The Market in Zakopane, Poland: A Bargain-hunter's Paradise
Date: 06/25/2007International Living Postcards-- your daily escape
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Zakopane, Poland
The market in Zakopane, in the heart of town on Krupowki Street, buzzes with stall-holders selling their wares and shoppers haggling for a bargain. Local artists display paintings, tapestries, and works of sculpture.
Zakopane is in southern Poland, about 60 miles from Krakow. The town celebrates its highland folklore year-round, with lively music in taverns and hotels. The market here is one of the best I've visited, for choice and value for money.
Traditional sweaters made from the wool of sheep reared on the slopes are dyed a charcoal gray…8 euro ($11) each. Sheepskin rugs are 15 euro ($20) and leather handbags cost around 10 euro ($13). Cozy ankle-slippers made from pure sheepskin ($7) and leather slip-on sandals (from $3) were the most popular with bargain-hunters. Great gifts for kids are wooly sheepskin gilets dyed dusky pink or baby blue.
Local cheeses, wooden carvings, paintings on glass, and many more items can be picked up at equally modest prices.
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A beautiful wooden fruit bowl in the shape of the sun caught my eye…and at $3, it was coming with me. I couldn't resist picking up some winter woolies, so chose a cardigan made from sheep wool in a natural shade.
Due to its mountain location, visitors flock to the region not only for bargain buys at the market stalls, but also for the pure air, beautiful mountain scenery, and the abundance of natural amenities for rest and recreation.
Zakopane is the winter capital of Poland, offering top-class skiing and snowboarding slopes in the Tatra Mountains. Don't buy expensive sports gear before you arrive, as many shops stock top-of-the-range ski wear at low prices.
Anne Heffernan
For International Living
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P.S. The best time to visit Zakopane is August, during the International Festival of Mountain Folklore. People come from all over the world to celebrate a week of music and dance.
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