Along the Kasprusie and Strążyska streets towards the mouth of the Strążyska valley

We start our walk at the bottom of the Kasprusie street, which branches off Kościeliska street, reaching after 10 min. the villa "Atma" (to our left, slightly in the background).

The Karol Szymanowski Museum in Villa Atma, Kasprusie 19 st.

In the years 1930-1936, Karol Szymanowski (1882 - 1937), an outstanding Polish composer lived here. The word "atma" means "soul" in Sanskrit. The villa, designed in the Zakopane style, was built in the late 19th c. by Józef Kaspruś - Stoch. Initially, Karol Szymanowski would be regularly come to Zakopane every year and rent a room with a piano in the villa "Limba", as well as in the "Czerwony Dwór" [The Red Court]. When he settled down permanently at the foothills of Mt Giewont, though, he rented villa "Atma" all to himself. The Museum was opened in 1976. Among the prized exhibits are the composer's personal memorabilia and some furnishings used at the time when he occupied the place.

In the first room, you can appraise yourself of the genealogy of the Szymanowski family, the composer's life and times, and some of his many travels around Europe and beyond. This is facilitated by a large multimedia touch screen. In the other room, where the artist's bedroom used to be, presently turned into a concert auditorium, the interior is dominated by a piano. Furthermore, the three portraits of Szymanowski by Witkacy, leap to the eye right away. In the dining room, opening directly onto a veranda, you can appreciate some sketches of the costume designs for the Paris premiere of the "Harnasie" opera, authored by Irena Lorentowicz.

You might also be interested to know that villa "Atma" is the only biographical museum of Karol Szymanowski in the world.
u. Kasprusie 19, Branch of the National Museum in Krakow
phone. +48 18 20 200 40

The "Czerwony Dwór" Gallery
Kasprusie 27 st.
phone: +48 661 601 651

The "Czerwony Dwór" was built in the Zakopane style in 1902. Karol Szymanowski used to live here (in a house in the garden, next to the villa), and so did Artur Rubinstein, and Stefan Żeromski. Presently, the venue accommodates an art gallery welcoming regional artists where various temporary exhibitions are regularly held, including paintings on glass or artistic handicrafts. The gallery also serves as a popular venue for various functions and literary meetings. The villa is part of the Zakopane Cultural Centre.

We keep on walking further up the Kasprusie street until it gives into the Strążyska street. In its upper stretch, to the right, there is a junction with the Bogdańskiego street, where The Antoni Rząsa Gallery is located (ul. Bogdańskiego 16a). Continuing along the Strążyska street, after another 10 min., we eventually reach its end - directly at the mouth of the Strążyska valley.

The Strążyska valley

A Sub-Alpine valley cuts right into the very base of the northern face of Mt Giewont. Walking distance along the Kasprusie and Strążyska streets: 4.5 km, approx. 60 min.; from the mouth of the valley - 2 km; approx. 40 min.

The mouth of the Strążyska valley opens right into the "Droga pod Reglami" pathway, along which you can continue walking to reach several more valleys. The nearest one is the "Dolina ku Dziurze" valley (about 400 m to the left, facing the south), and then the "Dolina Za Bramką" valley (about 1400 m to the right).
A comfortable path leads up along the "Potok Strążyski" stream through the bottom floor of the sub-Alpine forest, offering scenic views of the lime-dolomite rocky outcrops and occasional glimpses of the towering northern face of Mt Giewont. Eventually, we end up at the "Polana Strążyska" glade (formerly used as a sheep pasture) where a small shelter cum tea room is located. Continuing gently uphill, after another 15 min. we come to the bottom of a stunningly beautiful "Siklawica" waterfall, gushing all the way down from the northern face of Mt Giewont.