Magura National Park, National park in Gorlice County, Poland
Magura is a protected area in Subcarpathian and Lesser Poland voivodeships, covering wooded hills and narrow river valleys. Beech forests alternate with fir stands, while streams flow through gorges and small clearings open here and there.
Protection was declared in 1995 to preserve woodlands formerly managed by Lemko communities before that population was displaced after the Second World War. Cemeteries from the First World War recall fighting between Russian and Austro-German troops here in 1914 and 1915.
Timber Orthodox chapels rise in different valleys, showing how eastern communities shaped their worship spaces with materials from the surrounding woodland. The structures appear simple and modest, with shingle-covered onion domes and narrow windows that keep the interior dim.
Marked hiking trails run through the terrain and connect natural features such as rock formations and waterfalls. Routes vary in length and some climb steeply, so it helps to bring a map and sturdy footwear.
The area acts as a corridor between the Eastern and Western Carpathians, allowing animals such as lynx and wolf to move between larger mountain chains. This function makes the place important for maintaining biodiversity across Central Europe.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
