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
6 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
6 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

Pi...
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is picture postcard perfect!

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#9

Village Of Zalipie

yuka_7160 Report

Ayanami Faerudo
Community Member
6 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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#13

Village Of Zalipie

magro_kr Report

rustic raven
Community Member
6 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

#17

Village Of Zalipie

The Sloths Report

#18

Village Of Zalipie

magro_kr Report

#19

Village Of Zalipie

magro_kr Report

Miss MonMon
Community Member
6 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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#27

Village Of Zalipie

magro_kr Report

Glenna Wheatley
Community Member
6 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
6 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.

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#31

Village Of Zalipie

dumpling1954 Report

Susann Campbell
Community Member
6 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
6 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 ;=]]

#34

Village Of Zalipie

magro_kr Report

rustic raven
Community Member
6 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
6 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
6 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 ;=]]

#37

Village Of Zalipie

magro_kr Report

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

Even the Angels got involved. Sweet.

#38

Village Of Zalipie

mksfca Report

#40

Village Of Zalipie

wikimedia Report

rustic raven
Community Member
6 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 ;=]]

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#41

Village Of Zalipie

wikimedia Report

#43

Village Of Zalipie

Report

#45

Village Of Zalipie

wikimedia. Report

rustic raven
Community Member
6 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 ;=]]