Stecówka, Hamlet and tourist attraction in Istebna, Poland
Stecówka is a hamlet within the village of Istebna, set on a wide clearing in the Beskid Śląski mountains of southern Poland. On this clearing stand a wooden church, a private mountain shelter, and an old shepherd's hut, all surrounded by forested slopes.
The name Stecówka likely comes from a settler called Stec, who appears in early records from the 1700s, showing how long people have lived on this land. The wooden church was built between 1956 and 1958 by local families working in secret, as official rules at the time restricted new church construction.
From spring to fall, night prayer gatherings known as Fatima Vigils bring people together on the clearing around the church. Wooden votive objects and carved icons placed around the building are left by worshippers and can be seen by anyone who visits.
Stecówka sits directly on the Główny Szlak Beskidzki hiking trail and can also be reached by car on a paved road from the Przełęcz Szarcula pass near Wisła. Paths can be snowy and slippery in winter, so sturdy footwear is a good idea year round.
When the church burned down in 2013, the only object that survived the fire was the tabernacle holding the Holy Eucharist. The bell from the original building was also saved and was hung again when the rebuilt church opened in 2016.
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