Zakopane, a town at the bottom of Gievont mountain, is called “winter capital” of Poland. Here on the northern sides of the High Tatras snow lies from December to May. Polish-Slovakian border goes over the Tatras, and Slovakian skiing resorts are located not far from here. Zakopane is the only skiing centre of international importance in Poland. Therefore special attention is paid to its development and tourists are always satisfied with the level of hotels and boarding houses with their quite affordable prices, the state of sport facilities and service. The climatic resort surrounded by coniferous forests curing respiratory tract diseases has been popular as far back as XIX century. As a sport center Zakopane is known since the beginning of XX century: in 1910 international ski competitions were held here. Nowadays major sport events are also held in Zakopane: FIS World Championships, winter student games, one of the World Cup stages in ski jumping. The Olympic Training Center with its stadium, swimming pools and jumping board on the Krokwe side is also located here. When the snow is not enough it is changed for artificial one, many slopes are lightened. Some hotels have their own lifts and trails. Zakopane town has some short downhill trails, but the main skiing areas are located on the surrounding mountainsides. The lower station of the oldest Polish cable way built in 1936 is located in Kuźnica (3 km away from the town). The cable way has the length of 4281 m and leads to Kasprowy Wierch - the largest ski area near Zakopane. The longest (4295 m) of groomed trails starts from its top (1985 m). The most difficult trail is Gasienicowa (1180 m, slope 30.6 o) Cable car also goes to Gubalovka (1388 m). This vast skiing area includes the slopes of Gubalovka, Bystre, and Butorovy Wierch mountains. The trails are mostly intermediate. Nosal Mountain (1206 m), the third large skiing area, is well known among slalomers. Slalom downhill here is extremely difficult, but beginners can train themselves on five easy tracks of 150-250 m length. Intermediate trails are located on Koziniec and Polana Szymoszkowa, easy trails – on Kotelnica and Krokwe slopes. Opportunities for other sports are also provided in Zakopane: skating rink, skating track, endless gentle slopes without stones for snowboarders. Outdoor Antoluwka thermal complex is popular among resort guests despite of swimming pools in many hotels and indoor pools in the town. Water saturated with hydrogen sulfide flows here from mineral springs. Interesting excursions and trips about the outskirts are organized in Zakopane. Of course, rafting the Dunajec river, resting on Morske Oko Lake, the largest of Tatrian lakes (34.5 hectare, depth 53 m), or rising to the Rysy, main Polish peak (2499 m), are possible only in summer. But there is Tatrian National Park (217 sq. km) near the town where trails and marked tourist path are laid. The history of this national park can be studied at its Nature Museum. In addition there is Museum of Tatrian Lore in Zakopane which presents culture, way of life, traditions of local population, and the nature of the whole massif, the highest in the Carpathian Arc. Rock garden in the very center of Zakopane has large collection of Tatrian flora.
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