Sopatowiec is a one-of-a-kind place in the heart of Beskid Sądecki in Polish Beskidy mountains. It is run by Gosia Kacner, a host first and foremost, but also a chef & an author of cookbooks, a traveller, a poet-writer, and a great listener. Sopatowiec is best known for offerring a unique spot for yoga retreats. In September 2022, it was destroyed by fire. The place - in its material form - has been gone, but the spirit is still there. It is to re-emerge in a different form. The pictures below will take you to Sopatowiec from before the fire.
I first came to Gosia's place in 2012. I've been a regular visitor since then, mostly as a participant of workshops. The stay at Sopatowiec has always been about resetting the mind, seeking deeper connections, and spending time away from the hustle of daily life.
The magic ambience of Sopatowiec was created by multiple tiny things. There were the decor details - souvenirs brought back from Gosia's travels. There was the most colorful and nourishing food concocted by Gosia in her small kitchen. There were hundreds of books to choose from and read in spare time. There was the sunny veranda with a freestanding stove that warmed up the space on cold days. There were the natural surroundings that healed overstimulation. Finally, there was Gosia herself, with her food, stories, and insights.
In cooking, Gosia draws on her experience from Asian travels and knowledge on Chinese medicine. Most of her recipes & ingredients remain a secret, although she has shared some insights in her two cookbooks.
In April 2021, I went to Sopatowiec for a women-only yoga retreat organized by Kasia Szota-Eksner. In order to practice, we would get together in an old barn with a view of the mountains. It was early spring and still a bit chilly.
Sopatowiec is hidden high up in the mountains. Whoever plans to get there by car is instructed to leave it at the end of the paved road and hike up the trail for the remaining kilometer or two. On the way, you'll pass a few old wooden cottages, Gosia's neighbors. Then, the path takes you all the way through the forest to finally reach Gosia's place where she lives with her big and friendly dog, Lobo.
