Żarki-Letnisko combines the history of a garden city founded in the 1930s with Witkiewicz-style wooden villas and surroundings shaped by pine trees. The church, park, swimming pool and named trails each add their own distinctive touches. If you are choosing a destination for cultural and active pursuits, you can start by distinguishing between local history and architecture, recreation by the water, and the two routes of different lengths. The seasonal concert programme is also part of the character of the place.

Garden city and architecture

Karol and Stefania Raczyński founded Żarki-Letnisko in the 1930s as a garden city. The wooden villas in the Witkiewicz style were built in connection with the development of this garden city during the same decade. The founding and architectural style thus offer a connected perspective on the origins of the town. For travellers interested in architecture and local history, this connection is a natural focus.

The parish church of Matki Bożej Nieustającej Pomocy was built in 1936 in a Tyrolean style that residents describe as Alpine. This sacred building adds another locally named style to the picture of the wooden villas. The wooden Nałęcz Villa served as an entertainment and cultural centre in the years before the Second World War. These references span the development of the garden city, the church’s construction in 1936 and the villa’s cultural role in the pre-war period.

Park, concerts and pine forest

A commemorative plaque in the park’s pre-war gazebo honours Stefania and Karol Raczyński, the founders of Żarki-Letnisko. The local association holds summer concerts in the park gazebo; the seasonal programme may vary. If you would like to combine your stay with a concert, it is best to check the relevant event dates. The park thus brings together a memorial to the town’s founding and a seasonal cultural programme.

Surroundings shaped by pine forest are also part of the town’s character. The surrounding forest is home to the Astronomical Observatory, a six-metre-high rotunda for observing the sun. A rotunda is a circular building; here, this form is combined with the specific function of solar observation. The observatory is not open to visitors.

Swimming pool and trails

The swimming pool on the Czarka has separate swimming areas for adults and children. The facility also includes changing rooms, toilets, showers and a beach volleyball court. The combination of swimming areas and a beach volleyball court brings water and ball sports together within the same facility. Seasonal availability may vary; if you are planning a day of swimming, check the current situation.

The green loop trail around the Poraj Reservoir (“SZLAK ZIELONY – OKRĘŻNY WOKÓŁ ZALEWU PORAJSKIEGO”) is 43.4 km long and passes through Żarki-Letnisko. The yellow Żarecki Trail (“SZLAK ŻÓŁTY – ŻARECKI”) also passes through the town and is 29 km long. The difference in length is 14.4 km, giving you a concrete way to compare the two routes. This makes it easy to compare the distances when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Koziegłowy, Gniazdów, Myszków, Ogorzelnik, Lgota Górna, Gorzków Stary, Niegowa, Żarki

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