The earliest documents mentioning Zakopane date to the 17th century,
describing a glade called Zakopisko. In 1676 it was a village of 43
inhabitants. Zakopane became a center for the region's mining and metallurgy
industries; in the 19th century, it was the largest center for metallurgy in
Galicia. It expanded during the 19th century as the climate attracted more
inhabitants. By 1889 it had developed from a small village into a climatic
health resort of 3,000 inhabitants. Rail service to Zakopane began October 1,
1899.
In March 1940, representatives of the
Soviet NKVD and the
