Chata Wuja Toma

Chata Wuja Toma (Uncle Tom's Cabin) is a tourist hut in the Silesian Beskids, on the Karkoszczonka Pass, within the boundaries of Szczyrk. It is housed in a wooden highlander cabin from 1918. Today it is open all year round and is a destination for short outings for people staying in Szczyrk. The address is Pasterska 9.

A cabin from 1918

The first owner of the cabin was Adam Porębski, and in this part of Szczyrk Biała the place was known as “do Adama” (“Adam's place”). From the second half of the 1970s a student hut operated in it, the Student Tourist Hut “Karkoszczonka” of the Socialist Union of Polish Students, Faculty of Mechanical and Power Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. It functioned until 1992.

Afterwards the building served as a facility for the toboggan run. In November 1997 it was leased, and on 9 February 1998 the new hosts bought it from the town of Szczyrk. In the following years the place changed its name to the present one and was considerably extended, especially the catering part.

Location on the pass

The Karkoszczonka Pass connects Szczyrk with Brenna and is the lowest and most convenient crossing between these two places. It lies between the peaks of Trzy Kopce (1,082 m) and Beskidek (860 m), on the border of the two municipalities. The cabin stands just below the saddle of the pass. Driving through the pass is closed for forestry reasons.

Marked trails meet on the pass, including those towards Klimczok, to the centre of Szczyrk and to Brenna. The pass also has an educational trail leading to Szczyrk through the “Na Górce” shrine. Nearby lies the PTTK Mountain Hut on Błatnia, and in the area the Stok Dębowca toboggan run.

Accommodation and services

According to the description, the place has several double and four-person rooms, including one with a sauna, as well as year-round cottages. There is a spa zone with a hydromassage hot tub, saunas, a Russian banya and a relaxation area. There is also a training and event hall called Owczarnia (the Sheepfold), which holds up to 100 people.

Practical information

• Address: Pasterska 9, Szczyrk.
• Location: below the Karkoszczonka Pass.
• Access: on trails from Szczyrk and Brenna; cars do not drive through the pass.
• The offer, catering hours and accommodation reservations change, so check with the hosts before your visit.