Poland’s oldest funicular railway reopens with glamorous art deco makeover 85 years after original debut
The oldest funicular railway in Poland has reopened after an extensive two-year renovation in keeping with its art deco design from the 1930s.
Restored under the watchful eye of a conservator of monuments, the new look retains the atmosphere and style of the interwar period.
Located in the popular mountain spa resort of Krynica-Zdrόj, in southern Poland, the Gόra Parkowa funicular was built in 1937 by Swiss firm Von Roll Bern, as the first funicular in Poland, two years before the Gubałόwka funicular in Zakopane opened in 1939.
The opening of the funicular in 1937 quickly proved a huge success. Within 10 days 3,500 people had used the line and within a year 145, 000 people.
In the 1930s, Krynica was one of Poland’s most popular spa holiday destinations, famed throughout Poland for its spa waters.
It also became known as a Polish centre of winter sports and in 1924, Krynica hosted the 5th Polish Skiing Championships.
In the 1930s, Krynica was one of Poland’s most popular spa holiday destinations, famed throughout Poland for its spa waters.
As a result of the town’s popularity, the Polish Tourism Support League, headed by minister for communication Aleksander Bobkowski, put forward the idea of building a funicular as a way to help promote mass tourism.
The lower station was built near the old sledging track to take visitors to the summit of Gόra Parkowa (Parkowa Hill), 742 metres above sea level in 3 minutes.
Among others who attended the opening was the wife of Marshal Józef Piłsudski.
On the upper station, a cafe, restaurant and viewing terrace were built, with the restaurant becoming popular for hosting regular dance evenings before the war.
Both the upper and lower station were built in the prevailing style of avantgarde modernism.
The cable car and its station were built by Swiss firm Von Roll Bern.
The opening of the funicular in 1937 quickly proved a huge success. Within 10 days 3,500 people had used the line and within a year 145, 000 people. This encouraged the Tourism Support League to go on to build the funicular at Gubałόwka.
Over the decades, the line built up an almost cult popularity, becoming one of the top during a visit to the Beskid mountains.
Until the closure of the line for restoration following the destruction of the café and terrace in the 1980s, the line had been using the original wagons that visitors had used in 1937.
A survey by Polish Cable Lines showed that 40 percent of people visiting the Beskid mountains wanted to take a ride on the famous Krynica Gόra Parkowa funicular.
Until the closure of the line for restoration following the destruction of the café and terrace in the 1980s, the line had been using the original wagons that visitors had used in 1937.
Over the decades, the line built up an almost cult popularity, becoming one of the top during a visit to the Beskid mountains.
Reopened on the 21st of May 2022, the line boasts now newly restored upper and lower stations and wagons. The lower station features a new multi-media installation comprised of historic images and maps showing Krynica and its travellers in the 1930s.
There is also a new art deco themed restaurant and interior courtyard, designed so as to restore the tradition of dancing events which became a big part of Krynica’s social and cultural life from the interwar period.
At the reopening, Daniel Pietrus, head of the board of Polish Cable Lines said: “It’s a historic moment and the first ride together in a restored wagon on the Gόra Parkowa line.”
Daniel Pietrus, head of the board of Polish Cable Lines said: “It’s a historic moment and the first ride together in a restored wagon on the Gόra Parkowa line.”
Andrzej Moskal, director of marketing at Polish Cable Lines added: “The historic character of the railway on Gόra Parkowa was the reason for carrying out a renovation of the place and wanting to once again present this amazing place to all visitors to Krynica-Zdrόj.
Visitors to the opening were greeted with a host of 1930s themed attractions and events including dishes from the time, musical performances of songs by interwar artists, tango, a retro fashion show, and with most guests also dressing-up in clothes from the 1930s, the reopening culminated in an evening retro dance event.“All buildings, both on the upper and lower station have been restored under the watchful eye of a conservator of monuments so as to retain the atmosphere and style of the interwar period.”
Visitors to the opening were greeted with a host of 1930s themed attractions and events including dishes from the time, musical performances of songs by interwar artists, tango, a retro fashion show, and with most guests also dressing-up in clothes from the 1930s, the reopening culminated in an evening retro dance event.
