Tucked away at Wiktorówki, right next to Rusinowa Polana meadow, this wooden chapel has drawn highlanders, hikers and climbers for generations. It's one of the most atmospheric spots in the Polish Tatras — a sanctuary linked to the legend of a young shepherdess, Marysia Murzańska, who is said to have seen a radiant lady among the branches of a tree here. Today it's both a place of prayer and a natural stop along the trail.
The setting is stunning in every season — in summer the green expanse of Rusinowa Polana unfolds beneath the High Tatras' peaks, autumn paints the surrounding forests in gold and red, and winter wraps everything in snowy silence. The views toward Giewont and the High Tatras ridge are exceptional, and the meadow itself is a favourite resting spot for hikers. A TOPR mountain rescue post and a small tourist kitchen sit right by the chapel, where hikers have gathered for decades after a long day on the trail.
How to get thereInterestingly, the statue of Our Lady inside has a noticeably darker right hand — a remnant of the fire that destroyed the original 1902 chapel.