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Sleigh Ride (Kulig) in Zakopane

A kulig is a winter procession of horse-drawn sleighs combined with a feast around a bonfire — an entertainment whose history in Poland reaches back to the 16th century. In Zakopane sleigh rides are organised daily, usually from 3 pm, and the whole outing with the ride lasts 3–4 hours.

From the nobility to Podhale sleighs

The history of the kulig is surprisingly aristocratic: from the 16th century to the early 20th it was a favourite pastime of the magnates and lesser nobility. At the head of the procession rode a master of ceremonies called the Harlequin, and the date of the gathering was set by a spherically curved wand — the „kula" — sent out to the participants. After the partitions, sleigh rides were held in defiance of the partitioning powers as a cultivation of Polish national tradition. Today the routes are planned to show the most interesting views of Zakopane, and in summer a wagon replaces the sleigh: the ride from Krupówki to Bachledzki Wierch takes about an hour.

What the outing includes

During the ride the coachman tells stories about the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane, while participants warm their hands on cups of mulled wine. The kulig ends with a feast in a highland hut with a live highlander band: bigos stew, bread with lard, sausages and highland tea appear on the table. The entertainment suits the whole family, children included. Prices are set individually with the organiser, so it is worth arranging the date and details before arriving in Zakopane.