Świętokrzyski National Park - gołoborza, peaks, trails, attractions

Świętokrzyski National Park invites you to the only mountains in Poland located in the central part of the country. Honest and age-old. Although not high, it is interesting and unique. It is available to everyone, because it is strolling, green, sung with a bird trellis. 

The ancient Świętokrzyskie Mountains delight with gentle peaks and picturesque trails, ancient smokers and extremely interesting geology. Above all, however, valuable nature. Today, that's what I wanted to tell you a little bit about. 

The Świętokrzyski National Park covers primarily the Lysogory Mountains - the highest range of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, together with the dominant Lysica, with an altitude of 614 m above sea level. Despite the fact that this number is not very impressive, the peak belongs to the Crown of the Polish Mountains. These are the oldest and at the same time the lowest mountains in Poland, strongly eroded, that is, destroyed by millions of years of various factors. However, they carry a very interesting geology in the form of unique, ancient rocks and a huge wealth of minerals, as well as valuable animated nature. The famous dovecote is significant here!

Gołoborza in the Świętokrzyskie National Park

Gołoborza is the most characteristic element of the region's landscape. These are forestless areas, built of blocks of Cambrian quartzite sandstone, formed over 500 million years ago. It is a kind of rubble, created by shattered boulders. They are located on the slopes of mountain ranges, and the name dovecote is a folk term. This is what the local population called these places because they are bare of boron.

In the Świętokrzyski Gołoborza National Park, they occupy an area of about 22 hectares. The largest of them was built on Bald Mountain, i.e. the Holy Cross. It is one of the largest nude block cover fields in this part of Europe. It bears the name of the famous botanist Prof. Kobendza. You can admire them from the viewing platform at the top of Łyśiec (Holy Cross), which is available for a fee.

Attractions of the Świętokrzyskie National Park

Świętokrzyski National Park is also attractive due to the numerous monuments located here. Several hiking trails run through the Park, including the red Main Świętokrzyskie Trail. It is forbidden to ride a bicycle in almost the entire park. See the best attractions of ŚPN and its surroundings:

Baldness

It is the highest peak of the range, with a height of 614 m above sea level. It consists of two peaks - Lysica and Skała Agata. An interesting fact is that for a long time it was believed that the former was the highest, but according to the latest research, Agata is several dozen centimeters taller. It lies about 700 meters away on the red Main Świętokrzyskie Trail. Officially, the Crown of the Polish Mountains still includes Łysica and it is on it that you will find a stamp for the KGP booklet. The best way to get to Lysica is by the red trail from St. Catherine, under the monastery. At the entrance to the trail there is a parking lot, in the spring it was free of charge.

Holy Cross

It is the most popular peak in the region, with an altitude of 595 m above sea level. You can reach it by the off-road blue trail called the Royal Road, from the parking lot in Nowa Słupia (about 2 km), or by the asphalt route from the parking lot in Huta Szklana (about 2 km). Both car parks are paid. This place became famous for witches' sabbaths, because according to legend they took place here. They were supposedly completed only by the construction of the church in the Middle Ages.

ŚPN Natural History Museum

It is a multimedia museum at the top of Łyśiec, available for a fee. Nature exhibitions dominate here, describing the richness of flora and fauna and geological treasures of this region. There are also sections devoted to the history of this land. Here you will learn the history of the original iron smelting in these lands.

Monastery on the Holy Cross

One of the oldest, if not the oldest monastery in Poland. It was founded by Bolesław Krzywousty in the 12th century. The abbey hides the relics of the Tree of the Holy Cross, hence the name of the entire voivodeship. The monastery can be visited (fee every grace), and additionally you can enter the crypts for a fee

Observation deck at the top of Łyśiec

It is a metal structure available for a fee, from which you can admire both the largest pigeon hut in Poland and a wide panorama of the area.

Iconic embankment on Bald Mountain

This popular peak is surrounded by a stone rampart made of boulders of quartzite sandstone. It stretches for about 1.5 km. They were probably not just defensive. Although this has not been fully confirmed, it is believed that they served as religious cult circles. They are probably evidence of the existence of a pagan cult center in Łyśiec in the early Middle Ages, which is why the witch on the broom is a symbol of this region and an element of many souvenirs.

Museum of Ancient Metallurgy in Nowa Słupia

It is a modern, multimedia and interesting museum with old smoke furnaces and iron smelting. In ancient times, these areas were, outside the Roman Empire, the largest centre of iron smelting in all of Europe. This was difficult for the Lugii from the Przeworsk culture living here at that time.

Chełmowa Góra

It is a peak with a height of 351 m above sea level, a small enclave of the national park north of Nowa Słupia. A black trail crosses it. The larch reigns here, and some of its specimens can boast a 300-year history. Did you know that close to 90 species of birds live here? Even more interesting are the large anthills, you can find about 500 of them here!

Bukowa Góra

It is a peak with a height of 484 meters above sea level, the highest point of the Klonowski Range. A characteristic element here are the magnificent outcrops of old sandstones. They resisted weathering, the largest of these rocks reach 5 meters in height, unfortunately some cover graffiti, which is shocking.

Bartek Oak in Zagnańsk

It is one of the oldest and most popular trees in Poland, almost 700 years old and 28.5 m high. For years, it has been heard that he is in poor condition. I thought that we would stay here an old, diseased tree, but in fact it is extremely impressive. It sprouted when King Casimir the Great reigned in Poland. Apparently, Jan III Sobieski himself hid treasures in Bartek. There is talk of a bottle of wine and a Turkish sabre

Museum of Minerals and Fossils in Saint Catherine

An interesting and colorful museum, where you will find unique specimens from around the world and those that are known only from the Świętokrzyska Region, such as unusual striped flint. On the spot, you can buy an interesting souvenir, e.g. a bracelet made of selected stones, I bought two!

Wilków Lagoon

The lagoon spills endearingly beautifully at the foot of Łysica, 3 km from Saint Catherine. The lagoon was opened in 2005 and quickly became a favorite place for walks and recreation. In high season, there is a rental of swimming equipment with a large sandy beach. Throughout the year, there is a playground for children, as well as a path with a length of over 2 kilometers, stretching around the lagoon. There is a large free car park on site.

Dzbaniska Źródliska

In the small Kapkaz under Bukowa Góra you will find springs, interestingly enclosed in the form of pitchers. This was done by local artists - the creators of the School of Sensitivity. This is an unusual curiosity.

Jodłowa Forest

The forests of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains were made famous by Stefan Żeromski in a poem of the same name. It is a mixed fir boron of an endemic nature, which means that it occurs only in a given place. This Fir Forest grows only on the territory of Poland, and its largest areas can be found in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and Roztocze. In the Świętokrzyskie National Park, nature in these forests is governed by its own laws, practically without human participation.

Jarzębina Świętokrzyska

The debris is a difficult habitat for plants, one of the few trees that appears on the edges of the rock debris is the sun-kissed rowan. The root system of this tree can outgrow the free spaces between the boulders and reach the mineral substrate. In the field, these rowan trees look extremely endearing.

Other things to do in the area

• Wonderful spring and chapel of St. Francis on the red trail to Lysica
• Saint Catherine's Monastery
• Wiśniówka Quarry
• Viewpoint in the car park in Krajno Pierwszy

Our video about the National Park

We are pleased to invite you to our film about this charming region. 

Plants of the Świętokrzyskie National Park

Świętokrzyski National Park has over 850 plant species, including 35 tree species. It is almost completely overgrown with forests, mainly beech and fir forests, called the Fir Forest. There are also larches, oaks, lindens, sycamores and pines. Among the protected plants, you can find: bear garlic, mountain tansy, golden lily or European filler. Orchids happen.

Animals of the Świętokrzyskie National Park

The fauna of the Świętokrzyskie National Park, which has over 4,000 species, is also rich. Here you can see 45 species of mammals, including roe deer, foxes, wild boars and even magnificent elk. Did you know that there are 150 species of birds in the Park, 118 of which nest here. Among them are eagles, falcons, hawks, buzzards, as well as black storks or owls. You will be surprised that there are as many as 611 species of butterflies in this area!

History of the Park

Świętokrzyski National Park was established in 1950, slightly east of Kielce - the capital of the region. Already at the beginning of the 20th century, the idea of protecting Lysogory was born. In 1908, the Polish Sightseeing Society applied for the creation of a nature reserve, and efforts began to create a national park in this area.

In 1920, the first strict reserve was established in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. He took over the forest complex with a natural site of Polish larch on Chełmowa Góra. In 1924, two more reserves were created: on Łysa Góra and Łysica. A partial reserve was also created on Miejska Góra. 

Subsequent efforts interrupted the activities of World War II, but after its end, the Świętokrzyski National Park was finally created in 1950. In 1996, it was enlarged by a part of the Klonowo Range and the Zapusta complex.

Currently, the area of the Park is over 7,600 ha, and its buffer zone is over 20,000 ha. The park includes: the Łysogórskie Range with the highest hills in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, part of the Klonowski Range with the following mountains: Psarska (415 m above sea level), Miejska (426 m above sea level) and Bukowa (484 m above sea level), part of the Pokrzywiański Range with Chełmowa Góra (351 m above sea level) and part of the Wilkowska and Dębniańska Valleys.

ŚPN project "So small and so important"

Świętokrzyski National Park in 2023 runs an interesting educational project for primary schools. Its aim is to educate children and adolescents in the world of bees and other wild pollinators. Children will learn the habits of these insects, but also the dangers they face. Activities under the project are to sensitize young people to the beauty of the surrounding world, but above all to shape the right attitudes towards nature protection.
The project is implemented with the support of the PGE Foundation.

National park walker

Planning a visit to the Świętokrzyskie National Park will certainly be helped by "Stroller", which you can download here. Here you will find many interesting ideas for excursions. The stroller also treats other national parks in Poland, such as Biebrza National Park, Słowiński National Park, Roztoczański National Park or Wigierski National Park.

The article was created in cooperation with PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, which supports the Świętokrzyski National Park.

ŚPN on our social media

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Practical information

Museum of Natural History ŚPN na Świętego Krzyż
tel. 41/ 317-70-87, 690-080-034
Ticket prices for the Museum and the Park and other information about the Park can be found at: www.swietokrzyskipn.org.pl

Świętokrzyski National Park
ul. Suchedniowska 4, Bodzentyn
tel. 41/ 311-51-06, 539-670-822

What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Krzyżtopór Castle, distance: 24.7  km
• Kielce, distance: 29.5  km
• The 7 best zoos in Poland, check out the ranking and plan your weekend with us!, distance: 38.8  km
• Sandomierz, distance: 53.3  km
• Radom, distance: 60.6  km
• Wiślica, distance: 62.8  km
• Janowiec Castle, distance: 78.4  km
• Kazimierz Dolny, distance: 81.1  km
• Magic Gardens in Janowiec, distance: 82.3  km
• Tarnów, distance: 94.4  km