Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej

Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej (officially Schronisko PTTK im. Józefa Piłsudskiego na Jaworzynie Krynickiej) is a mountain tourist hostel operated by the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Turystyczno-Krajoznawcze, PTTK). It stands at about 1050 m above sea level in the Beskid Sądecki range, just below the summit of Jaworzyna Krynicka, near the spa town of Krynica-Zdrój in southern Poland. The shelter is part of the PTTK network of mountain huts and is a well-known stop on hiking routes in the region. The idea of building a hostel on Jaworzyna Krynicka emerged in 1928 among activists of the Polish Tatra Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Tatrzańskie) in Krynica. Land was purchased in autumn 1930 and construction materials were gathered; building work began in the winter of 1933–1934. Three concrete water reservoirs, a treatment unit and a sewerage system were built to collect spring water. In the second half of December 1934 the hostel was partially completed and opened to tourists. Its first host was Jan Kamyk. The original building offered a buffet and 60 sleeping places: 30 beds in 14 rooms and 30 places on bunks in two communal rooms. It was named after Józef Piłsudski, who according to local tradition had planted a Swiss pine on the slopes of Jaworzyna; that tree survived into the second decade of the 21st century, and a figure of John Paul II now stands in its place. The hostel became a tourist attraction, hosting guests such as the tenor Jan Kiepura, pilots from the Szkoła Orląt (Polish Air Force academy), and Princess Juliana, the future Queen of the Netherlands, with her husband Bernhard. During World War II the hostel suffered severely. In August 1939 the hosts Maria and Jan Kamyk left the building and returned in June 1940, finding it plundered and devastated; they resumed operations at the order of the German director of the Krynica spa. In 1942 Jan Kamyk was arrested and deported to Auschwitz. In 1943 the hostel and the Kamyks' entire property were taken over by Rudolf Mickler, acting as mayor of Krynica. In June 1944 Polish partisans disarmed the Germans staying at the hostel and took all food and blankets; after this Mickler closed and abandoned the building. On 18 October 1944, during a German manhunt for partisans, the hostel building was set on fire. After World War II local PTT activists decided to rebuild the hostel. Lacking funds, they set up a temporary tourist shelter called "Sarenka" on the foundations of the former utility building, with one room, a common room and a small kitchen. It soon proved too small. In 1960 the old foundations and cellars were cleared and a single-storey wooden building with 20 sleeping places was erected. The earlier shelter was later used by the PTTK Mountain Tourism Culture Centre at Jaworzyna Krynicka. Further construction followed: stone walls, a staircase, sanitary facilities, central heating and electricity were added, with a kitchen in the old basement and a dining room above. By 1967 the hostel had 40 sleeping places in 2- and 4-person rooms and two communal rooms. On 7 May 1989 the pre-war patron was restored, with a plaque on the front wall reading "Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej im. Józefa Piłsudskiego – wys. ok. 1060 m n.p.m." In the 1990s the hostel underwent a comprehensive reconstruction to improve comfort and safety, leaving only the foundations of the old building. It reopened on 22 June 1997, set on high stone foundations, with the ground floor clad in stone and the upper floor in wood. In 2011 a glazed viewing terrace was added on the north-western side. Today the hostel offers 34 sleeping places in 1- to 4-person rooms with private bathrooms and provides full board. Its kitchen serves both meat and vegetarian dishes, including hostel classics such as żurek and kwaśnica.

The history of Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej begins in 1928, when the first plans to build a hostel appeared among activists of the Polish Tatra Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Tatrzańskie) in Krynica. In autumn 1930 land was purchased and building materials began to be collected. Construction work started in the winter of 1933–1934. To collect water from springs, three concrete reservoirs, a treatment unit and a sewerage system were built. In the second half of December 1934 the hostel was partially completed and opened to tourists. Its first host was Jan Kamyk. The building had a buffet and 60 sleeping places: 30 beds in 14 rooms and 30 places on bunks in two communal rooms. The hostel was named after Józef Piłsudski, who according to local accounts had planted a Swiss pine on the slopes of Jaworzyna; the tree grew until the second decade of the 21st century, and a figure of John Paul II now stands in its place. The hostel became a tourist attraction, hosting guests including the tenor Jan Kiepura, pilots from the Szkoła Orląt, and Princess Juliana, the future Queen of the Netherlands, with her husband Bernhard. In August 1939 the hosts Maria and Jan Kamyk left the building, returning in June 1940. Left unattended, it had been plundered and devastated. At the order of the German director of the Krynica spa they resumed operations. In 1942 Jan Kamyk was arrested and deported to the Auschwitz camp. In 1943 the hostel and the entire Kamyk property were taken over by Rudolf Mickler, who was acting as mayor of Krynica. In June 1944 Polish partisans disarmed the Germans staying at the hostel and took all the food and blankets. After this action Mickler closed and abandoned the hostel. On 18 October 1944 the Germans carried out a manhunt for partisans, during which they set fire to the hostel building. After World War II local PTT activists decided to rebuild the hostel. Lacking funds, they set up a temporary tourist shelter called "Sarenka" on the foundations of the former utility building. It had one room, a common room and a small kitchen. The shelter quickly proved too small. In 1960 the old foundations and cellars were cleared, and on them a single-storey wooden building with 20 sleeping places was erected. The existing shelter was later used for the needs of the PTTK Mountain Tourism Culture Centre at Jaworzyna Krynicka. In subsequent years further construction work was carried out: stone walls, a staircase, sanitary facilities, central heating and electricity were added. A kitchen was arranged in the old basement, and a dining room above. In 1967 the hostel already had 40 sleeping places in 2- and 4-person rooms and two communal rooms. On 7 May 1989 the hostel's pre-war patron was restored: a plaque was placed on the front wall reading "Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej im. Józefa Piłsudskiego – wys. ok. 1060 m n.p.m." In the 1990s a comprehensive reconstruction of the hostel was carried out, aimed at improving the comfort of overnight stays and increasing the safety of guests. Only the foundations of the old hostel remained. The building was reopened on 22 June 1997. It sits on high stone foundations; the ground-floor walls are clad in stone, while the upper floor is made of wood. In 2011 a glazed viewing terrace was added to the existing building on the north-western side. Today the hostel has 34 sleeping places in rooms from 1- to 4-person with private bathrooms. It provides full board. Next to the hostel there is a GOPR mountain rescue duty station, a chapel with a figure of Pope John Paul II, and the building of the PTTK Mountain Tourism Culture Centre. Tourist trails lead from Krynica-Zdrój (about 3 hours up, 2 hours down) to Jaworzyna Krynicka (about 30 minutes up, 20 minutes back).

• 2011

  A glazed viewing terrace is added on the north-western side.

• 1997

  After comprehensive reconstruction, the hostel reopens on 22 June.

• 1989

  On 7 May the pre-war patron Józef Piłsudski is restored with a plaque on the front wall.

• 1967

  The hostel has 40 sleeping places in 2- and 4-person rooms and two communal rooms.

• 1960

  Old foundations and cellars are cleared; a single-storey wooden building with 20 sleeping places is erected.

• 1944

  In June Polish partisans disarm Germans at the hostel; on 18 October Germans set the building on fire.

• 1943

  The hostel and the Kamyks' property are taken over by Rudolf Mickler, acting mayor of Krynica.

• 1942

  Jan Kamyk is arrested and deported to the Auschwitz camp.

• 1940

  The Kamyks return in June and resume operations at the order of the German director of the Krynica spa.

• 1939

  In August hosts Maria and Jan Kamyk leave the building.

• 1934

  In the second half of December the hostel is partially completed and opened to tourists; Jan Kamyk becomes first host.

• 1933

  Construction work begins in the winter of 1933–1934.

• 1930

  Land is purchased in autumn and building materials begin to be collected.

• 1928

  First plans to build a hostel appear among Polish Tatra Society activists in Krynica.

A comfortable, high-altitude PTTK mountain hostel in the Beskid Sądecki, combining traditional shelter hospitality with private-bathroom rooms and full board for skiers, hikers, families and groups.

• Accommodation in 1- to 4-person rooms with private bathrooms

  The hostel offers 34 sleeping places in rooms from 1- to 4-person, each with a bathroom.

• Full-board dining

  The hostel provides full board with meat and vegetarian dishes, including hostel classics such as żurek and kwaśnica.

• Group and event stays

  The offer is aimed at skiers, cyclists, tourists, survival enthusiasts and families with children; green schools, sports camps, workshops and special events can be organized.

• New Year's Eve package

  The hostel advertises a New Year's Eve 2026/2027 package in the mountains.

1. 1Schronisko Jaworzyna Krynicka Strona główna - Schronisko PTTK Jaworzyna Krynickaschronisko-jaworzyna.pl
2. 2Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej – Wikipedia (Polish)pl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Schronisko PTTK na Jaworzynie Krynickiej – Wikidatawikidata.org