"Harenda" Villa

The "Harenda" Villa is the house of Jan Kasprowicz in Zakopane, purchased by the poet in 1923 from the English painter Winifred Cooper using funds earned from his translations of Shakespeare. Located on the slopes of Gubałówka, the building now serves as a biographical and literary museum dedicated to the poet. The name of the villa comes from the inn "Pod Arendą" in Czarnowąsy, where Kasprowicz studied in 1881. The author lived in Harenda for only three years, until his death in 1926. In 1933, thanks to the efforts of the poet's widow and friends, a granite mausoleum designed by Karol Stryjeński was built near the villa, where his ashes were transferred. In 1950, the museum was established, and in 1964, the Association of Friends of the Works of Jan Kasprowicz was founded, organizing events dedicated to the poet's legacy. The museum has preserved the interior of the house from Kasprowicz's time, including the dining room, living room, and bedroom. His extensive library, which was housed in a closed section, was destroyed in a fire in 1945. The museum displays family memorabilia, everyday objects, paintings, and remnants of the book collection. Upstairs, there is a gallery of works by Władysław Jarocki, organized by the poet's daughter, Anna Kasprowicz-Jarocka. The villa and its surroundings are an important part of Poland's cultural heritage, showcasing the life and work of one of the most significant poets of the 20th century.