Krynica-Zdrój or Krynica Górska? This question is often asked by people planning to visit the famous spa in the Beskid Sądecki mountains. And although only the first name is correct from a formal point of view, the second seems to be even more popular and more willingly used by many tourists. Why is that?
History of the town's name Krynica-Zdrój
The history of Krynica-Zdrój dates back to the first half of the 16th century, when the area of today's town was a village called Krzenycze. Krynica gained town rights in 1911, but it took almost 100 years before the town's name gained a second part. The place was given a new name on January 1, 2002 – from that moment on, it started to appear on maps as Krynica-Zdrój. Adding "zdrój" (spa) to the name of the town was intended primarily to emphasize its spa character, but also to distinguish it from Krynica Morska, with which it was often confused.
Krynica Górska – how did this name come about?
Until the official name change to Krynica-Zdrój, the town started to function colloquially as Krynica Górska. For what reason? Simply to clearly distinguish the spa town in the Beskid Sądecki mountains from the coastal town. And although Krynica-Zdrój is the only correct name of the town, Krynica Górska has firmly settled in our dictionaries and is still widely used not only by tourists but also by residents.
Krynica-Zdrój today – a spa town
Currently, Krynica-Zdrój – or Krynica Górska, if you prefer – is a spa resort enjoying immense popularity. The first mentions of the healing properties of the local springs date back to the first half of the 18th century, while the beginnings of spa treatment date to the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries. Over the years, the town has developed dynamically, and during its glory years, it hosted such personalities as Józef Piłsudski, Jan Matejko, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, Władysław Reymont, Julian Tuwim, Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński, and Jan Kiepura.
Currently, in Krynica-Zdrój, diseases of the digestive system, urinary system, circulatory system, and metabolism are treated. In addition to sanatoriums, hospitals, drinking houses, bottling plants of mineral and medicinal waters, and other spa infrastructure, the town also has numerous accommodation facilities offering a range of attractions to tourists. Hotel w górach (Hotel in the mountains) Belmonte is a luxurious, five-star facility located in the city center, in the immediate vicinity of the ski slope. The hotel offers its guests exclusive rooms and apartments, restaurant Aura serving traditional dishes in an original setting, and a SPA zone with a pool, sauna complex, and treatment rooms.
