Rymanów-Zdrój

Rymanów-Zdrój lies 4 km (2.5 mi) south of the town Rymanów, in the valley of the river Tabor surrounded by low mountains. It is located in the heartland of the Doły (Pits), and its average altitude is 430 metres (1,410 ft) above sea level, although there are some hills located within the confines of the city.

The source of mineral water was discovered in 1876. The popularity of the nearby spa Iwonicz Zdrój caused the owners of the Rymanów estate, Anna and Stanisław Potocki to look for similar springs in the river valley. A chemist, Tytus Sławik, who was staying with them, analyzed the water in a spring and found a high concentration of iodine and iron. In 1877 prof. dr Wesselshy, a Viennese chemist, confirmed the initial analysis. Shortly the first boarding houses were built and pipes installed to bring the water from the spring to them.

In 1882 the new spa received a silver medal at an exhibition in Cracow. From that moment the spa expanded rapidly. A children's sanatorium was built in 1885, and a spa pavilion in 1885. The resort became popular with the rising middle class of Lwów, the capital of the Galicia province in the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. Many private, ornate villas were constructed.

During World War I the front lines moved through Rymanów three times and the spa suffered severe damage. It was restored and reopened in 1926 and many new villas and installations were built. In the late 1930s up to 5,000 people visited the spa annually.

During World War II the spa was almost totally destroyed. After the war, it was rebuilt as a children's sanatorium. In 1965 a new sanatorium was built for adults with 120 beds. In 1980 a plant was built for the bottling of the water and soft drinks. In 1986, on the 120th anniversary of the original founding, the spa was set up a separate community Rymanów Zdrój within area of 1525 ha. (4060 acres). Once more it became a resort. There are several marked hiking trails leading into the surrounding mountains

During the pre-1914 years, and also 1926-1939, Rymanów Zdrój was frequented by many famous people, including:

• Prince Albrecht - uncle of Emperor Franz Joseph,
• Stanisław Wyspiański - poet,
• Ludomir Różycki - composer,
• Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer - poet and writer,
• Mieczysław Fogg - cabaret singer performed here in the 1930s

• European walking route E8
  • Prešov - Miháľov - Kurimka - Dukla - Iwonicz-Zdrój – Rymanów-Zdrój - Puławy – Tokarnia (778 m) – Kamień (717 m) – Komańcza - Cisna - Ustrzyki Górne - Tarnica - Wołosate.

• Rymanów
• Spa town
• Apostolic Exarchate of Łemkowszczyzna

• Polish spa resorts
• Site of Rymanow Zdroj
• Rymanów