History of Spas

The name of the village comes from acidic waters called “szczawy” by the Highlanders. The village's name was firstly recorded in the early sixteenth century. By the end of the eighteenth century Szczawnica was part of the Czorsztyński County. In 1839, Jozef Stefan Szalay took over the administration of Szczawnica property which is when the development of the spas began.

The dynamic development of Szczawnica occurred in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1857 Józef Dietl came to Szczawnica. He was a doctor and a promoter of Polish spas. He directed the development of the Szczawnica spas, which at that time had already met all of the European standards for health resorts.

The new spa houses and pensions were built and they discovered another healing spring. Before his death Jozef Szalay gave the control of the self-created department of the Spa to the Academy of Sciences in Krakow. It, despite financial difficulties, continues the visionary work of the founder of the spas. “ Dworek Gościnny” known all around Europe, was built as well as beautiful parks. In 1909 the owner of the land and property, located in the area of Upper and Lower Zakład Zdrojowy, was Adam Stadnicki Count. These were golden times for development and prosperity in Szczawnica. The Spa was put under a thorough modernisation. They modernised the infrastructure of the city and the spa in order to raise the quality of life of the residents and conditions of the relaxation experience of the guests. In the location of the former department of Inhalation in villa "Pod Bogurodzicą", a Hydropathic Department was launched as well as "Łazienki", where the baths were prepared from "Jan" water. The power plant and sewage system were introduced. In 1931 the interior of the drinking room “Dom pod Zdrojami” was modernised. High-tech equipment was purchased and innovative devices for glass washing and bottling of mineral water were installed. In 1936, Count Stadnicki opened the modern "Inhalation Centre", the only one in Poland with pneumatic chambers which heal by steadily increased pressure. In 1939, Count Stadnicki, with his daughter Maria and her husband Stefan Swieżawskim, built a comfortable villa "Pod Modrzewiami". Stadnicki Count also took care of the level and quality of the mineral waters, called "szczawy" by local Highlanders, which gave the town its fame. In the years 1912 – 1920 a chemical re-partition was carried out and in the 30's another Szczawnica mineral water was discovered. It was named „Pitoniakówka”.

In 1956, six years after the nationalisation of the spas by the PRL, SOE Spa Szczawnica was established. Spa treatments in Szczawnica were created for the treatment of occupational diseases of the miners and steelworkers. The so-called occupational sanatoriums were built, such as: "Hutnik", "Górnik" as well as "Nauczyciel", "Budowlani", "Papiernik," "Dzwonkówka" and "Nawigator". In 1973 the Institute of Natural Medicine was opened, which include all healing treatments: baths, inhalation, physiotherapy and massages. Three years earlier a new drinking room "Magdalena" was also opened.

In 1999, SOE Spa Szczawnica converted into a limited company called "Spas Szczawnica". In 2005, due to a Supreme Administrative Court ruling , the heirs of Adam Stadnicki regained the Spas in Szczawnica. From that moment Andrzej Mankowski, grandson of Count Adam Stadnicki, decided to use all his financial resources and put in a huge amount of effort to restore Szczawnica's splendour and charm.
Re-privatisation of the Spas in Szczawnica was an unprecedented way to satisfy the claims of the heirs of the former owners of the Spa by the Treasury. It also secured nearly 100 jobs and ensured the development of Szczawnica City and Municipality by 10-million of guaranteed investments.

Spa – In Present Times

The vision for the development of the spa, which the Mańkowski family followed, derives from the idea that guided their ancestors. It assumes the creation of the resort with a full range of treatments and access to comfortable sanatoriums in Szczawnica as well as the preparation of the rich infrastructural facilities and a wide cultural outlook. To make these dreams come true, in 2004, the Thermaleo family company was created. Founded by Andrew and Monique Mańkowski, it has been represented in Szczawnica for the last several years by their three children; Helen, Nicholas and Christopher Mańkowski. As the results of several years of effort from Adam Stadnicki Count's heirs, the Thermaleo company was also a major shareholder in the newly formed company 'Spa Szczawnica S.A'. An extremely costly and time-consuming process of restoring the former glory of Szczawnica Spa started. This resulted in numerous projects and investments in Szczawnica and the surrounding area. In 2008, the eastern frontage of the Dietl Square: "Dom nad zdrojem” was recreated in its historical form with a drinking room and Szczawnica mineral water. A gallery with art exhibitions, a cafe "Helena" and two villas “Holenderka "and" Szwajcarka" were built. In 2009 "Modrzewie Park Hotel" was finished. In 2010 the Museum of Spas and in 2011 the reconstruction of the “Dworek Gościnny” were completed.

In the Spa, there are now twelve springs of acidic water- called “szczawy”, the qualities of which were first recorded in the fifteenth century. To this day, their medicinal attributes benefit patients from all over the world.

The inherent part of the Spa is a great Drinking Room of Mineral Waters where the guests can get carbonated, bicarbonated, sodium iodide and bromide rich waters full of mineral salts and numerous microelements. There are healing sanatoriums, rehabilitation centres and medical treatments awaiting guests visiting Pieniny Resort. There are 42 varieties of treatments from hydrotherapy, inhalation ( celkowe exceptionally effective inhalation), physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy and drinking medication. The Spa specializes in the treatments of respiratory disorders, including chronic nose and throat infections, disorders of the vocal tract, allergic respiratory diseases, bronchial asthma, movement disorders like degenerative diseases of the spine and joints as well as rheumatic and rheumatoid arthritis.

To treat the guests, the resort uses its own raw balneological sources ( owned by the Spa mineral waters ) as well as the environmental values which is the therapeutic microclimate. All treatments are performed using high tech equipment and techniques available. Doctors and qualified staff care about the proper selection and effective use of the recommended treatments.