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Magura National Park is located in the south of Poland, approx. 80 km east of Nowy Sącz and 90 km south of Tarnów. The Park covers a part of Low Beskids, seemingly ordinary mountains. From the name you can guess these are not very high mountains. Gentle summits, wide valleys, Orthodox churches, remains of Lemkos villages – they are the landscape of Beskids, where time stood still.
The almost entire area of Magura National Park consists of beech, fir and rarely sycamore forests, all in naturally preserved condition. Large stretches of forest are a sanctuary for animals, including many endangered species. There are 117 breeding bird species within the Park area. Particularly numerous are birds of prey – especially buzzard and lesser spotted eagle. The population density of Ural Owl is probably the highest in Europe. The forests are inhabited by large mammals: bears and wolves, on Magura Wątkowska: lynx and disappearing wildcats. Roe deer, deer and wild boars are common animals there.
After the Second World War, the area of Low Beskids was inhabited by the Lemkos, an ethnic group formed probably from Ruthenian people and Vlachs. Lemkos were members of Orthodox and Greek Catholic church. They spoke a dialect of Ukrainian with influence of Polish and Slovak. The liquidation of Lemkivshchyna started after the war and lasted for a several years. At the beginning, there were voluntary relocations to the USSR as a part of the Polish and Soviet repatriation action. Next, the repatriation became compulsory. Later, during Operation Vistula, remaining Lemkos were relocated to Lower Silesia and Opole Silesia. Hiking on Beskids trail, it is not hard to notice the marks of the past. Onion domes of Orthodox churches harmoniously blended in the landscape seem to remind about the turmoil of war, communist terror and former greatness of Lemkivshchyna.
For a dozen years or so, the Lemkos culture has been returning slowly to Beskids. You can see it for yourself by visiting one of the Lemkos festivals. The biggest event, Łemkowska Watra, takes place every year in Zdynia (in July). Smaller but also very interesting events are: Orthodox church fair (Kermesz) in Olchowiec (in May) and Od Rusal do Jana festival in Zyndranowa (in July).
The Magura National Park tourist infrastructure is developed at a high level: 9 hiking trails, 5 bicycle routes and one horse trail from Nieznajowa to Olchowiec (approx. 10 km). Subcarpathian Voivodeship wooden architecture trail crosses the area of Magura National Park. The accommodation base of the Low Beskids includes: 9 mountain hostels open all year, 7 student cottages and approximately 10 seasonal hostels open in summer. The Low Beskids is a perfect location for several days of hiking “from hostel to hostel”. Accommodation conditions are basic. It’s worth to have candles, a flashlight, matches, a sleeping bag and a foam mattress. You will probably not experience luxurious conditions there, but you will surely find a friendly atmosphere, playing guitar by a campfire.
