Kocierz. Hotel & SPA
Beskidzka 206
34-120 Andrychów
Poland
Link to Google Maps
It is an exclusive Hotel with restaurant "Villa Lamus", a local tavern, night club K2 and a modern SPA centre. "Kocierz" is not just another conference venue, it provides the ideal conditions for all events as it has the advantage of access to modern day technology combined with stunning views and local tradition.
The Centre is situated 70 km (43 miles) from Cracow (Historic Centre of Cracow is listed on UNESCO World Heritage List, so it's great opportunity for sightseeing!), 20km (13 miles) from Wadowice and 18km (12 miles) from Żywiec. To reach it (directions) you have to take the road 781 from Andrychów to Żywiec, then follow a mountain road, which is the oldest hard track in Poland and a part of an old business trail.
Conference fee includes transfer from Cracow train station to Kocierz on October 6th (before lunch) and transfer from Kocierz to Cracow train station on October 9th (after lunch). More details will be provided later.
The name of the highest mountain within the range depends on the definition of the eastern border of the Beskids, which is disputed: according to some older sources it is the sources of the Tisza River, according to newer sources the Beskids end at the Ushok Pass at the Polish-Ukrainian border. The highest peak of the western part of the Beskids is the Babia Góra-Babia Hora (1725 meters above see level), located on the Polish-Slovak frontier.
The Babia Góra National Park was established in 1954 and in 1977 it was added to the UNESCO’s international network of biosphere reserves. It is estimated that about 160 different vertebrates and over 2,000 different invertebrates live in the area of the part. The region of Babia Góra is considered a healthy microclimate with clear water and clean air.
The Dunajec River divides the range into eastern and western sections and several passes (Jablunkov, Dukla, and Vlara) cross the range. On the west is the Beskid Wysoki (High Beskids), where the Vistula River rises, while in the east there is the Beskid Niski (Low Beskids). Within these large two areas there are smaller Beskid sub-ranges, such as the Beskid Żywiecki, a part of the larger Wysoki (high) Beskids, the second highest range in Poland (after the Tatra). The Beskid Żywiecki stretches between the upper sections of two rivers, the Soła and Skawa. The Little Beskids stretch further to the north, for about 30km between the city of Bielsko Biała and the Skawa river.
The Beskids are a diversified region abounding in both lively resorts and secluded wild areas. Tourist attractions include historic wooden churches and the increasingly-popular skiing winter resorts in the mountains. The region is heavily forested and provides many more or less strenuous hiking trails, which are especially popular due to beautiful scenery.