The large area, beautiful location, peace, and quiet – these are the first impressions of people who visit the Etnopark – the Żywiec Ethnographic Park in Ślemień. The place is surrounded by hills covered with meadows, fields, households, and forests. There are modern buildings on the slopes, people are working in the fields, in their households, they are travelling in their cars, you can hear the sounds of a village life that surrounds the piece of the world that is already gone. It is really charming.

You are welcomed by the old school building from Rychwałd, then there are a granary from Sucha Beskidzka, a smithy from Ślemień, an old peasant house from Łękawica, a small hut of an herbalist from Korbielów and among these all buildings there is a small shrine with the Pensive Christ made by Józef Hulka and other wayside shrines. So far there are 17 building here and there are still more to be built. They are waiting for their turn. The plans include a church building, a Jewish house of prayer, a forester’s lodge and a water mill. All the building are authentic and they come from different places in the Żywiec Beskids area. They reflect this region’s urban planning and  development. There are three different wells. Inside we can see typical arrangement and equipment as well as exhibitions presenting different aspects of highlanders’ life. You will also find a small-town pharmacy.

The greenery is specific here. From the very beginning, a typical garden layout is recreated for each building. It is done with the help of the archives. The plants are specially chosen for each building so that each season they depict the character of each building. Trees are planted very slowly and it is planned to recreate the original orchards.

It is not only the past that dominates here, we can also notice the present day here. This is not only thanks to the young people visiting this place and participating in various educational classes. There are also other activities organized here such as lectures and presentations, shows, discussions connected with the cultural heritage of the Żywiec area (regional costumes, dialect, music folklore or rituals). Every year plein-air painting is organized in the Park. Other events also attract people who want to spend their time nicely here. You can participate in the Dying Professions Festival, the Great Day of the Bees or Highlander Meetings. You may on the other hand just arrive and spend some time in this serene quiet.

The place is still under construction – there are so many challenges before the musicologists, many unfinished enterprises – but the place is already unique. It is soothing and stimulating at the same time – a balm to contemporary, busy man’s heart.

Etnopark Żywiecki Park Etnograficzny
34-323 Ślemień, ul. Łączna 2a
tel. (+48) 534 631 330
e-mail: etnopark@slemien.pl
www.etnopark.pl