Dukla lies in the Lower Beskid Mountains in a picturesque valley, on the river Jasiołka, 20 kilometers from Krosno, It counts nowadays 2,200 inhabitants. It is  surrounded by the mountains – from the east by Cergowa (716 m), from the south by Chyrowa (567 m). It is known for its clean air and the unique nature.

 

           

The beginning of the town reaches the year 1380, but the proper development of Dukla dates back to the second half of the sixteenth century, when the customhouse was established on the ,,Hungarian Route” leading this way to Hungary. From this time Dukla became the centre of lordly fortunes being in turns in possession of the Męcińskis, the Ossolińskis and the Stadnickis.

 

 

The geographical location of Dukla not far from the most convenient border - crossing through the Carpatian  mountains contributed to its development in the period of the lively trade with the Hungarians in the 16th  and 18th  centuries. But it also brought on the town several war – defeats. In the time of the second world  war, in the autumn of 1944 Dukla together with its pass were a qreat field of  battle (there are cemeteries from the first and the second world wars behind the monastery of the Bernardine monks, there lie the victims from the ,,Valley of Death”.

 

 

Destroyed in 90% Dukla began to rise from its ruins.  Some of its seightseeings have been almost totally reconstructed: the market square with its town hall – dated bach to the 19th century the tenement – houses, the parish church under the invocation of St. Magdalena ( built in the years 1764 – 1765 ) in the late baroque style (rococo).

In the centre of the town on the river Jasiołka there is a park, installed in the 18th century in a French style arround the magnate’s palace.

Among other seightseeings of Dukla there are also the monastery of the Bernardine monks under the invocation of St. John from Dukla (built 1761- 1764) with the relicts of St. John. In the places where over 500 years ago St. John lived as a hermit there are: the small neo – gothic church on the Zaśpit Hill near Trzciana and a grotto with health giving water, also a  chapel on the Cergowa Mount with a well called  "Golden Well”.

In Dukla there is also a Historical Museum - Palace.

 

Three years ago in 1999 the Complex of  Public Schools in Dukla started to work. It  consists of two departments: the Elementary school and the Gymnasium.

Till 1966 the school consisted of two buildings. It was called the Elementary School in Dukla. 700 pupils had to learn in only a few classrooms. Then the inhabitants of Dukla called a committee with the aim to build a new school.  On the first of September 1968 the school was opened and 670 pupils started their education in a new building.

 The gymnasium itself consists today of 12 departments and about 300 pupils attend it. In our gimnasium we learn two foreign languages: German and English. We have also computer science in a large computer studio. There are also three gym halls with good equipment. We have also a very interesting library in which we can borrow reading–matters and other interesting adventure books, books on nature and books for young readers. There is also a reading–room in which one can find information about matters we are interested in. In some classrooms there are television sets and videoes thanks to which we can watch different scientific programmes. The programmes help us with learning. We havea very nice teaching staff. The teachers try to help us as much as possible.

We are looking for new contacts. Please write to the address:

                         Zespół Szkół Publicznych

                         Kościuszki street 13

                         38-450 Dukla

                         tel. 0048134330028

Or you can be in contact  with us through Internet:

e-mail : spdukla@karpaty.pl  

  

Our school is interested in taking part in the Socrates Programme. We are looking for schools which could share our interests. Our priority is handicraft combined with local traditions but we are also open for other ideas.

There is a small gallery in our beautiful town where artists or even children can exhibit their work. And you can not only admire it. You can listen to different stories of people who used to knit, make baskets of willow or strow, paint  years ago and still can do it or teach other people how to do it.

 

Another subject worth mentioning is history . Dukla itself and its sorroundings were the field of many great battles during World War I and II.  There are cemeteries where you can see graves with soldiers of different natiomalities : Polish, German, Czech, Russian, Austrian and other. Our children try to take care of them. It would be nice to share these interests with other schools.

 

We can offer you a very good lesson of history, traditions, we can help you to find your way back to nature (e.g. you can pick and dry your own herbs). Our polish hospitability is known all over the world.

 

Don’t wait!  Get in touch!