Lopienka

Łopienka is a village from the 16th century, which no longer exists. It used to be bustling with life, but as a result of the Tatar invasion, the village was depopulated and about 85% of the buildings were destroyed.

Initially, the village belonged to the Bal family, then it was sold to the Strzelecki family. They were the founders of the brick parish church of st. Paraskevia, where the icon of the Mother of God with the Child was placed. To this day, it is one of the oldest brick Orthodox churches in the Bieszczady Mountains.

The village did not have too many inhabitants, but the impact of the war on this village was huge. The inhabitants were gradually evicted until 1947, when officially no one was left here.

After the war, the village was systematically dismantled by the inhabitants of the neighboring villages, treating them as free building material or fuel. The last intact element was the church. Until 1954, when someone removed the metal sheet from the roof, which contributed to its slow destruction.

Attempts were made to settle in Łopienka, but no one undertook to live in this village.

At the beginning of the 1980s, a tent base of the Academic Tourist Club SGGW-AR in Warsaw was established here.

Thanks to Zbigniew Kaszuba, the church was renovated in the years 1983-2003 as part of the activities of the Monuments Protection Society. It also contains a replica of the icon of the Mother of God with the Child, the original is in the church in Polańczyk - it was moved there after World War II. Currently, it can be visited for free, without time limits, it is even possible to enter the memorial book or buy a donation for subsequent renovations.

10 minutes away from the church there is a spring, famous for its healing properties, and its availability largely depends on the condition of the groundwater. The marked path also leads to the former cemetery.

In the area of the village, a natural and cultural path "Dolina Łopienki" has been marked, the characteristic attractions of which are, among others: a gorge, a waterfall on a stream, retorts and beaver backwaters. It was marked in blue.

In 2013, a modern tourist shelter was built in place of the former inn.

There are basically three directions to get to Łopienka:

• from Dołżyca near Cisna, along the black trail to the top of Łopiennik (approx. 1 h), then along the trail leading to the student campsite in Łopienka: approx. ¾ h,
• From Dołżyca road through Buk, along Solinka. You can get by car to the bridge over Solinka, where the road splits: right to Sine Wiry, and left (after the bridge) to Łopienka. Parking next to it (free). Access from the above-mentioned road to Łopienka, through a picturesque valley along the stream - approx. 30-45 minutes (2.5 km). This road is not closed to traffic - you can get to the church by car, but in the tourist season, when many people are walking this way, it is an average idea.
• From the top of Korbania or Tyskowa, through the Hyrcza Pass, approx. 1½ h. Unmarked route - you need to use a map. Description of the route in the opposite direction: from Łopienka to Korbania.

Undoubtedly, it is a mysterious place with an interesting history. Łopienka has its own unique atmosphere that will appeal to many visitors.