# Zalipie

> In Zalipie, houses, barns and wells are painted with colourful floral motifs. According to In Your Pocket, the custom arose before chimneys existed, when…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/zalipie-painted-village/

A village where houses, barns and even doghouses are covered in painted flowers, a tradition said to have begun to hide soot from old stoves. Visit the painted cottage museum, ideally in late spring when the annual contest decorates new walls.

In Zalipie, houses, barns and wells are painted with colourful floral motifs. According to In Your Pocket, the custom arose before chimneys existed, when smoke from the hearths blackened the interior walls; the women whitewashed them with lime before Easter, and over time the covering-up turned into floral painting. There are more than 20 painted houses in Zalipie itself, with a few more in the neighbouring villages.

A highlight is the museum in the farmstead of Felicja Curyłowa, a branch of the Tarnów Regional Museum. The "Malowana Chata" (Painted Cottage) competition is held every year on the weekend after Corpus Christi, in early summer. There is no railway station in the village, and restaurants and shops are scarce nearby, so a car is the best way to get there; bring provisions. Allow about two hours for a walk around, and note that weekdays outside the competition are quietest.

- **Nearest town:** Zalipie, Poland
- **Category:** Roadside oddities
- **GPS:** 50.2158, 20.8236

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Poland: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels.** Some motorway sections are tolled; pay with the e-TOLL app. Motorway limit for cars: 140 km/h.

## Sources

- [Zalipie: the most photogenic village in Poland – In Your Pocket](https://www.inyourpocket.com/tarnow/zalipie-the-most-photogenic-village-in-poland_73954f)

## Nearby

- [Kopalnia soli Wieliczka](https://camping-spirit.com/places/wieliczka/) – 61 km
- [Wawel Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/wawel-castle/) – 66 km
- [Pieskowa Skała Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/pieskowa-skala-castle/) – 74 km
- [Sandomierz](https://camping-spirit.com/places/sandomierz-old-town/) – 84 km

## FAQs

### Where is Zalipie?

Zalipie is in Zalipie, Poland, at GPS 50.2158, 20.8236. It is about 65 km from Kraków.

### Can you camp near Zalipie?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Pod Jabłoniami, about 24 km away; within 25 km there are 3 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Zalipie?

Places worth a stop nearby: Kopalnia soli Wieliczka (61 km), Wawel Castle (66 km), Pieskowa Skała Castle (74 km) and Sandomierz (84 km).

### When is the best time to visit Zalipie?

The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)