Stary Sącz. Attractions worth visiting

Stary Sącz is a very interesting, historical town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, located near Nowy Sącz, at the foot of the picturesque Beskid Sądecki, in the forks of the Dunajec and Poprad rivers, on the old Amber Trail. Stary Sącz was considered an urban reserve due to its beautiful buildings, dating back even to the Middle Ages.

Stary Sącz is one of the ancient towns of Sądecczyzna and at the same time one of the oldest cities in Poland. Founded probably in the 11th century, it gained city rights in the 13th century! The first mention of Stary Sącz dates back to 1257, when Prince Bolesław the Chaste gave his wife, the Hungarian princess Kinda, the land of Sącz. Kinga, now a Saint, thanks to these goods, founded a Poor Clares monastery in Stary Sącz in 1280, which operates here to this day. In Stary Sącz, her canonization was made today by the Holy Polish Pope, in 1999. It was also she who initiated the extraction of valuable salt in Poland, in Bochnia and Wieliczka, when she brought Hungarian miners with her.

Attractions in Stary Sącz

This small, yet very atmospheric town hides some very interesting attractions. Not only historical, but also natural. Be sure to visit them while in the area. We are captivated by this city every time, and it is still not trampled. Check out the best attractions of Stary Sącz!

1. Forest Pier on Miejska Góra in Stary Sącz

The Forest Pier on Miejska Góra has been open to tourists since 2021. It is a great attraction in nature, within reach of every resident and tourist, because it is located a few hundred meters from the center and is available free of charge, for which there is a lot of applause! You can get here from the market, where there is free parking on weekends.

At first it was steep uphill, then it was a pleasant walk through the forest. In good weather, the road is accessible for wheelchairs. First, on the forest path, you can see the life cycle of the mountain toad in glass spheres, and after a few hundred meters a footbridge begins among the trees, with a bridge and hammocks, and finally a beautiful panorama of Stary Sącz, Poprad falling into the Dunajec and the peaks of the Grybowski Mountains, the westernmost range of the Low Beskids. We have prepared a map of the walk to the Forest Pier.

2. Market Square in Stary Sącz

The development of the charming market square in Stary Sącz refers to the Middle Ages. The original urban layout has been preserved here. Until 1795, the magnificent Town Hall stood here, but after it burned down, it was not rebuilt. Its reconstruction is located in the Galician Town near the Sądecki Ethnographic Park in Nowy Sącz. However, a seventeenth-century bourgeois house called "Dom na Dołkach" survived on the Old Town market square. This beautiful and interesting monument today houses the Regional Museum. The downside of the extremely picturesque and climatic market in Stary Sącz are cars. There is a parking lot here, which does not match the lovely rest.

3. Poor Clares Monastery in Stary Sącz

The Poor Clares Monastery was founded here in 1280 by the Hungarian princess of the Arpad dynasty Kinga - then the widow of the Polish ruler - Bolesław V the Shy. She herself was a nun in this monastery and died here. Today it is Saint Kinga, canonized in 1999 by Pope John Paul II, also now Saint. Interestingly, despite her marriage, she took vows of chastity and remained a virgin throughout her life.

The monastery functions to this day, there is a historic, gothic church of the Holy Trinity with baroque polychromes and a valuable 17th-century pulpit. Not far from here is the Chapel of St. Kinga with a miraculous spring.

4. Seklerska Gate in Stary Sącz

The Sekler Gate is a wooden, symbolic gate that stands under the monastery. It is a gift from Hungary on the occasion of the canonization of St. Kinga, because she was a Hungarian princess.

5. The source of St. Kinga in Stary Sącz

A source of wonderful water, which is located a few hundred meters from the monastery. Next to the spring stands the chapel of St. Kinga, which was built in 1779, on the site of an older chapel. In order to get to the spring, you have to follow the Route of St. Kinga from the monastery and turn right slightly in front of the tower. You can follow the tower down and further turn right into Bandurskiego Street, then turn right again under the chapel.

6. Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary and St. Margaret in Stary Sącz

The historic church of St. Elizabeth and Margaret belongs to the oldest parish in the city, existing for sure already in the 13th century, or maybe even earlier. The construction, or perhaps the reconstruction, of the parish in Stara Sącz after the Tatar invasions took place here during the reign of Bolesław the Chaste (1227-1279). The choice of St. Elizabeth of Hungary as patroness suggests that it was after 1235, when her cult spread after canonization. 

The present temple is a Gothic building, erected at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, and rebuilt in the Baroque era. The decor is largely baroque. The tower of the temple can be seen from the market square, from where a charming promenade leads to it - Kazimierza Wielkiego Street.

7. Bobrowisko in Stary Sącz

But it's a nice place, picturesque and secluded. Bobrowisko includes a unique area located in floodplains, in the forks of Dunajec and Poprad. Recently, very popular footbridges have been created here by tourists - two wooden bridges crossing each other and two observation points. They allow you to relax in the bosom of nature, admire it, and at the same time not to destroy it or scare animals in their natural habitats. All the advantages! 

We really liked this place, the loop with footbridges is about 20 minutes of walking, from the parking lot the whole walk takes 40 minutes of peaceful walking. At the free car park, there is also a sky swimming pool, the Ponds Water Park and the Lemur Rope Park. You can also buy fast food snacks or ice cream. It is only a 10-minute drive from the centre of Stary Sącz. Below you have a map with a marked walking loop.

8. Lemur Rope Park in Stary Sącz

Lemur is a very nice rope park located in the forest, open from May to September. During the holidays, it is open every day, except on weekends. It was created near the Pond and Bobrowisko Baths, on the outskirts of Stary Sącz. There are a lot of routes here and people willing to test themselves on them. 

There are 6 routes with interesting obstacles: a bicycle, a ladder car, a skateboard, a boat or a go-kart. In addition, drawbridges, Tibetan and Burmese bridges. The more than 120-meter-long roller coaster by the water, the route on the island and the special children's zone are all cool. There is a large free car park on site.

9. Stary Sącz Pond Swimming Pool

Swimming pool Water Park "Stawy" is open in summer and is available for a fee, but inexpensively. You can also rent a kayak, a pedalo or a boat on site. It is an urban resort, open every day during the holidays, from 10.00 to 20.00. The prices of normal tickets are PLN 11, discounted PLN 6, family tickets PLN 25 (2022).

10. Regional Museum in Stary Sącz

Through exhibitions, the Seweryn Udziela Museum tells about the history and culture of Stary Sącz, but also about important people associated with this city. For example, about Father Tischner or Ada Sari - an opera singer. The museum is housed in a beautiful, historic building standing at the corner of the market square.

11. Starosądec Early Music Festival

The festival has been held every year since 1974. It's now a full week. Most of the concerts take place in the Holy Trinity Church at the Poor Clares Monastery, but also in the parish church and in the church in Barcice.

12. Snail platform at Wola Krogulecka 

Near Stary Sącz, 3 km from Barcice, an interesting observation platform was built at Wola Krogulecka. From its unusual shape, it is simply called the Snail. You can admire the wonderful panorama of the Beskid Sądecki, Beskid Wyspowy and the Poprad valley. Admission to the platform is free, a few hundred meters earlier, there is a small, free parking lot by the road, which is sometimes full on summer weekends.

13. Papal Altar in Stary Sącz

The altar was built in 1999, on the occasion of the visit of the Holy Father John Paul II in Stary Sącz. The structure, like other papal altars, was to be dismantled, but due to great interest in the beautiful building, it has survived to this day, and the John Paul II Museum also operates here.

Where did the name Sącz come from?

The name Sącz etymologically comes from the Old Polish word Sądecz (1163). It was created from the Slavic name Sądek, probably from the name of the founder or leader of the settlement. Over time, the name took on its present form. In the fifteenth century, to distinguish the two neighboring Sączs, the older one gained the nickname Old, and the younger one - New.

Map of attractions and car parks in Stary Sącz and a walking route

We have prepared a map of Stary Sącz and the surrounding area with marked attractions and car parks.

To visit the monuments and attractions of Stary Sącz, including the Forest Pier, we recommend parking lots in the city. The first one is located on the Market Square, it is free on weekends. You can also park on one of the many streets around it. A good option is to leave your car at the free transfer station Park and Ride at ul. Pod Ogrodami (136 parking spaces). Other car parks can be found next to the Sokół Cinema (23 Batorego Street) or behind the Municipal Office (entrance from Batorego Street).

And here you have a suggestion to walk around the center of this beautiful city. We will start the walk near the market square to see the synagogue and the church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary - the oldest in the city. Next, near Burma Seklerska, we will go to the spring of St. Kinga and return to the monastery she founded. Then we will return to the market passing the Regional Museum. We are sure to find something to eat on the market, and the car is not far away.

Film from Stary Sącz

After visiting this beautiful city, we have prepared a film. I hope you enjoy it!

Where to eat in Stary Sącz?

There are already several traditional restaurants on the market, including Marysieńka, and on the way to the monastery, there is a cool Pieroga Studio at Daszyńskiego Street and a little further on, the Sądecka Confectionery and KarmeLove Craft Ice Cream. I recommend 🙂 You can eat fries or casseroles and, of course, ice cream by the parking lot near Bobrowisko and the Stawy Swimming Pool at Wielki Wygon Street.

Accommodation in Stary Sącz

We did not sleep in Stary Sącz, you will find atmospheric accommodation in the Galician Town, and I recommend the Ptaszkow Winter Sports Centre. It is just over 20 km from Stary Sącz, and the place is beautifully located, with attractions and affordable. You can also buy meals.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Three Crowns, distance: 23.1  km
• Wieliczka Salt Mine, distance: 62.5  km
• Kazimierz in Kraków, distance: 73.5  km
• Wawel Castle in Kraków, distance: 74.2  km
• St. Mary's Church in Krakow, distance: 74.6  km
• Market Square in Krakow, distance: 74.7  km
• Ojców National Park, distance: 91.2  km
• Krakowskie valleys, distance: 93.3  km
• Tenczyn Castle, distance: 96.5  km
• Pieskowa Skała Castle, distance: 97.4  km