Lower Park (Park Dolny)

Park Dolny (Lower Park) lies in the centre of Szczawnica, on the northern side of Główna Street, at the foot of Bryjarka hill. It is bounded by Park Dolny and Aleja Parkowa streets, and on one side borders the Miedziusie district.

A park by the springs

The park was laid out in 1861-1868 in connection with plans to develop the springs “Szymon”, “Aniela” and “Helena”. In January 1860 Józef Szalay leased 17.5 morgs of land for 50 years to the Society of Domestic Spas, on condition that a bathing establishment be founded. Still in 1860 wooden buildings were put up, and the springs were enclosed in stone well casings. After the lease expired in 1910 the Lower Establishment became the property of Adam Stadnicki.

What stands in the park

The more important buildings include the “Wanda” spring, the Chapel of Our Lady of Częstochowa, the villa “Leonówka” from 1866-1870 and the guesthouse “Marta” from 1876. There is also an artificial grotto from 1890 in honour of Mikołaj Zyblikiewicz, with a medallion of his profile carved by Józef Hakowski. In the central part of the park there are a pond and a gazebo. In 2012 the park underwent a thorough revitalisation.

Practical information

• Location: centre of Szczawnica, next to Główna Street.
• It is about 0.8 km to Józef Dietl Square.
• The lift and the upper station on Palenica are about 1 km further on.