CHATKA WARIATKA IN UHERCE MINERALNE

A UNIQUE ATTRACTION IN THE BIESZCZADY MOUNTAINS THAT TURNS THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

Chatka Wariatka is a place where gravity plays tricks and reality is turned on its head. Chatka Wariatka in Uherce Mineralne is a house literally built upside down. You enter through the attic, and inside everything is reversed: the ceiling becomes the floor, while the kitchen, bathroom, and rooms—even toys and slippers—hang above your head. The structure is tilted at a 20-degree angle, which strongly affects your sense of balance and can even cause dizziness—physics simply doesn’t matter here. This unusual attraction guarantees plenty of laughter and great fun for both children and adults. It is the only tourist attraction of its kind in the Podkarpackie region.

Next to the house there is a ticket office where visitors can buy local souvenirs and, during the summer season, enjoy ice cream. Guests can also relax on deck chairs, test their skills on arcade games, and make use of the playground. Chatka Wariatka is located in Uherce Mineralne along the Small Bieszczady Loop, in an area locally known as the “Bieszczady Triangle”: Lesko – Ustrzyki Dolne – Solina.

WHAT IS WORTH SEEING IN THE BIESZCZADY MOUNTAINS?

Chatka Wariatka is a great alternative for cloudy days and an attractive break from hiking in the Bieszczady Mountains. Right next to the house are The Rail-Cycle Draisinies, offering a unique journey along part of the historic Railway Line No. 108. Nearby, you can visit the Bieszczady School of Crafts, where it is worth taking part in pottery or calligraphy workshops, or learning how to make traditional proziaki. There is also a unique handicraft shop, and since the site is located in a former village school, visitors can learn about the history of the place.

Uherce Mineralne is also home to the Ursa Maior Brewery, which is well worth a visit to discover the secrets of brewing Bieszczady beer and to purchase unique souvenirs. Not far away is the Bieszczad.Ski Wańkowa Ski, where in summer you can ride the longest zipline in Poland, race downhill on off-road scooters, slide on the tubing track, or take on the longest rope park course in Poland. In winter, a unique ski slope attracts visitors with its modern facilities and the longest cable lift in the Podkarpackie region.

From Chatka Wariatka it is very close to the “Bieszczady Sea,” Lake Solina, where countless attractions await: a walk across the largest dam in Poland, a ride on the gondola cable car, an observation tower on Mount Jawor, the Tajemnicza Solina theme park, the Bieszczadzka Furia gravity slide, a cruise on the lake, or relaxation on the beach. The surroundings of the lake make an excellent base for exploring the region, offering numerous tourist attractions and charming places.

While staying in Uherce Mineralne, it is also worth taking advantage of what nearby Ustrzyki Dolne has to offer—from the Natural History Museum of the Bieszczady National Park and the FANTO Bieszczady Cultural Heritage Center, to earning the Ustrzyki Mountain Crown or climbing the observation tower on Holica Hill. When in the area, be sure to visit Lesko, where you can see the historic town hall from 1836, the unique fortified synagogue—now home to the Bieszczady Cultural Center Gallery—and the centuries-old Kmitów Castle. An added touch of mystery to sightseeing in Lesko is the legend of the Black Lady.

Places worth seeing nearby:

THE RAIL-CYCLE DRAISINESbieszczady National Park

BIESZCZADY SCHOOL OF CRAFTS IN UHERCE MINERALNE

Dam in Myczkowce

John Paul II Cultural Center for Ecumenism in Myczkowce

The Lesko Stone 

SOLINA CABLE CAR

SCENIC TOWER ON MOUNT HOLICA

ROPE PARK IN WAŃKOWA

• old fortified manor in Uherce Mineralne, its history reaches back to the 16^th century

• waterfall on Olszanka river

• ‘Bobry w Uhercach’ Nature Reserve

• Zagroda Magija – a guesthouse with art workshops

Photo by Chatka Wariatka