Stay with us in Bieszczady
Franciscan Monastery House in Wetlina — a place of silence, prayer and rest in the heart of the Bieszczady Mountains
Daily Holy Mass
Join the liturgy in the historic monastery church. Confession available before every Mass.
Silence and prayer
The atmosphere of Franciscan simplicity, perfect for reflection, retreats and spiritual renewal.
Bieszczady at your doorstep
The last wild mountains in Poland. Alpine meadows, beech forests, brown bears — nature untouched by man.
The Franciscan Monastery House was built between 1984 and 1995 and serves as a monastery, parish office, and retreat house for organized groups and individual guests. There are 45 beds available in rooms with bathrooms, in hostel-tourist standard. The rooms are located on the upper floor; in the basement there is a tourist kitchen and dining room.
Who is it for
Reservation
Reservations are made by phone or email. Please contact us in advance, especially during the summer season (May–October) and holiday periods.
Wetlina 40a
38-608 Wetlina
woj. podkarpackie
Access via road 897 from Cisna (~15 km) or from Ustrzyki Górne (~12 km). The bus stop is next to the church. Seasonal bus connections from many Polish cities.
Bieszczady — the last wild mountains
Wetlina lies in the heart of the High Bieszczady, at the foot of Połonina Wetlińska and Wielka Rawka. This is one of the last wild places in Europe — a land of vast alpine meadows, ancient beech forests and brown bears. Hiking trails begin literally at the monastery doorstep.
Getting Here
By bus: this is the easiest way to get to Wetlina; during the tourist season, buses to Wetlina run even from distant places in Poland, and the bus stop is right next to the church. Outside the season, the number of regular buses drops drastically.
By car, motorcycle, bicycle: getting to Wetlina is very easy – from Cisna, follow the road towards Ustrzyki Górne via the Bieszczady ring road (road no. 897). The road is very well maintained year-round, but in winter there may be temporary difficulties during heavy snowfall. Before arriving in winter, it is worth calling us to check the weather and road conditions.
Hitchhiking: unfortunately, in recent years hitchhiking in the Bieszczady has become increasingly difficult, and outside the season practically impossible. We recommend persistent hitchhikers organize their journey so as not to be stranded on the road in the late afternoon or evening after the last bus has departed.
Mountain Hiking
Numerous hiking trails converge in Wetlina, making it an excellent base for mountain enthusiasts. It is also relatively easy to get to Smerek, Brzegi Górne, or Przełęcz Wyżniańska, from where further interesting trails branch out.
The yellow trail leads south to Rabia Skała (1169 m) via Paprotna – approx. 4 h, and northeast to Przełęcz Orłowicza (1075 m) – approx. 2 h. From there, the red trail goes to Smerek (1222 m) or Połonina Wetlińska (1253 m). The green trail goes south to Rabia Skała via Jawornik – approx. 4 h, and east via Dział to Mała Rawka (1272 m) – approx. 3.5 h, from where Wielka Rawka (1304 m) is just 20 minutes away. The black trail leads from Osada to the eastern end of Połonina Wetlińska and the PTTK "Chatka Puchatka" shelter (1231 m) – approx. 2 h.
Cycling
Mountain bikes are not allowed on hiking trails, but cycling enthusiasts will not be disappointed: most roads and paths outside the Bieszczady National Park are accessible to cyclists year-round. The only issue is fairly intense traffic on main roads during the summer season, so we recommend caution.
Skiing
The entire High Bieszczady region offers ideal conditions for ski touring in winter, especially in February and March. The most opportunities are for cross-country skiing and ski touring, but downhill enthusiasts will also find suitable terrain.
Religion, Culture, History
As a result of war, the surroundings of Wetlina were completely devastated, but experienced tourists will find numerous interesting sites – remains of Orthodox churches and cemeteries. A particularly interesting place is Łopienka, a village established before 1552, with a church of St. Paraskewia featuring a miraculous icon of the Mother of God. The 1757 church was rebuilt thanks to the community work of many people. The church feast in Łopienka takes place on the first Sunday of October – an ecumenical service of Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic representatives is held, attracting many residents and tourists. The walk to Łopienka from the parking lot near the village of Buk takes about 40 minutes.
Nature
The surroundings of Wetlina are the quintessence of the unique Bieszczady nature. All hiking trails abound in viewpoints, beautiful landscapes, forests, and geological formations. It is worth climbing to the area of Rabia Skała to admire the extraordinary forest of dwarf beeches and rare rocky cliffs. On the western slope of Smerek there are beautiful stone runs, and on the summits of Smerek and Połonina Wetlińska there are interesting rock outcrops covered with unique mountain vegetation. Another recommended destination is the Sine Wiry reserve – a rocky gorge of the Wetlinka stream, accessible from the village of Buk or from Kalnica via Jaworzec.
Trails & Attractions Nearby
Wetlina is the perfect base for exploring the Bieszczady Mountains
Book Your Stay
You are warmly welcome. Call or write — we will gladly answer your questions and help you plan your stay.