Polish Learning Community and Resources

Polish Mountains

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Some say that there are two types of people – those who love the beach and cannot imagine their summer holidays without going to the seaside, and those who are mountain lovers. If you’re spending your summer in Poland – you’re lucky, because everybody’s going to find something they’ll love! Today’s blog post, however, is addressed to those who enjoy the mountainside. Poland has several mountain ranges that are mostly concentrated in the southern parts of the country, and I’d like to give you a quick overview of each one of them. But before we start, I’d like to share just a few things – first, all the trails in Polish mountains are marked (marking common to central and eastern European countries) and there are many info boards that explain those, so if you’re not familiar with them you can easily find all the necessary information before you go or directly on the spot. Many of the places I’m describing here are protected areas such as national parks and landscape parks, so keep that in mind – again, the info boards are your best friends. Finally, along the mountain trails there are various rest areas (usually tables with benches), where you can stop for a snack and shelters (schronisko), where you can get a warm meal (usually cheap, traditional cuisine), get some sleep, hang out with fellow hikers and get a traditional stamp that proves that you’ve reached a given point on the trail. All of these places are also marked on the maps, so as long as you follow the designated trails, you’re safe. Ready to go? 

Góry Świętokrzyskie 

Świętokrzyskie Mountains are the oldest mountains in Poland and some of the oldest in Europe. The name comes from the Catholic "Holy Cross" (Pol. święty krzyż) relics that are kept in the church on the top of Łysa Góra (‘Bald Mountain’) – a mountain formerly believed to be the place where witches meet. They are located in the area of the town of Kielce in central-southern Poland. These mountains are quite low – the highest peak – Łysica is 614 metres above sea level, therefore they are quite friendly for those afraid of higher mountains. The fact that these are some of the oldest mountains, makes the whole świętokrzyskie region a fascinating area – one of the unique features is what is called a ‘stone sea’ (gołoborze) – many slopes are covered with stone rubble which dates to the last Ice Age. Another gem from the distant past (around 350 million years ago) is Jaskinia Raj ('Paradise cave') located some 11 km from the town of Kielce, undoubtedly the most beautiful cave in the country – hence the name. And since I’m talking so much about all the things old, the region is also home to one of the oldest trees in Poland (and the most famous one) – the oak named Bartek. Commonly believed to be over 1,000 years old it has been recently found to be “just” below the age of 700. 

Sudety 

Now let’s move to southwestern Poland where there’s a higher and more extensive mountain range – Sudety. These mountains are shared with the northern part of the Czech Republic and partly with Germany. They are significantly higher than świętokrzyskie – its highest peak – Śnieżka rises 1603 meters above sea level. Interestingly, this mountain is located precisely on the Czech-Polish border, therefore it is ‘shared’ between the two countries, so if you’re climbing it on the Polish side, you can pay a visit to our neighbours, where the mountain is known as Sněžka and it’s the highest mountain of the Czech Republic. One of the characteristic features of this mountain range are particular rock formations which resemble people or animals and are given various, sometimes funny, names by the locals. In the western part of this mountain range, you can find góry stołowe (table mountains), which are some of very rare formations found only in a few places on Earth. Another reason why this region is popular are its numerous waterfalls, perfect to visit when you don’t feel like climbing too high. If you’re tired of hiking make sure to visit some of the charming local towns, for example, Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba – even though they are very popular among tourists they remain quiet, cozy places with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Karpaty 

More commonly known as the Carpathian Mountains, this is the most extensive of the mountain ranges present in Poland, it is around 1,500 km long, which makes it the third longest mountain range in Europe. It is located, you guessed it, in the south of the country. Carpathian Mountains stretch through the territories of eight countries – Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania and Serbia. Karpaty are definitely the most varied and the highest in Poland. The easternmost part of this mountain range are Bieszczady – very green with gentle slopes, its highest peak in Poland is Tarnica at 1346 metres above sea level. Right in the center-south, along the Polish-Slovak border there are slightly more rocky, significantly lower – Pieniny. If you don’t feel like climbing, you can take a wooden raft trip down the Dunajec River Gorge that runs right between Poland and Slovakia and from where you can have some breathtaking views, including Pieniny’s highest peak – Trzy Korony ('Three Crowns' – 982 m). The area is also full of pleasant small towns, particularly spa towns such as Krynica-Zdrój or Szczawnica, where you can sample some of the unique mineral waters, some of which have a very particular taste and quite a strong smell...  
And, finally, Tatry (Tatra mountains), probably the most popular destination for mountain lovers. I’m sure you’ve heard about the town of Zakopane, which is the main base for tourists. It is also well-known for its colourful culture and distinct dialect. The must-visit places include a lake surrounded by mountains - Morskie Oko ('The Eye of the Sea'), and of course, the peaks – Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m) and the symbol of the Polish Tatra Mountains – Giewont (1895 m), you should not only climb the latter but also see it from far away – it resembles a sleeping knight. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

I hope that this quick guide piqued your interest and you will consider visiting the Polish mountainside. I know it’s hard to choose, so you’ll definitely need more than one trip! While I focussed mostly on the characteristics of different mountain ranges and their highest peak, make sure that you go to the towns in the areas I mentioned, they are well worth visiting for their culture and cuisine. All of these regions are also rich in historical sites, so your trip doesn’t need to be only about relaxing but it is also a good chance to learn something new!