Szczawnica, Spa town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Szczawnica sits at the foot of the Pieniny range in Lesser Poland and draws visitors with its mineral springs and wooded hills. Forest paths run through the area and connect the spa facilities with higher viewpoints.
Two separate settlements, Upper and Lower Szczawnica, formed in the early 15th century as farming communities. The parish received its first church during the first half of that century and later developed into a spa destination.
The name comes from a Polish word for sorrel, a plant that once grew in the area. Today you see visitors holding cups at the public drinking fountains and tasting the mineral water straight from the springs.
A chairlift runs up to Palenica at 722 meters (2,369 feet) and opens the way for summer hikes or winter skiing. The trails from the top station are well marked and suit different fitness levels.
The different springs here each contain distinct minerals and target different ailments, from airways to digestion to urinary systems. Some locals come regularly to seek out particular springs and drink their water for personal needs.
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