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 In
the seventeenth century; the Zakopiska Glade is mentioned in the earliest
town documents. The development and history of the city are connected with
mining and metallurgy; later, the town has come to be associated with
therapeutics and tourism. From the small village stage through to its
current status as a popular spa station, the city has been earning its
nickname as the winter capital of Poland.
 In
1873 in Zakopane the Galicia Society for Tatra Mountains was established,
then in 1906 the Polish Tourist Society. The organizations acted locally
and were concerned with very specific topics, and they were popular among
intellectuals and tourists. Later
history of Zakopane is associated with the development of
metallurgical and mining industries, and, then, with development of health
care and tourism. Zakopane received its city charter in 1933. None of the
cities in Poland is located as high in the mountains as Zakopane. It is
situated at the foothills of Tatra Mountains, in the basin between the
latter and the crest of Gubalowka. Its urban area is at an altitude  of
750-1000 m above sea level; the centre (Krupowki and Kosciuszki street
crossing) is located 838m. above sea level. Due to high altitude, Zakopane
has mountain climate.
As early as in 1910, an international skiing competition took place
in Zakopane, and in 1929, 1939 and 1962 the FIS World Skiing
Championships took place in Zakopane. Students have taken a special liking
for Zakopane where they had their Olympic Games, the Universiade, in 1956
and 1993; Zakopane won the gold medal for their organization twice. The
development of skiing facilities has been thwarted by the establishment,
in 1954, of the Tatra National Park which borders Zakopane in the
south. The national park, with Poland's highest peak
In
1969 the World Championships in Biathlon took place in Zakopane.
The town has frequently been host to the competitors participating in
World and Europe Cups in alpine and nordic skiing (as eg. World Cup in ski
jumping in 1980, 1990, 1996, 1998).
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