Wierchomla Wielka: Valley and Lemko Heritage

Wierchomla Wielka combines a distinctive valley setting with a historic village character. The Lemko Church of St. Michael the Archangel, the history of the settlement, and its location in Poprad Landscape Park offer several points of reference for getting to know the area during your stay. If you are looking for a hotel in Wierchomla Wielka, here is an overview of its landscape and history.

Valley, Stream, and Landscape Park

Wierchomla Wielka and Wierchomla Mała lie in a valley along the Wierchomlanka stream and are surrounded by forested mountains. Wierchomla Wielka begins at the entrance to the stream valley and extends for about six kilometers along the road and stream. Its layout therefore follows the valley: the road and the Wierchomlanka run alongside the length of the village. The stream later flows into the Poprad, linking the local description of the valley to the course of a larger river. The shared valley setting of the two villages should be distinguished from the extent of Wierchomla Wielka along the road and stream.

Wierchomla Wielka is also located in Poprad Landscape Park. Its location there places the settlement within a protected landscape and adds another geographic dimension to the orientation provided by the road and stream. When making your choice, you can consider these two perspectives separately: the village’s specific extent within the valley and its location in the landscape park. This allows you to understand the area both through its spatial layout and its wider landscape setting.

Lemko Heritage and Local History

At the center of Wierchomla Wielka stands the historic Lemko Church of St. Michael the Archangel, dating from 1821. A cemetery adjoins the church, and a few old Lemko buildings have been preserved nearby. The village’s character thus combines a named historic building with the adjoining cemetery and other older Lemko structures in the vicinity.

Wierchomla Wielka was founded in 1595 by Cardinal Jerzy Radziwiłł under Wallachian law. The settlers included migrant Wallachian shepherds. The church, built in 1821, belongs to a much later period: more than two centuries separate the founding of the settlement from its construction. The early settlement history and the historic building in the village center can therefore be understood as distinct chapters.

Church, Bats, and Springs

The church attic is also significant: it is a protected habitat for the lesser horseshoe bat and the bent-winged bat. Both are among the rarest bat species in Europe. For travelers interested in architectural and natural history, this building brings together a historic site and a protected bat habitat.

Other features of the village include several disused mineral water springs containing iron and sulfur. They add a distinct natural feature to the description of the Wierchomlanka, which shapes the course of the valley. Wierchomla Wielka thus has several different associations with water: the stream as a geographic landmark, and the springs with their iron- and sulfur-rich water.

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