Chata na Szańcach in Koniaków

Inside a wooden house in the Szańce part of Koniaków, the highest village in the Silesian Voivodeship, hangs a trombita more than 11 metres long. According to the regional tourism portal it is probably the longest instrument of its kind in the world, and it was made by the man behind the place, Tadeusz Rucki. Around it is a collection of art and crafts from the Beskid "Three Villages", from sculpture to the famous Koniaków lace.

History: one craftsman's gallery

Tadeusz Rucki's Gallery of Regional Art has been open in the centre of Koniaków since 1990. Its founder specialises in regional instruments: shepherds' horns, alphorns and trombitas, the long wooden horns once used by mountain herders. He also started the production of crocheted lingerie that made Koniaków famous well beyond the Beskids.

Rucki's instruments are heard abroad as well. In summer 2015, as the "Koniaków Trio", he played with Professor Jan Bogłowski and Professor Antoni Adamus at the alphorn festival in Nendaz, Switzerland, which was then celebrating its 200th anniversary. The musicians performed on shepherds' horns and trombitas from his workshop.

What to see

• Art from the Three Villages of Koniaków, Istebna and Jaworzynka: sculpture, painting, reverse glass painting, prints and artistic joinery.
• A collection of shepherds' instruments, led by the trombita of more than 11 metres.
• Koniaków lace: doilies, tablecloths, blouses and lingerie. The pride of the collection is a lace bonnet about 140 years old.
• A stand of the "Ceramik" pottery studio run by Justyna Łodzińska.

Many items are for sale, including small lace pieces that visitors traditionally take home from Koniaków. It is also a chance to compare handmade lace from different Three Villages workshops.

Interesting facts

Chata na Szańcach often hosts local celebrations. In August 2012, at the opening of the 10th Koniaków Lace Days, it hosted a trombita-playing contest for locals and visitors and the launch of the CD "Trombita na Groniach", and according to local media the house was packed. In summer the gallery runs trombita contests where the prizes are instruments from the owner's workshop.

Tripto tip

Allow 30–45 minutes for the gallery. The slaskie.travel portal lists the address as Koniaków 662, phone +48 33 855 70 70 and daily hours of 10:00–18:00, but local sources have published other hours too, so call before you set off. It is easy to combine with places just a short walk away: the Lace Museum (Maria Gwarek Memorial Room), the Shepherding Centre and the Koniaków Lace Centre, and for a view, the nearby Ochodzita hill with its mountain hut.