Lipnica Mała

Lipnica Mała is a village located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in the Nowy Targ County, forming part of the Orava region. Founded in 1608 under Wallachian law by the village leader (sołtys) Jan Kral, the settlement preserves traditional Orava architecture. At its heart stands the Church of St. Stephen, built in the mid-19th century, which only gained parish status in 1919. In Lipnica Mała, one can encounter the Orava dialect, recognized in Poland as a subdialect of Lesser Polish and in Slovakia as a Polish-Slovak dialect. Situated near Babia Góra, the village serves as the starting point of a green hiking trail and hosts the annual Małolipnickie Grzybobranie (Lipnica Mała Mushroom Picking Event), which promotes the culture of the Orava highlanders and regional cuisine. The history of Lipnica Mała is linked to the intense colonization of Upper Orava in the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as to hardships such as religious conflicts and natural disasters that led to a significant decline in population. The 18th century brought a renewal of the community, although the village struggled with economic problems, forcing many residents to emigrate in search of better living conditions, especially between 1880 and 1914. After World War I, Lipnica Mała was incorporated into Poland under international agreements, but in the following years, until early 1945, it was occupied by Slovakia. Despite these challenges, the village and its inhabitants enjoyed relative prosperity, and their craft traditions, including weaving, played a significant role in the local economy. During the interwar period, agriculture and animal husbandry dominated, and the village retained its unique character, serving as a testament to the rich history and culture of the region.