Rabka-Zdrój
Rabka-Zdrój | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Country |  Poland |
| Voivodeship | Lesser Poland |
| County | Nowy Targ |
| Gmina | Rabka-Zdrój |
| Area | |
| • Total | 36.59 km2 (14.13 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 560 m (1,840 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 500 m (1,600 ft) |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 13,031 |
| • Density | 360/km2 (920/sq mi) |
| Postal code | 34-700 |
| Website | http://www.rabka.pl |
Rabka-Zdrój [Polish pronunciation: ['] ], usually referred to as Rabka, is a spa town in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland. It is located at around 49°36′30″N 19°58′0″E / 49.60833°N 19.96667°E. In 2004 it had a population of 19,018. Rabka is located in the southern part of Poland (between Kraków and Zakopane) in a valley inhabited by a large population of "gorale". Rabka lies on the northern slopes of the Gorce mountains, where the rivers Poniczanka and Sionka join the river Raba.
Rabka is an unusual town small town in that at its heart is a large woodland park with walks, cycle paths, tennis courts, children's play areas, go-karting, bouncy castle area and park restaurant. The most famous polish puppet theatre provides additional entertainment for children.
Located just 40 km from Zakopane and 60 km from Krakow, there are numerous beautiful places, national parks with an enormous variety of trails and footpaths, folklore and highland tradition to explore, all under an hour's drive. Rabka known earlier for its salt-works, became a spa in 1864, and the first treatment centre for children was established a few years later. The healing qualities of the town's water are among the best in Europe, according to experts.Today the local brines are applied in many hospitals and sanatoriums. Poland's main spa centre for children, Rabka gained international fame thanks to its unique, wonderful climate and rich deposits of excellent therapeutic waters.
The Władysław Orkan Museum, housed in a historical 17th-century larch-wood church, includes one of the largest collections of folk sculpture and paintings on glass; the world's only Order of the Smile Museum (dedicated to a unique order that children award to adults); Open-air Railway Museum in Chabówka near Rabka; Winter Carnival, Carpathian Festival of Children's Regional Ensembles, Mountain Children's Holiday International Festival. Numerous entertainment and folk events are held in the summer season.
Before World War II, Rabka was the third most important spa in Poland. Most of the spa-goers became children from Silesia with respiratory and circulatory problems. That is still the case today. Today Rabka-Zdrój is Poland's main spa centre for children thanks to its climate and rich deposits of therapeutic waters.
Its sister cities are Rovaniemi and Gmina Dominowo.
Maria Kaczyńska, wife of the current President of Poland (Lech Kaczyński), had her schooling in Rabka.
External links
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