Upper Park (Park Górny), Szczawnica

Park Górny – the Upper Park – is Szczawnica's oldest spa garden, laid out from 1824, when Jan Kutscher began creating it. It occupies a rise on the east side of ul. Zdrojowa and Dietl Square, and among its trees stand a Gothic Revival spa chapel, a bandshell, the Inhalatorium and old villas built for spa guests. Since 2002 the park has borne the name of Count Adam Stadnicki.

History: Kutscher, Szalay and Stadnicki

After Kutscher, the park owes most to Józef Szalay, who brought in rare tree species – in 1889 as many as 10,000 saplings were planted here. In the 1880s many paths, flowerbeds, squares and groves were laid out, along with croquet lawns. Between the wars Adam Stadnicki extended the park by another 11 ha, planted it with larches and built a tennis court.

Now the park is due for another makeover. The town of Szczawnica is carrying out the "Renewal of the Upper Park" project, co-funded by European Funds for Małopolska with more than PLN 8 million. By 30 June 2027 the paths and steps are to be modernised, street furniture and new planting added, and the park made step-free.

What to see

• The spa chapel – Gothic Revival, built 1844–1847, above Dietl Square.
• The bandshell from 1950, right next to the chapel.
• The Inhalatorium – built in 1934–1936.
• Bust of Józef Szalay and sculptures by Maria Chudoba-Wiśniewska from 1960–1963.
• Historic villas and guesthouses – among them Pod Modrzewiami (now the Park Modrzewie hotel), Malinowa, the Świerki sanatorium, the rebuilt Dworzec Gościnny guesthouse of 1884, and the Palma and Szalay villas.

Interesting facts

Two streets, ul. Jana Wiktora and ul. Park Górny, cross the park, so a walk alternates between garden paths and quiet lanes lined with villas. The Hotel Batory stands on the site of the former Pod Batorym villa.

Tripto tip

The park is open to all and free. About an hour is enough to stroll the paths and see the chapel, bandshell and villas. As works under the renewal project are due to last until mid-2027, some paths may be temporarily closed – check announcements on szczawnica.pl. The ground rises above Dietl Square, so expect gentle climbs and steps. Start your walk at Dietl Square, above which the spa chapel rises.