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Once upon a time, in a small Polish village called Zalipie, somebody painted a flower on their ceiling in order to cover up a soot mark caused by the stove. Ventilation was poor back then, and soot stains were a common sight in most if not all of the houses, and so other people started concealing the marks with their own little flowers until every house was covered in them.

Eventually everything in town was covered in flowers, from houses and barns to bridges and churches, and every spring since 1948 the village has held a Painted Cottage Competition, or Malowana Chata. The original purpose of this contest was part of a movement to help Poland psychologically recover from the atrocities that the country suffered in World War II.

Today Zalipie is a far cry from those dark times. Situated in the southeast of Poland just 90 minutes from Krakow, this beautifully bright and colorful village is the perfect location for anybody looking for a unique and memorable day trip. (h/t: mentalfloss)

#1

Village Of Zalipie

House of Painters in Zalipie Report

Tanya de Kruijff
Community Member
8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Aw even the dog gets a house covered in flowers! 😍

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    #2

    Village Of Zalipie

    adamtkincaid Report

    Kolohe
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That door is breathtaking! I would love to have such a beautiful front door <3

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    #5

    Village Of Zalipie

    Przemek Czaja Report

    #6

    Village Of Zalipie

    Stuart Spicer Report

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    #9

    Village Of Zalipie

    yuka_7160 Report

    Ayanami Faerudo
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like to imagine this as Zeniba's cottage from Howl's Moving Castle.

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    #11

    Village Of Zalipie

    Paul Brannan Report

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    #13

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    WOW wish my stove looked like this . This is so beautiful words are not enough LOVE IT ;=]]

    #15

    Village Of Zalipie

    Rick Metz Report

    Herbert Nenenger
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

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    #17

    Village Of Zalipie

    The Sloths Report

    #18

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    Benny Lava
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    From his expression I can tell he's a male dog.

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    #19

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    Miss MonMon
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love it. Much nicer than the ugly graffiti I see all over the inner city.

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    #20

    Village Of Zalipie

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs Report

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    #27

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    Glenna Wheatley
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Awesome floral "clock". Every town should have a floral sundial.

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    #30

    Village Of Zalipie

    me___maddy Report

    Susann Campbell
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone sat to long and wore off the flower paint on this bench.

    #31

    Village Of Zalipie

    dumpling1954 Report

    Susann Campbell
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Okay honey , next winter we paint the flowers on the arch door way.

    #32

    Village Of Zalipie

    Stuart Spicer Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bunnies lots of bunnies . Just wish I could do all of this still love the white on black still looks great all over the houses ;=]]

    #33

    Village Of Zalipie

    Stuart Spicer Report

    #34

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now that is a doggie door to the barn ;=]]

    #35

    Village Of Zalipie

    mksfca Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And this was all done in the last 40's by hand wow ;=]]

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    #36

    Village Of Zalipie

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OK I really do think I could do this start with the back yard gate then more ;=]]

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    #37

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    #38

    Village Of Zalipie

    mksfca Report

    #40

    Village Of Zalipie

    wikimedia Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is beautiful looks like the garden is doing good . This place is huge I really wish I a place like this ;=]]

    #41

    Village Of Zalipie

    wikimedia Report

    #43

    Village Of Zalipie

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    #44

    Village Of Zalipie

    magro_kr Report

    #45

    Village Of Zalipie

    wikimedia. Report

    rustic raven
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love how most of the places are alike but still different .Like how they mix there colors ;=]]