There’s something special about the way light plays across the Tatra Mountains in winter. I love how a lower peak catches the sun, standing out against the deep shadows of the forest, while the High Tatras tower above it all. It just looks epic, in my opinion.
To keep ourselves warm, we walked up and down the street along the mountain ridge of Gubałówka Hill. We headed west, almost to the very end. Most of the way, trees lined both sides of the path, blocking the view. But then, just at the right moment, I caught sight of the sun peeking from behind the mountains. I had to run—really run—to find a good spot before the light disappeared. And that’s when I captured another beautiful view of Gubałówka in snowy winter.
The Beauty of the Tatra Mountains in the Winter
The Tatra Mountains are the tallest mountains in Zakopane, Poland. They are part of the Carpathian chain and are about 60 kilometers long and 15–20 kilometers wide. They are a dream place for winter explorers because of their dramatic hills and rough landscapes. The Tatra Mountains in Poland are about 175 square kilometers big. They are protected by the Tatrzański Park Narodowy. The mountains are split into three parts: the Bielskie Tatras, the High Tatras, and the West Tatras.
In addition to being beautiful, the Tatra Mountains are very important to history and culture. Couriers put their lives at risk during World War II by sneaking across the dangerous terrain and through the “green border” to bring important messages. The mountains have also been a center for mountain climbing and mountain tourism in Poland for hundreds of years.
Artists and writers have been drawn to the Tatra Mountains for a long time. Painters like Jan Nepomucen Głowacki and Stanisław Witkiewicz showed how grand they were, and writers like Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer and Jan Kasprowicz wrote poems that will live on forever. Photographers still try to capture the unique way that light and shade interact in the Tatra Mountains in the winter. I certainly recommend visiting Tatra Mountains and Zakopane, a hidden gem and underrated European city.
