Zakopane nestles in a valley at the foot of Tatras, the highest part of the rocky Carpathian Mountains that form Poland’s border with Slovakia. Its highest peak is Mount Rysy, soaring to 2 499 m above sea level. To the northwest is Mount Gubalowka with its stunning panorama of the Tatras from its summit. Zakopane is situated approximately 850 m above sea level, and several brooks flow through the town.

Its climate is determined by its location in the mountains – the average temperature is only 4.3 degrees Celsius, a few degrees less than Poland's average. The very strong although warm Foehn wind (the strongest measured gust was 280 km/h) that is a feature of the Tatra region can influence how people feel and even the state of their health. Zakopane lies in the Lesser Poland voivodship, about 100 km (2 hours drive) from Krakow.

Zakopane is quite a young city, the first record of its name dating back to the 17th century. Originally there were several separate villages spreading between Gubalowka and the Tatra Mountains. In the 18th century the largest and most prosperous of these was Kuznice (today a district of Zakopane), famous for its steel. Beginning early in the 19th century, the increasing growth of Zakopane overtook the now fading Kuznice, and the expanding population resulted in the construction of the first par... ( more >>)