Złoty Stok - Gold Mine, observation tower, bicycles and other attractions!
Złoty Stok is an intimate town located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in the Kłodzko Land. Although Złoty Stok is a small town, it has a rich and interesting past. The city owes its fame to gold, which is reflected in the name itself.
Location, access and parking
Złoty Stok is located east of Kłodzko, between Kamieniec Ząbkowicki and Lądek Zdrój, at the foot of the Golden Mountains. You can easily get here by the route No. 390 (46), from Kłodzko or Paczków, which is located in the Opole Voivodeship. Free parking is available on the town square.
Złoty Stok - golden and modest!
This saying fits perfectly here, because the Golden Slope associated mainly with the Gold Mine is still an intimate and quite shy town, although it has grown on gold! Although the word "gold" is associated with the gold rush and Złotoryja and Polish gold scavengers, the largest gold mine in Poland is the Gold Mine in Złoty Stok (7 Złota Street). There is almost a third of this ore in the country.
Golden Slope attractions - what is worth seeing? - attraction map
However, not only minerals are an asset of the city, which is why we were also eager to get to know its less popular corners, which also charmed us. The second part of its name indicates that Złoty Stok is located on the slopes of the Golden Mountains in the Sudetes. Beautiful views, huge expanses of forests and the mountainous nature of the area can delight not only nature lovers. There are monuments, well used, but also attractions such as melex rides or bicycle singletracks. Here are the best attractions of Golden Slope!
Gold Mine and Orange Tram in Złoty Stok
The tour of the Gold Mine takes place at a distance of 500 m, and starts from the Gertrude Adit. Why such a name? A long time ago, there was a massive collapse in this mine, which killed 4 miners. At that time, the owner of the mine decided to undertake a rescue operation and unfortunately, he often resigned from it because it was unprofitable. That was the case, so Gertrude, the wife of one of the buried miners, decided to look for him herself. She entered the labyrinths of the mine and never left again, which was even written about in the town chronicles. Later, miners often said that when they went astray in the mine, they heard secret traffic jams, and when they followed them, they went underground. It is said that it is the good spirit of Gertrude that saves the miners.
On the tour you can see: former mine plans, mining tools, minerals, muffle furnace, laboratory furnace in which gold was smelted or an 18th-century trolley for transporting excavated material. There is even a laboratory of Scharfenberg, who, wanting to discover the elixir of youth, discovered arsenic - a powerful poison, which, however, is said to have rejuvenating properties. Later, you go through the Death Walk, where miners suspected of stealing gold were sentenced to death. This was done in such a way that the miner's hands and filled mortar were inserted into specially prepared holes so that he could not move, and hunger and rats did their job. Further along the route is the Museum of Spaces, Notes and Appeals. It is a collection of signs mainly related to health and safety regulations, some of them are ridiculous. You can slide down to the wall with the signs on a metal slide to raise the adrenaline rush.
However, the biggest attraction in the Mine is the Underground Orange Tram, which takes you about 300 meters to a beautiful underground waterfall, about 8 meters high. It is highlighted in colour.
Address: ul. Złota 7
Ochrowa Adit in Złoty Stok
The Ohrowa Adit is a relatively new attraction in the complex. It is located between the Mining Settlement and the Mine. The ticket is purchased separately, at the Mine ticket office. The Ochrowa Adit is a mysterious corner, for hundreds of years it was sunk and forgotten. Today, it has been prepared for sightseeing, as a more than 100-meter pavement. There is an arsenic-iron source in front of the entrance to the Adit. The iron element gives a reddish color and characteristic taste, while the arsenic element makes drinking this water rejuvenating. So we drank two cups! Don't worry, arsenic won't kill you, you would have to drink 8 liters of this water at once to expose yourself to death. Legend has it that arsenic from the Gold Mine in Złoty Stok was poisoned by Napoleon himself. The coloring of the adit with ochre makes it special here, I associated it with the Indians.
Address: ul. Złota 2
Medieval Mining Settlement
The medieval Mining Settlement is an interesting attraction, both for adults and children. Everyone can be involved in the sightseeing, so you can live this adventure better. The children will find out how hard the miners used to work, but not only. It turns out that women and children who drank beer while working at such a young age also had difficult tasks. It must be admitted that that beer was lurid and often safer than water due to bacteria. The mining settlement is unique in Europe!
The Medieval Mining Settlement is an exact replica of a medieval settlement with facilities built on a 1:1 scale. You will find, among others, a 15-meter steering wheel previously operated by horses, and a 3-ton pedestrian wheel operated by children. The devices were created on the basis of medieval engravings by Georgius Agricola. In addition, an underground tunnel full of secrets and fears is visited in Osada Górnicza, which ends with a visit to the Kata Cottage. The attraction refers to the medieval executioner's office in Złoty Stok.
Address: ul. Złota 2
Evangelical church lookout tower
The observation tower of the former Evangelical church in Złoty Stok is over 500 years old,40 m long and has 152 stairs! We got perfect air transparency, so the views were decent, and we also got binoculars to improve our eyesight. An interesting staircase leads to the tower, and from above you will see not only the city, but also a wide area with the palace in Kamieniec Ząbkowicki, peaks with Mount Ślęża at the head and the towers of Paczków.
Address: Plac Kościelny 2
Owl Zone of Discovery, Imagination and Activity
In the same former Evangelical church, very nicely revitalized, the Owl Zone of Discovery, Imagination and Activity was established. It's a cool family place to learn through play. Dozens of such institutions were established in Poland, and only here in such a unique scenery of the historic temple. Here you can experiment, discover and test how different phenomena work. Instead of traditional sightseeing, something innovative, combining a modern, interactive space with a historical interior. It's a really interesting impression.
Address: Plac Kościelny 2
Ride a replica Ford Buick
A ride on a replica of Ford Buick from the beginning of the 20th century on the Golden Slope is a great fun in a red vehicle that slips through the charming corners of the city. It is an attraction that combines sightseeing with a bit of automotive atmosphere and allows you to look at the city from a slightly different perspective. You will get to know the charming corners of the city and you will not get tired at all!
Address: market
Bike on Złoty Stok and its singletracks
In Złoty Stok and its surroundings, a network of cycling routes with varying levels of difficulty has been prepared, thanks to which almost everyone can indulge in the pleasure of riding on two wheels. It's a great way to explore the area. We had electricians, because otherwise I can't imagine driving in the mountains. And it was definitely a good choice. We rented them at Gold Bike on Radosna Street, near the Market Square. If you do not like to get very tired, e-bike is a really good solution. It allows you to enjoy the route without wondering if the next climb will just thwart all plans. And it's not easy on singletracks anyway. An infrastructure for cyclists has also been prepared in Złoty Stok. Cycloboxes, for example, are waiting by the shed on Staszica Street, where you can safely store your bike while exploring the city.
Address: Gold Bike, ul. Radosna 2,
Cycle boxes and shelter, ul. Staszica
Devil's Cafe Nadali in Złoty Stok
Devil's Cafe Nadali is a fantastic place on the Market Square. Do not be fooled by the name, it is not the "Devils of Nadal" series that rules here, but "Friends", which encouraged us to set our own scene. The café has a very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere and is a great place to relax after sightseeing. You can sit here, drink coffee or lemonade, and eat cake or ice cream. Breakfast is served until 12:00. Here you will enjoy the atmosphere of the city. We like such places the most – with character, a sense of humor and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay a while longer.
Address: Rynek 21
Forest Adventure Park in the quarry
In the former, closed quarry, the Forest Adventure Park Skalisko was created. It is an interesting place for family recreation, with a rope route with obstacles that arouse a higher level of adrenaline. There is also a route for children and quiet walking paths.
Address: ul. Staszica
Accommodation
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.
Rent a car
Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.
What's worth seeing in the area?
If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.
- Kłodzko Fortress, distance: 15.7 km
- Bear Cave in Kletno, distance: 23.5 km
- Szczeliniec Wielki, distance: 38 km
- Palace in Kopice, distance: 46.2 km
- Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, distance: 47.1 km
- Church of Peace in Świdnica, distance: 52.2 km
- Książ Castle, distance: 60.3 km
- Brzeg Castle, distance: 62.5 km
- Moszna Castle, distance: 63.3 km
- Ostrów Tumski in Wrocław, distance: 75.4 km
