The Colorfully Decorated Homes of the Polish Village of Zalipie

photo via Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

In the secluded Polish village of Zalipie, locals decorate their homes with colorful hand-painted floral designs in a tradition that stretches back to the late 19th century. It’s not entirely clear how the tradition came about, but it may have been a method for concealing soot stains caused by smoke from fireplaces. With the advent of modern ventilation, the paintings became purely decorative and have spread to other structures in the village including a footbridge and a number of dog houses. For more on Zalipie, see this Kuriositas post.

photo by Ilja van de Pavert

photo by Stuart Spicer

photo via House of Painters in Zalipie

via Kuriositas