Zaskale offers several different starting points for a trip: the tourist Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer Trail passes through the village, and the Szlak Wokół Tatr also runs through Zaskale. There is also a specific historical connection to St. Wojciech Church, the “Mali Zaskalanie” ensemble, and events celebrating regional cuisine. When planning, it is worth considering these topics separately: the routes follow different paths, while the cultural connections range from a church-related date to festivals and tastings. Depending on your interests, you can focus on a route, local history or the local festival culture.
Routes and Choosing a Trail
The tourist Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer Trail runs through Zaskale and leads from Szaflary via Ludźmierz, Krauszów, Dział and Pieniążkowice to the summit of Zeleźnica. The Szlak Wokół Tatr also passes through Zaskale; an official cycling tour in 2025 followed this route. A developed section of the Szlak is 35 km long and runs on the Polish side from Nowy Targ through Zaskale, Rogoźnik, Stare Bystre, Czarny Dunajec and Podczerwone to the state border. On the Slovak side, the route continues via Suchá Góra, Głodówka and Lasek to Trstená. In winter, the routes mentioned are used for cross-country skiing.
Two different reference points matter when comparing them: Zeleźnica summit is given as the destination of the Tetmajer Trail, while the Szlak has a developed section measuring 35 km. The 35 km refers to this section on the Polish side; the sequence of places on the Slovak side up to Trstená continues the route. This distinguishes the destination from the trail length without applying the kilometre figure to the entire cross-border route. Check trail conditions before planning, especially if you are considering a winter trip.
Church and Ensemble
One specific historical connection in Zaskale is St. Wojciech Church: Pope John Paul II consecrated its cornerstone in 1987. The “Mali Zaskalanie” ensemble began its activities in 1990 at the primary school in Zaskale and performs at community events such as Zoskalańskie Jodełko, Opłatek Wiejski and the family festival in Zaskale. The two dates refer to different events: 1987 to the consecration of the cornerstone, and 1990 to the start of the ensemble’s activities at the school. This makes it possible to consider the church’s historical significance and the community’s cultural life as two distinct topics.
Festival Culture and Regional Cuisine
The 2018 edition of Zoskalańskie Jodełko was presented as a long-standing annual event where guests could sample regional dishes, cakes and cheeses. Another culinary event is the 24th Gminny Konkurs Potraw Regionalnych, a municipal competition for regional dishes: on 17 November, cooks from across the Szaflary municipality gathered at the fire station in Zaskale. These examples show two forms of regional food culture: a festival with tastings and a competition featuring cooks from the municipality. If you want to plan your visit around a particular festival, check the event dates in advance.
Discover more destinations: Rabka Spa, Łapsze Niżne, Huba, Zubrzyca Dolna, Lipnica Wielka, Falsztyn, Szczawnica, Chyżne
For the broader travel overview: Nowotarski.
