Babia Góra historic mountain shelter and Tarnica cave discovery highlight Poland's alpine heritage

Construction of a stone mountain shelter began on 4 August 1904 on the southern slope of Babia Góra, near the Diablak summit. Built by the Bielsk section of the German‑language Beskidenverein, the shelter opened in June 1905 and became a key facility for early 20th‑century tourism in the Beskid Żywiecki region. It survived changes in national borders, two world wars and a post‑war fire before being abandoned and never rebuilt.

In July 2003, a small natural opening appeared on a popular trail beneath Tarnica, the highest peak of the Bieszczady Mountains. Members of the Speleoklub Beskidzkiego investigated the opening and uncovered a previously unknown cave system, now known as the Tarnica cave. The cave, 16 metres long with a 6‑metre vertical drop, lies just metres from the trail that sees heavy tourist traffic, adding a new point of interest to the region’s natural attractions.