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Editors

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Bibliography

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Scholarship Fund

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Meetings of the Friends

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Time table

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Almanac Collections

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news, information

Chapter 9. Muszyna in brief

In the southern reaches of Małopolska voivodship along the Polish-Slovak border in the valley of the River Poprad and its right-side tributaries, the Muszynka and Szaczawnik, lies the town of Muszyna with population of 6,000. Belonging to the Muszyna district are the nearby villages of Andrzejówka, Dubne, Jastrzębik, Leluchów, Milik, Powroźnik, Szczawnik, Wojkowa, Złockie and Żegiestów. Muszyna owes its balnaeological assets to its location and natural resources. Adding to its picturesque charm are the mountain ridges and the Poprad River Valley which divides the Sącz Beskid Mountains into a western part — the Radziejowa Ridge (1,262 metres above sea level) and an eastern part — the Krynica Jaworzyna Ridge (1,114 metres above sea level). Muszyna lies in a valley bounded on the west by Mikowa Hill (638 metres above sea level), on the north by Koziejówka Hill (636 metres above sea level), on the east by Malnika Hill (726 metres above sea level) and on the south by the border hill Wielka Polana (796 metres above sea level).

The district of Muszyna is situated in the area of the Poprad Landscape Park which was established in 1987. The park is rich in forest scenery and reserves created within its bounds. The reserves located in the vicinity of Muszyna are the Obrożyska, Żebracze, Wierchomla and Hajnik linden woodlands. The Muszyna area also abounds in mineral springs. Those waters are rich in magnesium, calcium, iodine, potassium and iron ions. Popular springs include Antoni, Milusia, Anna, Grunwald and Na Wapiennem in Muszyna; Anna in Żegiestów; Iwona in Jastrzębik; Kazimierz in Milik; Za Cerkwią (Beyond the Orthodox church) in Szczawnik. An interesting natural monument are the mofettes, surface carbon dioxide eruptions. The Professor Świdziński Memorial Mofette, situated between the villages of Złockie and Jastrzębik, is Poland’s biggest.

Already in the mid-18^th century there appeared mentions of the area’s mineral spring, but they were not fully developed until the 1920s and ‘30s. At that time, the Antoni and Wanda springs were tapped. Thanks to the efforts of the then health-resort physician Dr Seweryn Mściwujewski and Mayor Antoni Jurczak, Muszyna took advantage of its abundant mineral-water resources. At present, the mineral water is used in hydrotherapy and is available at generally accessible pump rooms as well as being commercially bottled. The sanatoriums offer balnaeotherapy, hydrotherapy and kinesiotherapy in the treatment of respiratory, urinary, gastric and motor ailments. Overnight facilites offer additional attractions such as swimming pools, saunas, individual customised diets, playgrounds, tennis courts, bobsleigh runs and many other amenities.

Muszyna’s latest attraction is a complex of swimming pools in Zapopradzie and a nearby amphitheatre. There in summer during the Mineral Water Festival, May Holidays or Poprad Autumn the performances of stars can be enjoyed. In Szaczawnik Valley, which is linked to Wierchomla skiing station, an area for skiers and snowboard enthusiasts has been created. The chair-lift in Wierchomla also operates in summer, facilitating the pursuit of tourism and mountain cycling for which Muszyna has great conditions. While the Economic Forum takes place in neighbouring Krynica, the festival race organised on that occasion leads through Muszyna.

Muszyna’ principal architectural relics are the ruins situated at the Baszta (watch-tower) of an old defensive castle which has been mentioned in the accompanying text on the history of Muszyna. The road leading from the Baszta to the town centre passes the Museum of the State of Muszyna, recreated on the plan of an 18^th-centutry inn. In the square stand old shrines in honour of St Florian and St John Nepomucene. Beneath the square, the old cellars of a no longer existing town hall have survived. There barrels of wine imported from Hungary were once stored, to which an epigram by 16^th-century poet Jan Kochanowski alludes.

Along Kościelna (Church) street leading from the Main Square to the church there have survived houses reflecting what might be referred to as 19^th-century small-town architecture. Muszyna’s Church of St Joseph the Beloved was built at the turn of the 18^th century. Its location and embrasures attest to its defensive character. Niches on the outside of the church contain religious statues. Inside, the prominent feature is the main altar enshrining a statue of the Blessed Virgin and Infant dating from c. 1470 which came from Kraków’s Wawel Cathedral. Also worthy of note are the cordovans imbedded in the altar cloths. A side chapel contains Gothic statues of St Hedwig of Silesia and St Ottilie. Worth visiting is Muszyna’s old cemetery with its numerous beautiful old tombstones. Nearby stands a monument to Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, commemorating his 1970 visit to Muszyna.

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