Brother Albert's Hermitage

The Hermitage of Brother Albert, located on Kalatówki in Zakopane, is a small wooden building from 1901 that now serves as a special place of pilgrimage and reflection. Architecturally, it is modest, with a two-room structure, an attic, a small porch, and a narrow vestibule. The hermitage was the residence of Adam Chmielowski, the founder of the Albertine Sisters' monastery, and his assistants, who held Mass in the nearby chapel. Historically, Brother Albert hosted leading figures of Polish intelligentsia in his cell, such as Stefan Żeromski, Stanisław Witkiewicz, and Stanisław Przybyszewski, making this place an important point on Poland's cultural map. Żeromski set the action of his novel "Nawracanie Judasza" (The Conversion of Judas) here. A significant event was also the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1997, which underscores the spiritual dimension of the hermitage. In 2001, the site was entered into the register of historical monuments, confirming its historical value. The hermitage houses a memorial room dedicated to Brother Albert, filled with books, postcards, and images, attracting many tourists exploring the Tatra Mountains. A cobbled road, known as Brother Albert's Road, leads to the hermitage, making the walk there even more appealing to mountain hiking enthusiasts.