Brigands' Chapel in Zawoja Policzne

By the road through Zawoja Policzne stands a small white chapel under a shingled roof that rises into an onion dome with a lantern. This is the Chapel of St John the Baptist, known locally as the brigands' chapel — tradition says it was founded by highwaymen as an offering of atonement for their sins. It is surrounded by old lime trees protected as natural monuments and is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the road to Babia Góra.

Stone, shingle and an onion dome

It is a small house-shaped chapel, built of fieldstone and plastered. The roof is hipped at the bottom and then turns into a shingled onion dome topped by a lantern with a spherical cupola — up close you can see how carefully the wooden shingles were laid. The dating is uncertain: the Zawoja municipality says the chapel probably dates from the late 17th or early 18th century, while the district tourism portal dates it to the late 18th century. Either way, the chapel is more than two hundred years old.

The brigands' legend

The story of highwaymen founders fits the region's past well. In the 18th century well-known bands of brigands operated around Babia Góra, including those of Józef Baczyński, called Skawicki, and Proćpak of Kamesznica. However, no document links the chapel to any particular band, so it is best treated as local tradition rather than established fact.

Tripto tip

The chapel stands on regional road 957, about 50 metres before the Karczma Zbójnicka inn, so it is easy to miss when driving. Allow 10–15 minutes: walk around the building, look at the bulbous dome and the lime trees, but do not park on a stretch of verge where you would block traffic. The door has an open lattice through which you can look inside. The stop combines easily with a trip towards Krowiarki Pass — a trail leads there from Policzne.