We drove to Zagroda Magija right after we left Ursa Maior in Uherce Mineralne – GPS told us that Orelec is just a few km away! Good news for me as you already know that roads in Bieszczady are not my favourite. We drove around for a while since there were no signs pointing to Zagroda Magija in Orelec. Łukasz already started complaining quietly: “As if they could not put a signpost and help us get there!?”.
Finally, we found it! We found a huge green yard and three wooden houses that looked like from a fairytale with blue sky filled with fluffy clouds in the background! After a few minutes, the owner approached us. Janusz Demkowicz is tall dreamy intellectual type, wearing glasses and looking just a few years older than we. He invited us to the porch of one of the cottages, to a table that was already set: “Come, let’s sit down and talk!”. Surprisingly quickly, we felt at home in Zagroda, especially after Magda, Janusz’ wife and Jeremi, one of his sons, joined us. He and Maks quickly focused on toy cars and running around the yard while we stuck to food and chat. Eating a spicy tomato and ginger soup and knish with cabbage and garlic sauce, with listened to the story of Zagroda Magija, a perfect place for all who want to run away from the world and feel artistic in the middle of the wild in Bieszczady.
a perfect place for long conversations
the conversation gets better if you’re eating regional specialties
The owners and their Zagroda have a simple motto that can be found on their website and felt on location: culture, nature, peace of mind. You come to places like that in order to find refuge, forget about problems, relax. The lack of signposts has a good purpose – here, they care about their guests’ privacy, it’s safe and homespun – all cottages are unlocked, you can make yourself at home.
Zagroda Magija is magical for several reasons.Firstly because of the cottages, where you stay. Built in 19th century, they can easily take you back in time thanks to its design and appearance. Secondly because of all the events, workshops, concerts and other happenings you can experience here. Thirdly because of the surrounding area – calm and full of beautiful views. Janusz and Marta care a lot for people who want to stay at their place. They organise photo workshops, dying occupations workshops, painting on glass, concerts and meetings with artists. There are no TVs in Zagroda since spending time together is supposed to inspire you to talk and not to seldom staring at the TV (don’t worry, they have WIFI, so you won’t lose contact with the world;)). On the other hand, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. You can take part in whichever workshop you like. The owners have been active in the field beautifully called “sensory tourism” for the last 7 years. It started with them wanting to learn how to take good pictures. How to do it? Organise a workshop! They’ve been running Zagroda for 11 years – contrary to some of the people we talked with here, they’re from Bieszczady, they haven’t come here from somewhere else to start new life. Janusz is from Lesko, Magda from Orelec. They’ve been living in magical Zagroda Magija for the last 3 years.
the vibe
a place where you travel back in time
Before Zagroda Magija was established, they used to work as guides in Bieszczady and teach at school. They earned pennies, when they decided to buy a beautiful old house in Zagórze from an old teacher. There were others who wanted to buy it too, but the old teacher sold the 1905 house to the younger one due to occupational solidarity. It was this house made from larch wood they first transported to Zagroda in Orelec. Beam after beam, tile after tile. They already knew that it was going to be a guesthouse. This is where we’re sitting right now, even though the dining room, where we eat, was added later but with respect to the cottage style from the the early 20th century. Old, wooden houses were so charming to Janusz and Marta that over the next few years they transported a 1847 barn (currently they organise pottery and bread baking workshops there) and a 1890 house. They found the barn in a little village called Wesoła in 2007 which is the reason why it’s currently called the happy barn (Wesoła stodoła). Did you know that it was in one of Janusz and Marta’s cottages that HBO filmed some scenes for their new “Wataha” series that will premiere on 12th October on TV? We didn’t know that – what a coincidence! 🙂
beautiful view
Why go to Zagroda? To experience things… to participate in a workshop, to cook, to try infused vodkas. Photo workshops take place in Zagroda Magija quite often, even 10 times a year. The subjects vary: sometimes it’s nature, sometimes wooden architecture, sometimes the quest for beautiful views on the high Połonina. If not photography, try pottery workshop, wicker, bread baking or harvesting herbs used in regional cuisine in the old times. Lately, Janusz and Magda went all the way and organised time lapse training with Paweł Kizny! Guests from all around the world came to meet Kizny. Here, to Zagroda Magija, a place hidden from the world with no signpost!
The guests often return to Zagroda – the record holder did it 70 times! Zagroda Magija is open all year long and the themed weekends with workshops usually start on Thursday and end on Sunday. After the artistic part, you an chill out in a small pond, banya, or with wines and infused vodkas made by the owners and stored in a cellar called “Hungarian’s cave”. Nordic walking, bikes and skis are also available.
handicraft
baking bread
banya
We quickly fall in love with places where you can sense passion and a clear idea. Places that aren’t regular hotels, guesthouses or rooms to let but offer certain experiences and sensations whether it is some kind of a workshop, cooking together or picking grapes – either way you’ll remember it. It’s different, more magical and in magical Bieszczady 🙂 What else do you need?
#MagicalBieszczady is a project that aims to show the extraordinariness of this region, the beauty of the nature and the stories of the locals. New TV series “Wataha” takes place in Bieszczady – it premieres on 12th October 2014 on HBO. More to come soon at hbo.pl/magicznebieszczady
PRACTICAL INFORMATION:
Magda and Janusz Demkowicz
Orelec 6a
38-623 Uherce Mineralne
tel. 0 606 677 198
tel. 0 694 798 651
email: janusz@demkowicz.pl
* the entry was written in cooperation with
0 Comments