Rycerka has charm, allure and grace. You come here only once, and then you dream about these views, about the mountain air, the murmur of a stream, about the trails on which there isn't a living soul. In the nineteenth century, it was in the hands of a certain Ludwik Delaveaux, who gave Rycerka his heart and the pages of the book "Highlanders of the Beskid of the Western Carpathians". He indiscriminately praised the customs in this part of the Beskids, the tourist attractions of this area, and the toilets of the local peasants. He wrote about the inhabitants of Rycerka, “Highlanders from the vicinity of Żywiec excel in beauty and a beautiful figure. A young 18-year-old man can serve as a model for the statue of Apollo, a 30-year-old for Hercules, the weight of being in his 80s will not diminish his daring physique. It is no wonder then that the count's legend is still alive in the village. Perhaps also because he sold his property to the inhabitants of Rycerka at a very good price. To this day, these fields are called "devalówki".
It was no different with us. We came to Rycerka and it stayed that way. Here, on the slope of the viewing point Praszwka, 150 meters from the main road and on the edge of the Landscape Park, we first built our house, and then this one for friends, acquaintances and acquaintances. A stream rustles under the wooden hut, behind the house begins a trail to the flat peak of Prasewka. From here there is a mountain panorama worth all the hassle.
It is not a guesthouse, it is not a lodging, nor rooms for rent. It's home. The house is guarded by an angel, so everything is in its place, and the decorations depend on you. There may be a fire in the fireplace, foam in the bathtub, and oscypek cheese on the grill. In the winter, you need chains and 4-wheel drive, and in the summer, comfortable trekking shoes, autumn is for mushrooms, salamanders and air with the scent of leaves. Outstanding views in sight. The cell range of the phone is weak, but there is "unfortunately" the internet. However, you can turn it off and get to know each other better, play board games, slide down the sledge straight down from the house, stroll the endless trails and rest on the terrace surrounding the house.
We invite you to Rycerka. Here the music flows from cassette tapes, there is nothing missing at home, and you go to the nearby shepherd's hut for cheese.
On the one hand, the glow of a bonfire and the closeness of nature, and on the other, all the amenities of civilization. You will find us on the slope of Praszywki Mountain - 150 m from the main road, on the edge of the Landscape Park, on a large, forested plot. There is a stream nearby, the view from the windows is stunning, and in winter access may be difficult because it is steep here. So, when it's slippery and knee-deep in snow, a 4×4 car is welcome. Chains are mandatory. If you can't climb to our place, you can park on the main road with a friendly host. We can also take you to the house in an off-road vehicle. Each of our two houses has a separate entrance gate and a parking space at the entrance for 2 cars.
We have decorated the wood-smelling houses with heart and attention to detail. We wanted every hiker, skier and vacationer to feel great here and that you would not lack anything. Every nook and cranny of the houses hides beautiful objects. In the lower House, the entrance is guarded by an Angel, and in the upper House, by a Pieta. Inside, the warmth of the fireplace spreads throughout the interior. Remember that if you spend a lot of money downstairs, it will be really hot upstairs. For complete comfort, a constant temperature is ensured by central electric heating. In each house we have a cozy living room with a fireplace, a dining table, a kitchen and sleeping places for 6 people.
In the Lower House, on the ground floor, in addition to the living room with a fireplace, there is a bathroom with a shower, a dressing room and a fully equipped kitchen. Climb the wooden stairs to the first floor and there are 3 cozy bedrooms (one room with 2 double beds, 2 rooms with single beds, a bathroom with a stylish pistachio bathtub and gold accessories, and a wardrobe in the hall.
The garden is a mountain oasis of rest. There is a shelter with a fireplace, table and benches waiting for you - here you can spend pleasant evenings, summer afternoons, whole nights and breakfast mornings. There is also a portable gas grill, a place to play badminton, a swing and a hammock at your disposal. Absolutely everyone's favorite place is the observation deck surrounding the house. There you can relax on a deckchair, spread out a yoga mat, admire the clouds rushing across the sky and read, read, read.
The Upper House has an open stone terrace with a barbecue, with arcades, and on the first floor there is a large wooden terrace with a beautiful view of the forest and mountains. On the ground floor there is a hall with a dressing room, a toilet and a room with a Finnish sauna and a hot tub.
The first floor is a living room with a fireplace with a water jacket that heats the entire house, a kitchenette (under-counter refrigerator, electric stove with oven, dishwasher, coffee machine for ground coffee (the same as in the lower house), electric kettle, toaster, blender, hand mixer), dining corner (table for 6 people), exit to the wooden terrace and from it access to the garden (bench with table, deckchairs on the terrace).
The second floor has 3 bedrooms: 1 larger room with a 160 cm double bed and a fold-out armchair, a balcony and SAT TV, 2 small rooms with 130 cm double beds, a bathroom with a shower.
Washing machine and a second larger refrigerator available on request. They are located in the room next to the sauna.
There are also 2 mountain bikes, a hammock, a badminton set, board games and a sled for children.
A travel cot and a high chair are also available.
Your pets are always welcome.
Smoking is strictly prohibited in the cottages.
In each house we give you a completely free hand in the kitchen. Kitchen, which is equipped as in any decent house. There is a fridge, an electric hob, an oven, an electric kettle, a toaster, a pressure coffee maker for ground coffee, a full set of dishes and cutlery, a washing machine, a dishwasher, dishwasher tablets.
In addition, a gas grill and a fireplace await you in the gazebo at the Lower House, and a gas grill in the Upper House. You can put on the grill meat, vegetables, cheese or whatever your imagination tells you.
If you want cheese, go to Bacówka, which is about 1.5 km from the House. There you will find delicious local sheep cheese. We will guide you on how to get there.
Another place where cheese reigns supreme is Rajcza. Serowa Kraina is a cheese-making cooperative created by enthusiasts. There you can buy cottage cheese, goat cheese, blue Charollais goat cheese, Paradise cheese with additives, e.g. with black cumin, smoked cheeses, and even ricotta and long-ripening cheeses. Here you can also buy fresh milk, butter, cream and home-made preserves.
For homemade dinners, delicious, impeccable, as at the hands of grandma Zosia, go to the Krepol Holiday Centre. You can get there on foot (400 m). You can order full board there, including compote.
The neighborhood is quiet, peaceful and smells of forest. There is time for leisurely hiking in the mountains. There is a stream flowing right next to it, a view like from a postcard, the proximity of Slovak neighbors, empty trails for the ambitious and families with kids. You will need a really long vacation to get through everything, or a few visits to Domek Dolny or Górny in Rycerka.
You can go back in time and listen to music from cassette tapes and vinyl records, sleep well in peace and quiet and set out on the trail in the morning after breakfast. In winter, when there is a lot of snow, you can go straight from the cottage to ski touring, which are available for rent at the sports shop in Rajcza.
Red trail from Rycerka Dolna to Rycerzowa Wielka - up 4 hours, back 3 hours
The Black Trail from Rycerka Słowianka to the Przegibek Pass through Praszywka Wielka (a beautiful viewpoint on the nearby peaks on Praszywka) - up 3 hours, back 3.30 hours
Green and Black Trail from Knight of Słowianki to Przegibek Pass - up 2.30 hours, down 2.15 hours
Yellow Trail from Rycerka Kolonia to Wielka Racza - 2 hours, return 1.15 hours
The Blue Trail from Rycerka Kolonia to Zwardoń - 3.45 hours, back 4.15 hours
In Soła near Rajcza, you can take advantage of the excellent properties of the brine graduation tower in Solankowa Kraina. The graduation tower is open every day, it is situated in a beautiful place with a view of the hills. You can take the road from Rycerka Górna to the graduation tower with a beautiful scenic shortcut through the mountain. We especially recommend by bike or car (about 10 minutes by car).
It is also worth going to Żywiec to the Brewery Museum. Here you will learn more than 160 years of history of the brewery, taste beer or juice, and see how this beverage is currently produced. The museum can be visited by minors from the age of 10, only under the supervision of an adult.
Nearest ski stations:
– Rycerka Dolna, Rajcza – approx. 10 km,
– Zwardoń Ski – 4-seater sofa (860 m long) – approx. 17 km,
– Złoty Groń Istebna – 6-seater sofa (800 m long), Zagroń Istebna Complex – Olza Water Park – approx. 30 km.
In the summer we recommend: Geo-Park with a swimming pool, a rope park, a climbing wall, a playground and a pizzeria in Glinka gm. Ujsoły about 16 km, horse riding in Rycerka Dolna, tennis courts in Rajcza. There are bicycle routes and Nordic walking routes in the area. And on site we have mountain bikes and badminton equipment for you.
In winter, we recommend tobogganing and slides right next to the houses.
For a longer, but worth these 60 kilometers, trip, go to our neighbors in Slovakia. The Orava Castle towers over the Orava River like an eagle's nest. The views from the tower are amazing and the castle museum is interesting. We recommend installing the "Orava Castle Audioguide" application on your phone.
What’s there for children?
Children discover games such as playing cards, chess, board games. We especially recommend children to play with Polish creative Linden blocks, made of noble linden wood. We have as many as 400 of them - brick fun!
Children spend fun time in the yard, building a hut of branches by the stream, older ones take their bikes and go, and at all ages try their hand at badminton.
There are big and small journeys. To Velka Raca with a breathtaking view, and definitely to Slovakia to see Jánošíkove Diery. You have never seen such rocks, waterfalls, such passages through passages. For interesting facts about the area, to the ropes course, to the swimming pools, go to Geo-Park Glinka.
In winter, it's snowmen, sleds, skis, snowboard and hopefully snow up to the waist. The way home is a perfect sledge hill, we recommend going to the bottom with apples.