Origins

The Dworek Gościnny (also known as the Pieniński Salon or Kursalon) was built on the initiative of Józef Szalay, who unfortunately did not live to see the opening of the building. Construction began in 1875, and the founder of Szczawnica died in 1876. The Kraków Academy of Skills completed the construction, to which Szalay bequeathed the Szczawnica Spa in his will.

Style

The upper part of the Dworek was mainly built from larch wood; the building is covered with shingles and features numerous galleries, verandas, dormers, and turrets. Originally, the building housed a ballroom for 500 people, an entertainment hall, a piano room, and a billiard room, as well as a reading room and even a hairdressing salon and two shops.

Fire and Reconstruction

On October 20, 1962, a fire broke out in the Dworek Gościnny after 10 a.m., completely destroying the building, leaving only the stone foundations. For many years, reconstruction was impossible due to the enormous costs. It was not until 2005 that Andrzej Mańkowski, the grandson of Count Adam Stadnicki, decided to reclaim his grandfather’s property and undertake the reconstruction. In 2011, the Dworek Gościnny was reopened in a new form: it was decided to increase the building’s volume by one-third, equip the interior with modern technology, and at the same time preserve the unique atmosphere of the place.