Do you know the Słonne Mountains? Hardly anyone knows. Sanocko-Turczańskie Mountains? They don't sound familiar either. The Bieszczady Mountains have gained all the fame of the quiet hills, where you can go for peace, natural wonders and forget about dedles. Completely wrong.
Ropienka is situated in the Słonne Mountains Landscape Park, very close to the Bieszczady Mountains, Solina and only 2 km from the Turnicki National Park, which lovers of the Carpathian forest have been fighting for for years. It's wild and there are trails behind the house that you won't find on any online maps.
The cottage itself has a story like from a movie. At the end of the war, the farmer fled the UPA because he was warned by ... the Ukrainians. The neighbors miraculously saved his house from burning down. And we, some 60 years later, saved it from collapsing. We invite you to our Carpathian hut for a holiday in the wild.
We have one and only apartment in our cottage, which we also live in. The apartment has a separate entrance and 5 sleeping places (3 single beds and a sofa bed in the living room). There is also a kitchenette and a bathroom inside. You can be completely independent. We have divided our large garden into three parts so that everyone can feel comfortable. So there is a part of you that we do not look at, our part, which you do not look at, and a common part, where we can drink coffee together or wave at each other from the sunbeds.
The house is heated (it has underfloor heating), so you will be warm. Two rules: we don't wear shoes around the house and we don't smoke pipes. Besides, make yourself at home!
You can buy a stay with us with or without breakfast - the choice is yours.
If you decide to have breakfast, between 8.30 and 10 (the time to be agreed) a basket full of goodness will land at your door: bread, jams, preserves, milk, props and buns prepared by the ladies of the rural housewives' club. For this - of course - we give something warm: for example, sweet and savory waffles or dutch baby, a baked pancake in the American style. If Luca is there (but not always), foccats will also end up in the basket, and even - if you want - pizza, because "perché no!" - why not!
We do not eat meat personally, but we adhere to the live and let live principle, so breakfast can be with a meat or veg element - we set the menu individually. Note, the cooker loves herbs, so expect a herbal addition here and there. Maybe you will learn something interesting about the grandmother, yarrow, ground elder or purslane ...
Look, you won't be here bored. I mean, you can, in the garden on a hammock or under a tree, but it is possible that sooner or later the forest will call you. And then you have to go. Our trail starts next to the house and we suggest you start with that. And then:
- drive up to Raków, for example, and walk a bit along the main trail of the Słonne Mountains (red),
- ride the famous serpentine on the national road No. 28. There is an observation deck with a beautiful panorama of the Słonne Mountains,
- visit Kalwaria Pacławska,
- take a walk around Ropienka and see the equipment that was used to extract oil,
- spend a day at Solina, look for wild beaches (there are also official ones), rent a boat, see the dam,
- ride a bicycle trolley (starts in Uherce Mineralne),
- climb Mount Sobień and see the ruins of the castle and the panorama of the mountains and the San,
- you can also drive to the Bieszczady Mountains: getting to Wetlina, for example, will take you about 1.5 hours. So you can easily plan the whole day of hiking in the Bieszczady peaks and come back for dinner.
But it is not everything! Because with us you can also take advantage of our talents:
- make an appointment for Italian cooking lessons with Luca (for a fee, please write in advance that you are interested, because Luca is not always there),
- stick in clay, carve something or create your own cup or bowl - you can stay alone with the clay or use Monika's skills,
- order a lomi-lomi massage from Monika. This is an option for ladies only. The massage costs PLN 100 and is performed next door,
- chat with us in Italian - we can do free conversations for you :)
What about in winter? Well, we have a winter sports basin here - there are cross-country trails, and the nearest ski lift is 3 km away from us. In the season there is an ice rink in Ustrzyki. We have a sled ready for a series of descents.
What’s there for children?
We have 100% of the countryside. There is a large yard with a lot of hiding places, space, hanging swings, small tents for children. In winter, you can take the kids to the nearby slope, go sledding or ice skating (ice rink in Ustrzyki Dolne). In summer, outside the green garden, children can stick in clay, go hiking in the mountains, and a bit further: swimming in Lake Solina, swimming pools under the cloud in Ustrzyki and a ride in an absolutely unusual vehicle - a bicycle trolley (here also under the care of their parents).
