Pewel Ślemieńska: Landscape, Chapels and Tradition

• The village lies at the foot of the Żywiec Beskids; Pilsko and Babia Góra are visible from there.
• The Pewlica flows through the valley near Pewel Ślemieńska.
• The parish patronal feast is celebrated every year on May 3.
• Rancho Adama offers riding lessons, horse riding and carriage rides; check availability in advance.

Pewel Ślemieńska lies at the foot of the Żywiec Beskids. Visible peaks include Pilsko and Babia Góra. To the south, the village is bordered by the slopes of Madejowy Groń (703 m), Zwalisk (757 m) and Bąków. These are part of the Pasmo Pewelsko-Ślemieńskie range. The Pewlica runs through the valley near Pewel Ślemieńska.

The neighboring settlement landscape is also useful for orientation: the hamlet of Niemiecka lies on the slopes near Pewel Ślemieńska and is the highest hamlet in the municipality of Świnna. Nearby, in Ślemień, is Jasna Górka. The shrine is one of four Marian shrines in the Żywiec region, but is not in Pewel Ślemieńska itself.

The historical features of Pewel Ślemieńska include wooden houses and roadside chapels. Local traditions are rooted in the customs of the Żywiec highlanders and include folk art, music, dance, song, regional dress and religious devotion. The parish patronal feast is celebrated every year on May 3.

The chapels vary in location and construction. On Czerwienica stands the 19th-century Chapel of the Third Fall of Christ. On Groń is a wooden chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a stone stele dating from the second half of the 19th century. In the lower part of the village stands the old bell chapel Maryja Królowa Polski, on the site of a former wooden church. There is also a brick chapel at the intersection of Krakowska and Poziomkowa streets.

The history of the parish is also closely connected with the village. On August 28, 1946, a decree established Pewel Ślemieńska as an independent rectorate of the parish in Rychwałd; pastoral care was entrusted to the Franciscans. On September 22, 1979, Bishop Stanisław Smoleński blessed and laid the church's foundation stone. The stone is still visible on the front wall of the church. On December 30, 1961, the Curia of the Archdiocese of Kraków designated Mary, Queen of Poland, as the patron of a chapel in Pewel Ślemieńska.

The regional ensemble of the municipality of Świnna, “HAJDUKI,” was founded in 2006 at the School and Preschool Complex in Pewel Ślemieńska. Its repertoire includes the customs and ceremonies of the Żywiec highlanders, Marian songs, as well as Christmas carols and pastorals. It includes around 70 children, young people and adults aged five to 20. A report on the 2026 parish visitation also notes that the Volunteer Fire Brigade's brass band provides music for celebrations.

Rancho Adama offers riding lessons with an instructor, riding in the arena and on trails, as well as carriage rides. Several Hucul horses are kept at the farm. If you are planning to take part in any of these activities, check availability in advance.

Different interests are therefore catered to: the chapels and inherited customs offer insights into local history and culture, while the riding options provide a specific activity at the farm. When planning your trip, you can first decide which of these focuses matters most to you.

If you are looking for a hotel in Pewel Ślemieńska, first decide whether you are mainly interested in the mountain landscape, church and regional culture, or horse riding. This lets you tailor your search to your own travel plans, without assuming that particular hotel facilities are available based on the features of the village.

Discover more destinations: Korbielow, Krzyżowa, Lodygowice, Sopotnia Wielka, Tresna, Miedzybrodzie Zywieckie, Czernichów and Nieledwia.

When is the patronal feast held?

It is celebrated in the parish of Pewel Ślemieńska every year on May 3.

What horse-riding options are available at Rancho Adama?

The options mentioned are riding lessons with an instructor, riding in the arena and on trails, and carriage rides. Check availability in advance.

Is Jasna Górka in Pewel Ślemieńska?

No. The shrine is in Ślemień, in the area around Pewel Ślemieńska, and is one of the four Marian shrines in the Żywiec region.

For the broader travel overview: Żywiec.