The concept of sustainable development in spatial management of mountain settlement units

Relationship between the built environment and nature is particularly noticeable in areas with valuable natural assets. The special physiographic conditions over there often initiate the development of towns, becoming even the impetus for the new, modern settlement. Many times the environmental advantages, paradoxically turn into theirs doom. Building imprints mark. Initially, it becomes the model complement with the natural world, until it does not exceed the difficult to define boundaries. The aim of this thesis is to search for solutions that will allow for spatial sustainability between the built and natural environments of the Karkonosze. The attractive mountain area used for sports and tourism now meets with the processes of urbanization. These issues are subject to analysis by the use of comparative method providing the different concepts of towns located in the high mountain areas of Austria. Described resorts with well-developed ski and tourism infrastructure can be examples of saving the scale and unique character, despite growing new needs and expectations of tourists and athletes. There is a chance to evolve their own local standards for space use in the Karkonosze. Key findings relate inter alia the size and the level of density of the villages. Because they affect the possibility of maintaining a proper relationship between man and nature. The issue of protection and use of historical complexes in the context of efficient space management is not without a significance