Krynica-Zdrój

Krynica-Zdrój
Krynica-Zdrój
	Health resort
	Flag Coat of arms
Country	Poland
Voivodeship	Lesser Poland
County	Nowy Sącz
Gmina	Krynica-Zdrój
Area
• Total	40.17 km2 (15.51 sq mi)
Elevation	590 m (1,940 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	11,243
• Density	280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Postal code	33-380
Website	http://www.krynica-zdroj.pl

Krynica-Zdrój [krɨˈnit͡sa ˈzdrui̯] (till 31 December 2001 Krynica) is a town in southern Poland in Beskid Sądecki mountains, inhabited by over eleven thousand people. It is the biggest spa town in Poland called The Pearl of Polish Spas; a tourist and winter sport centre. It was first recorded in 1547 and became a town in 1889. Part of the inhabitants belong to the Lemko minority.

The 1931 World Ice Hockey Championships were played in the town.
The 1958 and 1962 FIL World Luge Championships were played in the town.
The 1935 FIL European Luge Championships were played in teh town.
The 2004 Euro Ice Hockey Challenge were played in the town.

Bandy has lately returned to Poland after many decades. When the country made their first international appearance in 2006 at the World Championships for boys U15 in Edsbyn, Krynica-Zdrój contributed with most players.^[1]

A gondola lift built in 1997 on the Jaworzyna Krynicka, a mountain overlooking Krynica, and subsequent investment in modern skiing facilities made it one of the most important ski resorts in Poland. Nearby mountains are also a perfect setting for cross-country skiing and mountain-biking.

Krynica is sometimes nicknamed "Eastern Davos" for the International Economic Summit" held there each year in September. Politicians (including heads of state) and businessmen from several countries of Central Europe, Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East meet there to discuss economic and political matters.

Krynica was home to Nikifor (correct name: Epifaniusz Drowniak), a famous naïve painter.