Tarnów for kids and youth
Once you get bored of the city, we encourage you to walk the Pogórze Ciężkowickie. There are numerous walking and cycling trails leading
out of Tarnów. Right outside the Ciężkowice there is „Skamieniałe Miasto”, or „Stone City” nature reserve with sandstones formed in various
shapes. Some rock formations were named after what they look similar to: Grzybek (Mushroom), Borsuk (Badger),
Warownia (Fortress) or Czarownica (Witch). Less distant from Tarnów is Ośrodek Edukacji Ekologicznej (Center for Ecologic Education)
Polichty – Sucha Góra. Numerous educational paths, well marked, allow continuous observation of the nature all year round.
Periodic events
The following are just a few examples of events organized each year especially for kids and teenagers:
Spring: Sweet birthday of Tarnów, „Under 21” International Film Festival, Easter Palms Contest in Lipnica Murowana.
Summer: Wianki (traditional celebration of the first day of summer), theater performances in Strzelecki Park, Tabor Cygański (Gypsy Caravan),
Malowana Chata (Painted Cottage) contest in Zalipie.
Autumn/fall: Tydzień Talentów (Week of Geniuses) nationwide festival for winners of classical music contests, Knights Tournament in Dębno.
Winter: Mikołajki – decorating a Christmas tree on Town Square, live crib at Bernardines Monastery, winter brake with Pałac Młodzieży
(Youth Palace), „O Lipnicką Gwiazdę” Christmas carols contest, and numerous sport events – including Climbing World Championship.
Parks and playgrounds
Over a dozen parks in Tarnów are popular destinations for weekend family walks. In most of those gardens playgrounds are located. The
most popular and modern are those in Strzelecki Park and Góra św. Marcina Park.
Strzelecki Park (first park in the city, established in 1866) is an English garden with irregular floral composition. In the northern section
there is a water reservoir covered with waterlilies (Nymphaea). In its center stands impressive structure – general Józef Bem’s, Polish and
Hungarian national hero, Mausoleum. Right by the reservoir ogródek jordanowski (playground) is located.
Góra św. Marcina Park, in the south of Tarnów, covers the northern slopes of góra św. Marcina (St. Martin’s hill), 384 meters high, the northernmost
hill of the Carpathians. Its playground, swimming pool and nature trail are very popular among families with children.
Tarnów is known as the „Polish hot spot” not only to meteorologists. In year 1989 in December the thermometers in Tarnów measured
temperature of +19oC – unbeatable record of this winter month. The warmest place in Tarnów is the southern section of Sanguszków Park.
It is known for the Sanguszków Palace as well as summer open air classical music concert.
If interested, please check the opening hours of particular attraction either by contacting an attraction or Tarnów Tourist Centre. www.go-tarnow.com
Here are some examples of Tarnów tourist offers for kids:
Town Square in Tarnów is one of the smallest yet one of the most beautiful in Poland. It is surrounded by the Renaissance arcaded
buildings. In the middle of the Square two story Town Hall topped with an attic with fourteen masks is located. The oldest sections of
the structure are Gothic. It was rebuilt in Renaissance form by Giovanni Maria Padovano, one of the greatest architects of his times. In
the Town Hall’s tower (30 meters high) there is the oldest tower clock mechanism in Poland.
Basilica Minor in Tarnów is the most important temple of the city and Tarnów diocese. It is famous for over 13 meters high sculptured
tombs of Tarnowski and Ostrogski families, considered to be the highest in Europe. There also is a sculpture of a woman, considered
the most beautiful Renaissance sculpture depicting woman in Poland.
Exhibition in Muzeum Etnograficzne (Ethnographic Museum) presenting history and culture of the Gypsies is unique in the whole
of Europe. In the backyard of the Museum there is an open air exhibition of original Gypsy carriages. One can also schedule Gypsy
evening by the fire or a dance show performed by Romany women, dressed in a colorful dresses. Each year in July the „Tabor Pamięci”,
or „Caravan of remembrance” takes place. It starts at the gates of Ethnographic Museum and leads through the streets of Tarnów and
roads of Tarnów region. This several day long journey allows you to live Gypsy life and familiarize with their culture. All year round, individuals
as well as groups, can schedule a ride through the streets of Tarnów Old Town, down to Ke-Moro, the unique Gypsy restaurant.
Tarnów’s statues and monuments:
„Elephant” - painted by kids - standing at the crossing of Krakowska and Nowy Świat streets, becomes popular meeting-point for local teenagers.
„Poets’bench” on Wałowa street with live-sized figures of Agnieszka Osiecka, Jan Brzechwa and Zbigniew Herbert – famous Polish poets.
In small boxes, placed next to the statues, books with their poems are stored.
Education
Museums in Tarnów
Muzeum Okręgowe (Tarnów Regional Museum), Rynek 21, 33-100 Tarnów, PL,
tel.: +48 14 621 21 49, www.muzeum.tarnow.pl
Muzeum Etnograficzne (Ethnographic Museum), ul. Krakowska 10, 33-100 Tarnów, PL,
tel.: +48 14 622 06 25, www.muzeum.tarnow.pl
Museums in Tarnów organize lectures for groups of kids and youth. Lectures are complementary to learning programs of Polish schools,
are carried in unique interiors and allow direct contact with exhibits. Sample subjects: Peasant’s cottage 100 years ago (interiors, equipment,
activities), Winter ceremonials, Spring ceremonials, Gypsy history and culture, A tale on bread, Time to go – death in tradition and culture.
Muzeum Drogownictwa w Szczucinie (Museum of Road Building in Szczucin), 35 km north from Tarnów, toward Warszawa and Kielce
ul. 1 Maja 39, 33-230 Szczucin, tel.: +48 14 643 63 81, www.gddkia.gov.pl/whd
An extremely interesting open air exhibition of road building machines and vehicles. An indoor exhibitions, presented in a bridge-
shaped building, include: rich collection of tools used in road building over centuries, unique 19th century documents, roads and
bridges designs, souvenirs and uniforms of road building personnel. The exhibitions are presented in a modern way, therefore very interesting
for viewers. Slide shows, movies projections and presentations on history and techniques of road and bridge building can be
scheduled by appointment.
Zalipie – „Malowana Wieś” (Painted Village), 40 kilometers north from Tarnów, toward Żabno
Dom Malarek w Zalipiu, tel.: +48 14 641 19 38
Zagroda Felicji Curyłowej w Zalipiu (branch of the Tarnów Regional Museum),
tel.: +48 14 641 19 12, www.muzeum.tarnow.pl
Zalipie - „Painted village”is famous for the tradition of painting houses in original floral ornaments. An exhibition on the history of floral
painting can be seen in Dom Malarek. Special workshops for children are organized there. Kids can learn traditional Zalipie paintings,
paint Easter eggs or make Easter palms. A must-see in Zalipie is Zagroda Felicji Curyłowej (Felicja Curyłowa’s Farmstead) where besides
walls of house and farm building one can admire beautifully painted interiors. Special museum lessons can be scheduled here as well.
Muzeum Lalek w Pilźnie i Lipinach (Dolls Museum in Pilzno and Lipiny), some 25 and 15 kilometers east from Tarnów, toward Rzeszów
ul. Grodzka 24, 39-220 Pilzno, PL, tel.: +48 14 672 13 21, www.muzeumlalek.pl, open air exhibition in Lipiny (by E 40 Tarnów – Rzeszów route)
Museum’s wide educational offer focuses on meeting child’s needs and interests. Some of the courses include: cooking with the Witch, weaving
techniques, traditional pottery making techniques, hand making crepe paper flowers, puppets making, Christmas and Easter motifs in
decoration, or expressing feelings through dolls’shapes and colors. The last one is free of charge.
Muzeum Przyrodnicze w Ciężkowicach (Nature Museum in Ciężkowice), 35 kilometers south from Tarnów, toward Krynica
ul. 3 Maja 4, 33-190 Ciężkowice, tel.: +48 14 651 00 38, www.ciezkowice.pl
The exhibitions include some 200 species of birds, 500 insects and tens of hunting trophies. Other attractions are: bats’ cave, insects’ feeding
grounds, local flora and pictures of a nature by some of the best photographers.
Educational offer: „Our bats”, „Polish owls”and „The nature of Pogórze in English”.
Entertainment
Cinemas and theaters in Tarnów welcome young audience. Cinemas offer regular movie sections just for kids. And Tarnowski Theater and
Mościckie Centrum Kultury perform live for kids either with their own troupes or guest ones. Events calendar is available at www.go-tarnow.com
Active leisure
Tarnów and Tarnów region is a perfect place for all active, including the youngest ones. Kids can have great time at „Promienny Zamek” in
Tarnów. There are giant slide, pools with balls, three story playhouse with numerous stairs, dead ends, obstacles, toys and many other attractions.
Older children can try kart racings, quad rides, bowling or climbing one of the biggest indoor climbing walls in Poland. Other activities
in Tarnów include paintball (both indoor and outdoor) or skating in one of the skate parks. Water lovers can take advantage of one of the
swimming pools. And in the winter there are ice rinks operating with skate rentals in place. There are also several ski lifts just few kilometers
outside the city.
