The gem of Powroźnik and the UNESCO heritage
The church of St James the Less at Powroźnik is reckoned one of the oldest and most valuable wooden churches in the Polish Carpathians. In 2013 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List among a group of wooden churches of the Carpathian region.
Built entirely of wood and roofed with shingle, it falls into three parts: the narthex, the nave and the sanctuary. Its interior holds valuable wall paintings and furnishings, testifying to the skill of the builders and painters of the past.
Following the churches around Krynica
Powroźnik is the start of a route along which you can discover further wooden churches — at Tylicz, Berest and Polany among others. Each of them sits in the gentle landscape of the Sącz Beskids and tells of the life of the former inhabitants of these valleys.
These churches were built in the Eastern tradition, with their characteristic towers, iconostases and rich furnishings. Travelling between them is also a walk through the history of the Lemkos — the highland people who lived in this country for centuries.
What to see on the way
- Powroźnik — the church of St James, a UNESCO site and one of the oldest in the Sącz region.
- Tylicz — a former small town with a wooden church and a rich borderland history.
- Berest and Polany — picturesque village churches among the Beskid hills.
- The iconostases — vivid walls of icons, the heart of every Eastern-rite church.
How to get there and practical info
- Location
- Around Krynica-Zdrój, Sącz Beskids
- Route
- The Wooden Architecture Route of Lesser Poland
- Distinction
- The church at Powroźnik on the UNESCO list (2013)
- Getting there
- By car; the churches are in the villages round about
- Visiting
- Interiors open at set times — worth checking in advance
- Tip
- Link several churches into a single driving route
When to go
Greening valleys make a lovely setting for the wooden churches.
The best time to drive round several churches and walk between the villages.
The golden woods of the Sącz Beskids give the churches an exceptional air.
Snow-covered shingle and silent valleys — full of atmosphere, though access to the interiors can be limited.
Other sights in Krynica-Zdrój
Straight-line distances from „The Lemko churches around Krynica" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
Places from our list that have The Lemko churches around Krynica within walking distance or a short drive.
