In Kasina Wielka, a small village situated between the Raba and Dunajec valleys, Justyna Kowalczyk - our cross-country skiing champion - was born and developed her great talent.
The history of Kasina Wielka dates back to the 14th century. The village is decent, brick, but modest, just like our master. But its biggest winter magnet, the Śnieżnica ski station, is no longer modest - it was built - for the convenience of skiers - with deliberation and panache.
No wonder that the village is attractive for tourists at any time of the year - it is located in a picturesque and not too much high Beskid Wyspowy, through which numerous hiking and biking trails have been marked out, not too difficult to overcome even for "Sunday tourists".
Apart from the beautiful nature and wonderful landscapes, there are several objects worth seeing here. Be sure to visit the wooden church from 1678 located in the center of the village, entered in the register of monuments of the wooden architecture route. From a distance you can see its tower with an onion-shaped helmet with a lantern. Apparently, there is a carved crucifix inside and figures of the Mother of God and St. Evangelists cut from the seventeenth century boards - but it is difficult to find out in winter - the church is not used and access to the interior is prevented by snowdrifts.
The railway station building from 1884 is also interesting, being part of the highest (570 m above sea level) railway line in Poland, built as part of the Trans Versailles line, connecting Chabówka with Lviv.
Śnieżnica station
The longest of the closest to Krakow (only an hour away!), Snow-cleared and illuminated ski slope, operates here. You can get to the upper station of the cable car, located 900 meters above sea level, by a 4-seater chair.
Worth knowingAccess: by bus: from Kraków and Nowy Sącz, the journey by bus takes approx. 1.5 hours: by car: From Kraków Zakopianka in the direction of Mszana Dolna and Dobczyce approx. 65 minutes; 55 minutes from Nowy Sącz to Limanowa, Mszana Dolna.
Parking at Śnieżnica station: paid PLN 5.
Ski station: open weekly from 9 , and on weekends from 8 am to 10 pm.
Ski and snowboard equipment rentals are open here.
There, after refreshing yourself with a little something in a cozy bar, in summer we can immediately set off on one of the many hiking trails, and in winter - go on a 1,400-meter route, which is entirely guidedis in the woods. This protects the snow a bit from melting and the skiers from the cold wind.
The downhill slope does not hide any unpleasant surprises - it has a uniform slope (21 degrees) along its entire length, which makes it easier for both experienced and novice skiers to ski safely. For the latter, there is also a donkey meadow with a 120-meter long plate lift.
There is an inn at the foot of the ski station. It is difficult to resist an invitation to mulled wine and delicacies of regional and home cuisine, e.g. the speci alty of the highlanders from Kasina, i.e. oscypek fried with cranberries, kwaśnica or Kasinska pancake with goulash.