Świętokrzyskie Mountains. Attractions of the oldest mountains in Europe
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains are the only mountains in Poland located in the central part of the country, outside the Sudeten and Carpathian ranges. They are located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in the central part of the KielceSandomierz Upland. It borders the Mazovian Lowland from the north, the Nidziańska Basin from the south, the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland from the west and the Lublin Upland from the east. It is the oldest mountain in Europe next to the Owl Mountains in Lower Silesia.
The ancient Świętokrzyskie Mountains delight with gentle peaks and picturesque trails, ancient smokers and extremely interesting geology. Today, that's what I wanted to tell you a little bit about.
Name of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains bear an unusual name, which comes from the relics of the Holy Cross tree, which are kept in the abbey on Bald Mountain, also called the Bald Cross or the Holy Cross. This abbey is one of the oldest monasteries in Poland, founded in the 12th century.
Peaks in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains are, next to the Owl Mountains in Lower Silesia, the oldest mountains in Poland and even in Europe! For a million years eroded by wind, water and snow. That is why these mountains do not impress with their height, and the highest peaks exceed only 600 m above sea level. However, this does not take away their charm.
The highest point of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains is Łysica (614 m above sea level), rising above Święta Katarzyna and belonging to the Crown of the Polish Mountains. This is a two-tiered mountain with a curiosity associated with it. For years, the peak called Łysica was considered the highest point of the region, but after the latest measurements it turned out that this is the second culmination called Skała Agaty or Zamczysko, it is several dozen centimeters longer. This is exactly how the western peak of Łysica is 613.31 m above sea level, while the eastern one, Agata, is 613.96 m above sea level. They are about 700 meters apart. We have scored both and thus we have another peak to the Crown of the Polish Mountains.
Both peaks are located in the Świętokrzyskie National Park. To get here, you need to buy a ticket (with a Large Family Card, free entry). The car park is located in St. Catherine, next to the monastery, from where we went to the top on a very picturesque red trail. It's about an hour's walk. It is not very steep, but the ground is tiring in some places. The easiest way is on footbridges, but this is just a fragment, there are also stairs and boulders. The largest accumulation of the latter is at the very top. They turn into the characteristic gołoborza here.
An even more popular peak of the range is the Holy Cross with a height of 595 m above sea level, with an old abbey that can be visited. You will also find the Museum of the Świętokrzyskie National Park. It is also worth visiting Bukowa Góra with interesting outcrops of sandstones at the top or Chełmowa Góra. The most picturesque is the Miedzianka Mountain!
Attractions of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains also hide many architectural monuments and traces of a rich history - old castles, monuments, museums and, above all, sacral buildings. We will meet them on mountain trails, but also in charming small towns such as Chęciny, Święta Katarzyna, Bodzentyn, Jędrzejów and, of course, in Kielce - the capital of the region.
Museum of Ancient Metallurgy of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship in Nowa Słupia
Did you know that in ancient times these areas were, outside the Roman Empire, the largest centre of iron smelting in all of Europe? The so-called barbaric Europe. The Lugii from the Przeworsk culture living here at that time struggled with this. They mastered the original iron smelting in the so-called smoker furnaces - small chimneys made of bricks. They set hundreds or even thousands of them because they were not very efficient and, in addition, disposable. Today, you will see the original archaeological site with the remains of the old furnaces in the Museum of Ancient Metallurgy in Świętokrzyskie. We recommend this Museum, standing at the foot of the Holy Cross, because it is very interesting, modern and multimedia. The characters look at you here like vivid, and quite expensive, because they are worth as much as a lower-class car! The museum organizes Dymarki Świętokrzyskie every August, when antiquity comes back to life here and you can feel it with all your senses.
https://mshm.pl/
Chełmowa Mountain in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
Nearby there is also Chełmowa Mountain - a small enclave of the Świętokrzyskie National Park. This low peak rises to a height of 350 meters above sea level, but it belongs to the Crown of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. We made a loop here first with a black trail, then a blue trail. In total, it is about 10 km and a few hours of walking, idyllic and unhurried, with wooden buildings scattered here and there. These are such walking mountains where everyone who wants to take a break from the fast pace of time will find themselves. We enjoyed this time! At the end, the blue trail wanted to lead us through the no longer existing bridge on Słupianka, but we found a passage along the trunk.
Museum of Minerals and Fossils in Saint Catherine
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains are the oldest mountains in Europe, which is why the geology of these areas can surprise. The land hides peculiarities that you will see in the Museum of Minerals and Fossils. For me, a small paradise, because I am geographically oriented and I am simply interested in such stones and I like them very much. You will find unique specimens from around the world and those known only from the Świętokrzyskie Land, such as striped flint. We know this stone, with beautiful patterns, I have earrings and a bracelet from it. I even took her with me on a trip around Świętokrzyskie. I have a great weakness for bracelets and often buy them as souvenirs from trips. This time, 2 bracelets became a souvenir - white is magnesite, and turquoise is apatite. I really liked both of them and I couldn't decide.
Chęciny Castle
Probably everyone knows the castle in Chęciny, or rather its ruins, towers not only over the city, but also the surrounding area, thanks to three towers, and the rather lofty Castle Mountain on which it stood. And this probably took place at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, on the initiative of Wenceslaus II - the king of Bohemia and Poland. The castle was first mentioned in 1306, in a document by Władysław Łokietek. It was a significant center of political life and its defensive values were highly valued. For a long time it was not possible to obtain it and mainly for this reason the crown treasury or church valuables were deposited here. And today you will see here a treasury with a huge amount of coins, thrown here for good luck 🙂
And do you know what the Neapolitan Catfish is? After the death of King Sigismund the Old, his wife, the famous Queen Bona, residing in Chęciny, decided to return to Italy. On 24 wagons, she took with her the accumulated property, later called Neapolitan catfish. On the way, one of the bridges could not withstand the weight and some of the valuables drowned in the river. The rest of the property never returned to Poland. Bona sought rescue in the castle, but she did not receive it. The locals were glad that at least some of the property remained in Poland.
Paradise Cave in Chęciny
Fans of inanimate nature will be delighted by many objects, including the fantastic Paradise Cave, open to tourists and considered the most beautiful in Poland, next to the Bear Cave. It is located in Chęciny, it is not large, but boasts a beautiful drip robe.
Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia
The Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia is one of the elements of the Museum of the Kielce Village. I have been dreaming of this open-air museum for a long time. Anyone who has been following us a little longer knows that I love this type of experience. It's always wonderful landscapes and sceneries, but also a sentimental journey in time, to the homes of grandmothers and their ancestors. Because where else can we find these old cottages, simple and modest room decorations with traditional equipment. And around herbal gardens, with mallow trees and old fruit trees. The open-air museum is open all year round and there is free parking on site. In summer, outdoor events take place here, during which the park comes to life.
https://mwk.com.pl/
Miedzianka Mountain and the Chamber of Ore Mining
There is a place in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains that particularly charmed me. Not that others did not have charm, but here sentiment played and I felt at home, although we were not far from home at all. This is Miedzianka Mountain - the most beautiful peak of this region for us. Quite low, because it is 354 m above sea level, easily accessible, and so endearing and scenic.
Does it remind you of anything? For me, it's Jura in a nutshell. Limestone rocks, rock vegetation, in the middle of the top of the hole, a wide panorama around, and in it the ruins of the castle appear!
The castle is, of course, Chęciny, about 10 km away. And where did these holes in the interior of the mountain come from? It is mentioned in the name, because copper in Old Polish meant copper ore. And in fact, treasures have been hidden here, which have probably been exploited since the fourteenth century. Copper was obtained here from ore minerals, more precisely from azurite and malachite. Both minerals are beautiful. Azurite has a beautiful cornflower colour, while malachite has an intense green colour. They usually occur together, unless the bed is young, because over the centuries copper oxidizes and azurite transforms into malachite. You will see them, as well as the local silver-bearing galena in the Chamber of Ore Mining at the foot of this mountain, where you will learn about the history of mining and the history of the Łaszczyński brothers, famous chemists.
By the way, you can leave your car under the Chamber and go for a short walk to the top of this Miedzianka, covered by a nature reserve. Although tunnels and mining shafts, as well as natural cave corridors are not currently available because they are dangerous, it is still worth taking an interest in this place. The caves were created in limestone, which is also unique here due to its unique colors. Bright limestones are decorated with red calcite veins and green and blue inserts of malachite and azurite. No wonder they can delight.
Interestingly, through Miedzianka runs the yellow hiking trail Faithful River - Chęciny. It is about 20 km long and is one of the most scenic routes in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. Only here you will see the famous "Lunar Field" - characteristic craters, which are traces of former mining wells.
Sabat Krajno
Sabat Krajno is a year-round family amusement park. In summer, it offers the Alley of Miniatures, a rope park, an amusement park or a 6D cinema, and in winter it turns into a land for skiers. I have to admit, it's a very nice object. Numerous and very interesting thumbnails, nicely mapped. The whole is beautifully located on the slope. Walking down the alley among the models of monuments, we approached the hill, and behind our backs there was an increasingly beautiful view of the wide area.
I was surprised how many objects we have already seen live - the Italian Duomo in Milan, the French Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame de Paris or the Arc de Triomphe, the German Neuschwanstein Castle and the Cologne Cathedral, the London Eye. It was all from Europe, but even the world part was not completely foreign, because the Turkish Cappadocia and Ephesus were waiting here. The Magic of the Sabbath Restaurant offers tasty pizza and more.
Wilków Lagoon
At the foot of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, or more precisely Lysica, there is an extremely picturesque Wolf Lagoon. It is only 3 km from Saint Catherine. The place is unique, the lagoon was put into use in 2005 and quickly became a favorite place for walking and recreation. Not surprisingly, in the 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. There is a beautiful view of Łysica from the water, it is magical here before sunset, see for yourself
Świętokrzyski National Park
The wealth of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, although unfortunately slowly perishing, are the relics of forests that once covered the entire area. Only fragments of the Fir Forest and the Świętokrzyska Forest have survived to this day. They are protected by the Świętokrzyski National Park, created in 1950, whose symbol is a deer, still inhabiting the local forested hills in large numbers. Numerous hiking trails and paths lead through the Park and beyond, allowing you to get to know the most charming corners of this land. The highest parts of the Lysogory Mountains are covered with interesting gołoborza - a protected rock debris.
Main Świętokrzyskie Trail
The Main Świętokrzyskie Trail, marked in red and 105 km long, leads through the most interesting parts of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. It begins in Gołoszyce, after which, embracing the highest peaks, i.e. Łysica and the Holy Cross, as well as numerous attractions, it ends in Kuźniaki.
Żeromski Manor House and Glass House in Ciekoty
About 15 km northeast of Kielce, at the foot of Radostowa Mountain, there is a wooden manor house and the so-called Glass House. The complex in its current form was established in 2010 and is dedicated to the memory of Stefan Żeromski. Here he spent his youth, here he was formed as a man and a writer. He was not born here, he came to Ciekoty as a few years old, but it was this place that he loved as a happy family nest where he lived with his parents.
Franciszek Józef's mother was a religious woman and in love with literature. It was she who taught Stefanek to read and devour books, so that in the end he could master the Polish language better than any other writer. She also knew herbal medicine and helped the local community with simple diseases. Unfortunately, she could not help herself with much more serious droughts and died of them quite early, when Stefan was only 15 years old. He recalled his mother very warmly and, as Ciekoty described under his own or other names in his novels, touching verbal portraits of his mother can be found in his works.
My father, on the other hand, liked to hunt and smoke pipes, which is followed by interesting Istanbul - pipes with clay heads. You will see them while visiting your father's room in the manor house. The building is not original, it is a reconstruction that is a variation on the original Żeromski manor house, which was not owned but only administered by Wincenty Żeromski - Stefan's father. The mother's room was also arranged here, as was the room of young Stefan. In the rooms, you can also find portraits of his sisters and grandparents, by sword and by mouth. Why such a term? In the former Republic of Poland, the origin of the father was referred to as the origin "by the sword", while the origin of the mother was referred to as the "by the neck".
You will learn this and many other interesting facts by visiting the Glass House and manor house in Ciekoty. This is an exceptionally atmospheric place, we highly recommend and thank Mr. Marek for the wonderful stories about our would-be Nobel Prize winner and his youth. Apparently, he also had a weakness for the fair sex, and with reciprocity, because he was a handsome man.
Góra Radostowa
Nearby, it is also worth going to the Radostowa Mountain, called the Home Mountain by Żeromski. It is 451 m above sea level and is located in the Podkieleckie Protected Landscape Area. Behind the Radostowa Mountain, from the east rises the Invented Mountain, and then the Kraiński Ridge. The southern part of the hill hides ravines with a stone bottom, called pebbles. At the top of the mountain there is a measuring point with a triangulation tower.
Lubrzanka Gorge
At the foot of Radostowa and Dąbrówka, there is a ribbon of the breakthrough Lubrzanka in this place. It crosses the Masłowskie Range here with a rather violent, mountain breakthrough, which looks very picturesque from above. Hiking and cycling trails were created here.
See also our article Mountains in Poland with the most beautiful and highest peaks of the most important ranges.
Geological paradise of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
This does not mean that it is not worth coming here, because in these mountains tourists will find countless attractions, often characteristic of this area and rarely found elsewhere. Due to its age, this region is unique, compared only to the Sudetes in terms of the diversity of geological structure and the richness of minerals found here. Therefore, the Świętokrzyskie Mountains are a paradise for geologists, both adults and scientists. A characteristic element of the region are the so-called gołoborza, i.e. patches of stones and boulders of various sizes. They are perfectly visible, for example, from the observation deck on the Holy Cross.
Where to eat in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
You will be welcomed in St. Catherine's Tasty Cabin with regional dishes. We ate here, for example, onions with meat and a popular local soup - potato soup. Świętokrzyski Dwór, located near Nowa Słupia, is also worth recommending. And here you will taste regional dishes, such as the Świętokrzyskie cauldron or the Baby Jaga burger. Delicious and beautiful!
La Baguette Chęciny is also worth recommending. It is located in the car park by the castle in Chęciny. We had a delicious dinner here, and for dessert you can drink coffee and eat a great cake. The choice is quite large and I had a problem with what to decide. It was grated with raspberries and mascarpone, yum. Apparently, the one with pistachios is also sensational.
Accommodation in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains
For sleeping, we recommend the beautifully located and secluded Łysica wellnes&spa Guest House. It offers delicious, homemade food, very nicely served and in a lovely dining room, with glazing and plenty of greenery. There is also a garden, and the guest house also offers a relaxation area with a swimming pool, sauna, salt cave and massages. We spent some very pleasant nights here and we highly recommend it!
Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.
Our video about the mountains
In the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, we spent a nice time roaming, discovering the riches of this land and relaxing in the bosom of nature. We invite you to our two-episode film report.
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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.
- Świętokrzyski National Park, distance: 0.1 km
- Krzyżtopór Castle, distance: 24.7 km
- Kielce, distance: 29.5 km
- Paradise Cave, distance: 38.7 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
- Wiślica, distance: 62.7 km
- Janowiec Castle, distance: 78.5 km
- Kazimierz Dolny, distance: 81.1 km
- Magic Gardens in Janowiec, distance: 82.4 km
