In the footsteps of Łukasiewicz- Iwonicz Zdrój

Iwonicz Zdrój

Iwonicz-Zdrój is one of the oldest Polish health resorts known since 1578. It is situated in the Podkarpackie Province, in the Krosno county, in the valley of the Iwonka stream. It was granted town rights in 1973, now it is the centre of the commune of Iwonicz Zdrój.

In the 1860s, Count Karol Załuski established an oil mine. There were several oil fields in the town at that time: Roman, Zofia, Elin, Bunia, Załuski 1 and Emma-Załuska. With time, the crude oil deposits in the Iwonicz Zdrój-Lubatówka area began to run out, which meant that mineral waters were extracted using reconstructed petroleum wells. To this day, nine production wells have survived and are still in operation in this area.

Crude oil mines in Iwonicz – Zdrój, an archival photo.

An obelisk with a poem and a bas-relief of Wincenty Pol.

„Bełkotka” mineral water source in Iwonicz – Zdrój, 1939.

„Bełkotka” mineral water source in Iwonicz – Zdrój.2

Trivia

In the 18th century, traces of crude oil were noticed in the water on the slopes of Mount Przedziwna, and the spring in which the gas causes the characteristic bubbling of water was called "Bełkotka". It is the oldest and the most famous spring of the town, which is a nature monument. With time, a wall was built around the spring, into which an obelisk with a poem by Wincenty Pol and the image of the poet was incorporated. On the Bełkotka stream there is a weir with a commemorative plaque dedicated to Count Karol Załuski.