This document summarizes the painted village of Zalipie in Poland. The village began painting flowers on their homes many years ago to cover up soot stains from wood-burning stoves. Over time, the practice evolved into an intricate tradition where nearly every surface is decorated with elaborate floral patterns in vibrant colors. While the original purpose was practical, the tradition took on cultural significance and became a core part of the village's identity.

1. THE PAINTED VILLAGE OF
POLAND
STUDENT: ALEXANDRA CAZACU
GRUPE: 8217

2. All The Buildings In This Small Village
Are Covered In Paintings Of Flowers

3. • Legend has it that the villagers started
painting flowers on their homes many years
ago to cover up smudges of soot and smoke
from their wood-burning stoves. The colors
seem to be inspired by natural hues found in
the village's gardens.

4. • Known lovingly as “The Painted Village,”
nearly every bare surface in the village, be it
stone or wood has been decorated with
intricate floral patterns in a tradition that
dates back almost a hundred years. While
there is little concrete evidence to support the
story, the belief is that the habit of painting
flowers on the walls began in the days when
soot and smoke issued from everyone’s tiny
wood-burning stoves.

6. By the time of the turn of the century, the old world stoves were
replaced with chimneys and cleaner modern ventilation,
eliminating the practical need for the tradition, but instead of
dying out, the practice just became more elaborate.

7. • By this time, the decorative tradition was
a part of the Zalipie identity and with the
advent of better paints and more varied
colors, the rustic floral patterns expanded
to intricately weaving vine illustrations
accented by vibrant flowers in every color
of the rainbow. The paintings also began
to spread from the walls of personal
homes out onto nearly every blank
surface, like graffiti from a street crew of
grandmas.