Żarnówka lies in the valley of the Żarnowianka stream, a right-bank tributary of the Skawa, at the foot of the Koskowa Góra range in the Maków Beskids. Its location connects a clearly defined valley setting with the mountainous edge of the village. When planning your trip, you can consider the landscape, cycling and local history as distinct points of interest.

Mountain scenery and far-reaching views

On the northeastern edge of Żarnówka, the area extends up to 866-metre-high Koskowa Góra. From there, views stretch to the Jałowiec Mountains and Babia Góra; in clear weather, you can also see the Tatra Mountains and Kraków. The long-distance views therefore depend explicitly on the weather. The forests around Żarnówka are rich in berries and mushrooms. Together with the Żarnowianka valley, the wooded surroundings also shape the landscape.

A red cycling route through Żarnówka

A red-marked cycling route of approximately 20 kilometres runs through Żarnówka. It connects the market square in Maków Podhalański, via the Makowska Góra settlement, Bryndzówka, Przysłopski Wierch and Mount Koskowa, with Głowackiego Street and 3 Maja Street. Its approximate length gives you an idea of the distance when planning your ride. As conditions and markings can change, check them again before setting out.

Church, chapels and local history

Żarnówka was founded towards the end of the 16th century by settlers from the Kraków and Wieliczka area under the supervision of royal forester Piotr Oczkowski. A later chapter in its history is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: its foundation stone was laid in 1993 and donated by Prelate Janusz Bieleleński, parish priest of Wawel Cathedral; the church was consecrated in 1996. Historic monuments include a stone figure of Christ the Nazarene dating from 1828. A sculpture of Christ falling under the cross, from the late 18th century, stands in a brick chapel with a shingled roof. A monument commemorates partisans who were captured and executed by a German unit in 1945. Sacred buildings, older monuments and a specific remembrance of the events of 1945 thus stand side by side as distinct aspects of local history.

Crafts and cultural traditions

Embroidery and wooden products are particularly associated with Żarnówka’s rural cottage-industry tradition. Wood was traditionally worked into products including shingles, wooden tubs and buckets. The examples range from a building material to vessels, illustrating woodworking as a distinct part of local craft. Embroidery adds a textile dimension to this tradition.

The Koło Gospodyń Wiejskich (Rural Housewives’ Association) in Żarnówka has been active since February 2003 and is based at the Dom Ludowy (People’s House). The group organizes social gatherings and festivals, and cultivates culinary traditions, regional costumes, local customs and folk songs. Alongside the local history reflected in buildings and monuments, communal and cultural expressions are also among the themes that shape Żarnówka.

Discover more destinations: Jachówka.

Go to the overview of destinations: Maków Podhalański.