The building was designed by architects Zbigniew Polkiewicz and Edward Maliszewski and opened in 1971.
It is built on the site of the former 19th-century wooden promenade buildings that were demolished to modernize the spa center.
The interior features a prominent tropical garden installation, which remains a rare example of socialist-modernist interior design in Poland.
The pump room provides access to several specific water types including 'Zuber,' known as one of the most mineralized medicinal waters in Europe.
The structure's large glass facade is designed to blend the interior space with the surrounding Park Zdrojowy.
It serves as the main venue for the annual Jan Kiepura European Festival of Aria and Song.
Pijalnia Główna is the central mineral water pump room in Krynica-Zdrój, housed in a modernist architectural landmark built in the 1970s. The structure serves as the primary hub for medicinal mineral water consumption, featuring various types of local waters drawn from deep-seated wells. Visitors access the water through taps located at a centralized serving counter. The interior includes a glass-walled rotunda that provides panoramic views of the surrounding spa park. The facility often hosts cultural events, concerts, and exhibitions within its spacious hall. It is the architectural successor to the historic pump rooms that have defined the town's spa legacy since the 19th century. The building integrates a modern aesthetic with the traditional therapeutic practice of 'pijalnia' culture, where drinking water is combined with social leisure.
The elevated central staircase which offers a wide-angle view of the indoor tropical garden and the glass architecture.
Bring your own reusable mug or purchase a traditional ceramic 'pijawka' (straw-cup) on-site to sample the various waters.
Consult the posted charts near the taps to understand which mineral water is recommended for your specific health needs.
Visit the second floor or the terrace levels for quieter views of the park away from the main serving area.
Do not drink large quantities of 'Zuber' water without reading the instructions, as its high mineral content can cause strong physiological reactions.
Maintain a quiet tone within the facility as it is a place of therapeutic rest; do not consume food or beverages other than the medicinal water in the main hall.
