Zalipie, painted village, regular small group tour from Krakow

A small ancient village in south-eastern Poland, Zalipie, is by far one of the greatest attractions in and around Krakow. Not because it has five-star hotels or massive glass buildings, but on the contrary, because of its small wooden houses.

The secluded village of Zalipie is famous for its charming tradition. Over a century ago, village women started painting their houses, but it was not the uniform color that one would expect from a traditional and conservative society. Oh no! Zalipie is a very colorful village, famous for its cheerful paintings on the walls of houses and stoves, flowers made of tissue paper, patterns cut out of paper and hay spiders. Flowers were also painted on the outer walls of peasant cottages and farm buildings, on fences, wells, and even huts.

There are currently about 20 painted houses in Zalipie. The most famous example of this original folk work of art is the farm of Felicja Curyłowa (now a branch of the Regional Museum in Tarnów), a Zalipice painter, whose painting was already known in the interwar period.

During our tour you will see many decorated houses, a museum and a small shop with unique handmade souvenirs.