Good Practice - Project
Blacksmith Village Wioska Kowala
CAP funds diversify a Polish farm by establishing an accommodation facility that combines recreation with local heritage.
General information
RDP Priority
- P6. Social inclusion and local development
RDP Focus Area
- 6A: Diversification & job creation
RDP Measure
- M06: Farm & business development
Beneficiary type
- Farmer / land manager
Summary
Rozpucie village is in an area covered with lush forests and colourful meadows with numerous paths for walking and cycling. Despite these attractions, the area lacks accommodation and tourist facilities, so Dawid and Aleksandra Jach decided to use CAP support to convert a local historical attraction, namely an old forge, into a facility that combines accommodation and recreational infrastructure.
Results
- The 'Kowal Village' provides accommodation and recreational infrastructure, making the area a new tourist destination.
- Thanks to the project, a historic building was renovated and repurposed and is now a place for recreation, both for the local population and visitors.
Promoter
Aleksander Jach Wioska Kowala
Funding
- Total budget: 250 000 (EUR)
- EAFRD: 150 000 (EUR)
- National/Regional: 50 000 (EUR)
- Private/own: 50 000 (EUR)
Sujets
Ressources
Good Practice Report - Blacksmith Village Wioska Kowala
(PDF – 1008.06 Ko)
Context
Dawid and Aleksandra Jach are farmers who live in Rozpucie in Podkarpackie Voivodeship, in south-eastern Poland. The area is covered with lush forests and colourful meadows with numerous paths for walking and cycling. A bicycle trail - 'In the Footsteps of the Adventures of the Good Soldier Švejk' - runs through the village of Rozpucie as part of Poland’s Green Velo Trail, but there is no accommodation or tourist facilities in the area.
The beneficiaries decided to create a place for tourist activity based on a local historic structure. A 135-year-old family forge became the basis for building a tourist offer for guests from Poland and abroad. The idea included creating accommodation rooms with a kitchen and facilities for active recreation, as well as renovating and re-equipping the old forge to serve as a pay-for-entry heritage attraction. Due to the cost of such investments, the couple decided to submit an application for aid under Measure 6.2 (Support for starting non-agricultural business activity in rural areas).
Objectives
The aim of the project was to create a new tourist offer in the area to build upon existing tourist infrastructure and heritage assets.
Activities
Project activities included:
- Renovating the house to serve as visitor accommodation, including three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room and a fully equipped kitchen.
- Renovating the old forge, collecting historical remains and blacksmith equipment.
- Purchasing bicycle equipment and preparing suitable storage and a service area for them.
- Creating a recreational area with a bonfire area, barbecue, jacuzzi and walking area with a pond.
Main results
- The 'Kowal Village' is a lovely place to stay. It combines the advantages of a beautiful rural area, a local historical attraction and the possibility of active cycling tourism. This investment made the area an attractive tourist destination.
- Thanks to the project, the facility has been brought back to life with a new purpose - to be a place for meetings and recreational events.
Key lessons
- Thanks to the renovation project, the beneficiaries collected a lot of equipment, souvenirs and photographs that chronicle the forge’s history within the local community. The display of these items gives tourists the opportunity to learn about a disappearing profession and gain insight into the lives and occupations of rural communities before industrialisation.
- The project also provides important support for the local development of the town and the entire area.