Chrobacza Łąka Tourist Shelter

The Chrobacza Łąka Tourist Shelter, also known as the Tourist and Retreat House "Chrobacza Łąka," is located in the Beskid Mały mountain range, within the area of Żarnówka Duża, in the municipality of Międzybrodzie Bialskie, Silesian Voivodeship. Currently managed by the S.O.S. Foundation for the Defense of Conceived Life from Warsaw, the facility offers 40 overnight accommodations, although only 9 spots are available during ongoing renovations. The shelter also provides a buffet and meals upon request, and is managed by Father Ryszard Halwa. The history of the shelter dates back to the 1930s when it was established by the Dorzak siblings as a private investment. After the war, the facility became a tourist station of the Polish Tatra Society, and later the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, which managed it until 1991. During this time, the building was expanded and modernized. In 1991, the S.O.S. Foundation for the Defense of Conceived Life took over the shelter, transforming it into a tourist and retreat house, and in 1998, a chapel was added, emphasizing its role as a place conducive to spiritual retreat. Interestingly, in 2017, a fire broke out at the shelter, temporarily halting tourist operations, but since then, reconstruction and partial reopening efforts have been underway. Scenic hiking trails, including the Little Beskid Trail, which connects various localities, run around Chrobacza Łąka, making it an attractive destination for tourists and mountain enthusiasts.