensory gardens. The adaptation of the exhibits is a specific feature of the park.

A cycle path section as another travel option

In May 2024, the completion of a 153.52-meter-long paved section of pedestrian and cycle path in Szymbark was reported. The section is part of the planned cycle route from the Szymbark stop to the boundary of the Ropa municipality. This refers to one completed section, not to the completion of the entire planned route. If cycling is one of your travel interests, this is a separate aspect to distinguish from the nature and architecture themes when planning your trip.

When looking for a hotel in Szymbark, you can start with what you want to focus on: would you like to center your stay on the forest and landslide lake, the historic buildings or the park? This choice helps you plan your trip around a theme and compare options that suit your plans.

Discover more destinations: Rożnowice, Gorlice, Biecz, Bobowa, Ropa, Uście Gorlickie, Strzeszyn, Kunkowa

Return to the main travel overview: Gorlice.