THE COMMUNE OF MSZANA DOLNA
 
The commune of Mszana Dolna - the biggest commune in the Limanowski district, covers the area of 169,84 square kilometers, that is 17,82% of the whole district and 1,12% of the area of the Małopolska province. Geographically, the Commune of Mszana Dolna covers the western part of the Beskid Wyspowy mountains and the north-western part of the Gorce mountains. The two mountain ranges are separated by the valleys of the rivers: Kamienna, Mszanka and Raba. The vast horseshoe like shape of the commune is composed of the villages of Glisne, Olszówka, Raba Niżna, Kasina Wielka, Kasinka Mała, Lubomierz, Łętowe, Łostówka and Mszana Górna. It is inhabited by 16,5 thousand people whose main source of income is agriculture, accordingly with the character of the commune. There are also many craftsmen and folk artists who welcome the tourists in their workshops. The effects of their work available in the region can be unusual souvenirs for the visitors of the region. The inhabitants of Mszana Dolna cultivate the rich culture of the region of Zagórze. The shows of the folk groups add splendour to the open air events, such as the Villages' of the Mszana Dolna Commune Tournament or the Gorce Summer, organized by the commune. Its programmes include a lot of fun for both adults and children, tasting delicious local food, artistic exhibitions, presentations of the handcraft and of the companies active in the region.



Among the values of the Mszana Dolna Commune are great climatic conditions and the rich geographical configuration of the ground, covered mainly by forests and some meadows with preserved shepherd cottages. These are factors that enhance the active ways of spending free time and have a positive influence on the well-being of the tourists coming to the region. They also play an important role in creating good conditions for winter sports, especially alpine and cross-country skiing. There are two professionally prepared ski lifts in the commune, in Lubomierz and Kasina Wielka. Those grounds are also ideal for some more demanding and specialized sports, such as paragliding, speology, motocross, montain biking and track skiing. The enviroment of our Commune has a mountain character and is variable in geographical features. It is rich in various types of mountain landscapes like island and range mauntains, abundance of woods, sources and streams, various kinds of plants and animals. There are the most famous peaks of the Beskid Wyspowy and the Gorce mountains with well marked tourist trails of various levels of difficulty, leading to each of these peaks. The most attractive massif of the Gorce range is a huge massif of Kudłoń, famous for its unusual rock formations, such as small crags, shelves, towers and aiguilles of the hard Magóra sandstone. One of the biggest rock of this kind is the Kudłoński Baca (shepherd) guarding the black trail from Lubomierz to Kudłoń. In the commune there are also trails of the Pope John Paul II and of the Wooden Architecture. The wooden farm buildings with its characteristic, regional ornaments can be observed in the villages of Lubomierz, Łostówka, Łętowe and Kasinka Mała. Another attraction are old, wooden churches and chapels of significant historic and artistic value. They are authentic heritage of history and a rich source of knowledge about our region.




Tourists coming here can count on good, continuously developing sleeping and boarding services. There are two mountain shelters in the mountains and forests of the Beskid Wyspowy range:

- Młodzieżowy Ośrodek Rekolekcyjny (Youth Retreat Center) and the shelter on Śnieżnica

- Krakowski Szkolny Ośrodek Sportowy - Baza Szkoleniowo-Wypoczynkowa (Kraków School Sports Center - Educational-Leisure Base) "Lubogoszcz" in Kasinka Mała.

They can also choose one of the hotels:

- "Solaris" in Raba Niżna, a classicistic brick manor dating from 1905, rennovated and adapted to the needs of a hotel

- "Agnieszka" and "Janina" in Mszana Dolna, with café, access to Internet, a disco, billard and table tennis facilities, common rooms, gym, sports field and swimming pool.

In winter and summer seasons the local scholls are used for ski and summer camps.
There are also 20 agrotourist farms offering their guests healthy, home-made food, beds, and interesting ways of spending free time (grill, bonfires, basic farming activities, driving horse-drawn carriages in summer and sleighs in winter).

Taking part in the life of the local community gives the tourists the opportunity to experience our traditions and culture. Cultivating the Polish folk traditions is deeply rooted in the hearts of the local people. Besides the famous cuisine of Zagórze, healthy, organic food, clean enviroment and, first of all, friendly, hospitable people, make this region an obligatory point in a tourist itinerary.


The commune of Mszana Dolna
ul. Spadochroniarzy 6
34-730 Mszana Dolna
tel:18/3310009, 3310223,3310259
fax: 18/3311242
gmina@mszana.pl
www.mszana.pl

 
do gory