HISTORY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP

              The traditions of shoe craftsmanship in the region of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska were passed on from father to son from ages. The history of that craft begins in times of Tartar invasions at the turn of thirteen and fourteen century. In those days, a handful of Tartars were taken captive, settled down in the vicinity of villages Tarnawa Dolna and Zembrzyce. Those people were famous for tanning the leathers, which were used not only for making harnesses, saddles and clothes but also for making shoes. No matter how the shoe craftsmanship really begun, Kalwaria is a very special place and there is no other all over the Poland, with such large number of shoe shops situated in near vicinity to each other. There are about six hundred shoe shops registered in the commune of Kalwaria. The unusual character of this place is not only as a result of rich traditions, but also from the scale of existing competition, which drives the quality of products to higher levels.