Koliba Villa

The "Koliba" villa on Kościeliska Street in Zakopane is the first house built in the Zakopane style. The wooden villa was built in 1892-1893 to a design by Stanisław Witkiewicz, and since 1993 it has housed the Museum of the Zakopane Style, a branch of the Tatra Museum.

The house that started a style

It was commissioned by Zygmunt Gnatowski, a landowner from Podolia, who at first wanted a simple highlander cottage for his ethnographic collection. The result was a larger complex: rooms for folk exhibits were arranged in the east wing, while the two-storey western part served as living quarters. Witkiewicz's design is regarded as the beginning of the Zakopane style, which combines forms of highlander building with a modern house.

Museum of the Zakopane Style

The museum has operated in the villa since 4 December 1993. The building itself is the main exhibit here, as it shows what the first house in the style looked like, a style that later shaped the appearance of the town. The villa has been entered in the heritage register since 1983.

Nearby

About half a kilometre away are the Tatra Museum and the Karol Szymanowski Museum in the "Atma" villa. Kościeliska Street leads towards the Kościeliska Valley, and further away lies Giewont.

Practical information

• Address: ulica Kościeliska 18, Zakopane.
• The museum belongs to the Tatra Museum. Check opening hours and visiting rules on the museum's website before your visit.
• A visit works well in bad weather, as it takes place indoors.