Wierchomla Wielka: Valley and Lemko Church
Accommodation in Wierchomla Wielka
Wierchomla Wielka combines a clearly defined valley setting with tangible traces of local history. The settlement lies in the Wierchomlanka Valley, is surrounded by forested mountains, and is part of Poprad Landscape Park. At its center is the Lemko Church of St. Michael the Archangel; the settlement’s history dates back to 1595. When planning your trip, you can explore the place through two questions: where is it situated in the landscape, and which historical landmarks shape its character?
File:Wierchomla Wielka, Cerkiew św. Michała Archanioła 02.jpg
Photo: Piotr Widerski via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A valley settlement on the Wierchomlanka
Wierchomla Wielka begins at the entrance to the stream valley and extends for about six kilometers along the road and the stream. This approximate length describes the place as a long settlement in the valley. Wierchomla Mała also lies in a valley of the Wierchomlanka; the two places therefore share a landscape, while the figure of about six kilometers applies to Wierchomla Wielka. The Wierchomlanka later flows into the Poprad. The stream and the river are connected but distinct geographical reference points: the stream shapes the immediate valley, while the Poprad is part of the wider watercourse. Poprad Landscape Park also situates the valley within a broader geographical context.
The Lemko church and local history
Wierchomla Wielka was founded in 1595 by Cardinal Jerzy Radziwiłł under Wallachian law. The settlers included immigrant Wallachian shepherds. A later historical landmark is the Lemko Church of St. Michael the Archangel, dating from 1821. More than two centuries separate the founding from the construction of the church; the two dates mark different stages in the settlement’s history. The church stands in the center and has an adjoining cemetery. A few old Lemko buildings also survive nearby. The early history of the settlement’s founding and the built remains of its Lemko heritage thus represent different historical aspects of the place.
The church also has a natural-history distinction: its attic is a protected habitat for the lesser horseshoe bat and the greater mouse-eared bat. Both are among Europe’s rarest bat species. St. Michael the Archangel thus connects a historic Lemko building with a protected habitat. This gives the church site an ecological as well as a cultural significance.
Other local natural features include several unused mineral-water springs containing iron and sulfur. Together with the stream and forested mountains, they add another tangible feature to the landscape.
Considering Wierchomla Wielka as a destination
Different interests can guide your choice of destination: the valley setting and the park answer questions about the landscape, while the settlement’s founding, the Lemko church, and its bat habitat may appeal to historical and ecological interests. If you are looking for accommodation in Wierchomla Wielka, you can first consider whether the combination of a forested valley and local history suits your trip to Poland.
Discover more destinations: Rożnów, Berest, Wierchomla Mała, Tylicz, Krynica-Zdrój, Kąclowa, Gródek Nad Dunajcem, Zubrzyk
For the main travel overview: Nowy SÄ…cz.
