Waksmund

Waksmund is a village in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, located in the Nowy Targ Basin at the foothills of the Gorce Mountains, in close proximity to Nowy Targ. The history of this settlement dates back to the 13th century, when, according to legend, Duke Henryk Brodaty (Henry the Bearded) established it. Over the centuries, Waksmund was a place where children were given names associated with family heritage, primarily Henryk and Jadwiga. By the 14th century, a wooden church already stood here, and the parish was established in 1350. The village witnessed numerous historical events, including the participation of its inhabitants in the Battle of Grunwald. The architecture of Waksmund features a number of historical buildings, including wooden churches, the oldest of which burned down in 1808. The present brick church was built in 1887. The village also boasts an old school building, constructed in 1895, which served various social functions. During World War II, Waksmund was an important center of resistance, with partisans hiding in its forests. Culturally, Waksmund was a hub of rich social activity; a volunteer fire department was established in 1900, and the school building hosted various organizations, such as a choir and a theater group. The region is also characterized by natural diversity, with dominant forests in the Gorce Mountains and rich meadows and vegetation along the Dunajec River, which flows through the village. Waksmund is also an area with diverse soils, including podzolic and brown soils, and climatic factors influence the lives of its inhabitants, with a short growing season and late summer frosts. Interestingly, despite numerous floods that have affected the village, such as the one in 1934, Waksmund attracts tourists and enthusiasts of history, culture, and nature. A small hydroelectric power plant has recently been built near the new bridge over the Dunajec River, reflecting the development of infrastructure in the region. Waksmund is a place that combines a rich historical heritage with dynamic socio-economic development.