Dunajec 3 Regions
Lesnica - Łącko - Szczawnica

Park Dolny in Szczawnica is the city’s green lung. It has existed for over 160 years, combining nature with the history of Polish spa treatment.

History and development of Park Dolny

The Park Dolny was created between 1861 and 1868 as the result of efforts by Józef Szalay, the visionary who transformed the village of Szczawnica into a renowned health resort. Szalay understood the enormous financial outlays required for the expansion of the spa and the establishment of a second treatment center near the mineral springs: Szymon, Aniela, and Wanda.

For this reason, in 1860 he leased about 10 hectares of land, including the mentioned springs, to the newly established Zdrojowiska Krajowe company for 50 years. This made it possible to build the first sanatorium facilities around and within the present-day Park Dolny.

The true flourishing of Park Dolny came when Adam Stadnicki became its owner. In 1910 he purchased the so-called Dolny Zakład, which also included the park grounds. It was then that Szczawnica gained the status of one of the most important spa resorts in the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and the park itself underwent a thorough modernization.

After World War II, Park Dolny gradually fell into decline. Some facilities were destroyed, while others were only given temporary repairs. There was also no systematic care for the park’s vegetation.

Main Attractions and Monuments of Park Dolny

The modern Park Dolny, restored in 2012, is thoughtfully divided into four zones. At the entrance lies a quiet zone with a distinctive music pavilion.

In the central part of the park, there is a picturesque pond with fish and ducks swimming on its surface, next to which a small botanical garden has been arranged, full of diverse plants.

The third zone is a natural arboretum, home to trees and shrubs of several different species. The final part of the park is perfect for families with children, featuring a modern playground.

Chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa

The historic chapel from 1867, which originally served as the “Helena” drinking hall, is located just above the park, on Park Dolny Street. It is the second sacral building in Szczawnica, after the spa chapel, built at the request of spa visitors.

Zyblikiewicz Grotto

An unusual monument from 1890, built of fieldstone, stands in the southern part of the park. It was created to commemorate Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz, Marshal of the Galician Sejm and Mayor of Kraków, whose efforts led to the completion of the Pieniny Road, the famous route running along the Dunajec Gorge from Szczawnica to Červený Kláštor in Slovakia.

Inside the grotto is a bronze memorial plaque with the president’s profile. The relief was created by Józef Hakowski, one of the most outstanding Polish and European sculptors and chisellers of the 19th century. In the final years of his life, the artist lived in Krościenko nad Dunajcem, located about 10 kilometers from Szczawnica.

Monumental Lime Trees – Living Natural Monuments

In Park Dolny there are three officially registered natural monuments—lime trees of impressive size and ecological importance.

The main specimen is a small-leaved lime composed of 13 fused trunks, reaching 30 meters in height and with a circumference of 402 centimeters. This botanical phenomenon most likely originated from several trees growing side by side, which over the years merged into one.

The other natural monuments are a broad-leaved lime, 26 meters tall, and a small-leaved lime measuring 25 meters. With an age exceeding 150 years, they provide a habitat for numerous species of insects, birds, and lichens.

Historic Pavilions

The music pavilion, located in the front part of the park, was built around 1927 in the Zakopane style. During the interwar period, known as the golden years of the spa, the spa orchestra performed here three times a week in the afternoons.

The viewing pavilion, situated above the pond, is a faithful reconstruction of the wooden pavilion built in 1911 as the “Wanda” drinking hall. The structure was erected on a cross-shaped plan, in the spa style characteristic of Szczawnica.

Mineral Springs

Right next to the park, there are two publicly accessible mineral water springs: “Helena” on Górny Park Street and “Szymon” on Główna Street.

Walking through the park, it is impossible not to feel the spirit of bygone eras, when Szczawnica was beginning to become a pearl of European spas.