The most beautiful mountains and peaks in Poland

Poland's peaks are challenging and reward you with the most beautiful views in the region. With a choice of 10 peaks, it may not be easy to choose which one to climb first. That's why we've put together a list of the most beautiful mountains and peaks so you can easily incorporate them into your next adventure.

1. Sněžka - Schneeberg

Sněžka is the heart of the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše). It is located in the middle of the Polish-Czech mountain border and is its highest peak. At the same time the mountain is at 1.601 meters also the highest peak in the Czech Republic, the Sudetes and the Central European threshold of the mountain range.

At first glance the summit looks like a pile of rubble. Wind and weather have eroded the rock and turned it into a weather phenomenon. But when covered in snow, it offers the classic image it's known for on cereal boxes.

Sněžka is ideal for day trips. The most popular excursions start in the picturesque mountain town of Pec pod Sněžkou. From there you can climb the mountain via the Riesengrund, next to the Silesian Hut, or via the Rosenberg. A comfortable cable car takes you to the summit.

Once at the top, a panoramic view awaits you in all directions. To the west you can see the Krkonoše ridge, which forms the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. On the left side the majestic Brunnberg and the Riesengrund.

In the north lies the Hirschberger Valley. To the south you can see the Czech part of the Krkonoše National Park, directly on the second highest peak, on the Brunnenberg, behind which the large river Aupa also rises.

At the mountain station you can also stop off at a futuristic-looking restaurant. The new post office building and the Laurentius Chapel are also located on the summit.

2. Rysy

On the border between Poland and Slovakia, Rysy rises in the High Tatras 2.503 meters above sea level. Hiking in this breathtaking landscape promises great nature experiences and unforgettable views.

You can climb the highest mountain in the Tatra Mountains from both Poland and Slovakia. It's easier on the Slovakian side. However, you should keep in mind that local hiking trails are closed from early November to mid-June. During this time you can only start the hike from Poland. In summer you can also combine the two routes into a circular tour.

From Popradské Pleso train station in Poland, for example, the walk takes about eight hours. Over a distance of around 22 kilometers you overcome more than 1.700 meters altitude.

The route is not technically difficult, some difficult areas are secured. However, good fitness is still required. Since Rysy is located in a national park, we ask you to stick to the marked hiking trails.

Rysy is called Meeraugspitze in German. The name comes from the impressive sea eye that you cross on the hike from the Polish side. On the way you will also pass waterfalls and mountain streams.

A rich flora and fauna awaits you in the mountains. Try to spot some of the local inhabitants amidst the blooming high mountain meadows: Marmots, chamois and even foxes live in the beautiful Tatras.

Make sure that, in addition to your normal hiking equipment, you also have enough drinking water and provisions in your luggage. On the way you can stop at rustic mountain huts and have lunch. The last one is about 45 minutes before the summit and even offers overnight accommodation in mattress camps: Chata pod Rysami.

When you finally reach the highest point (the mountain has three peaks), the panoramic view extends up to 200 kilometers into the distance on a clear day. The majestic peaks of the surrounding mountains (around 130) rise into the sky, while 13 crystal-clear mountain lakes sparkle in idyllic valleys. You can even see Kraków.

Between November and April there are often heavy snowfalls. During this time you can hike up the Rysy on your own with snowshoes or skis, but this is only recommended for the very experienced.

3. Giewont

The hiking paradise in the Western Tatras, the Giewont, rises 1.895 meters into the sky. Varied landscapes and wonderful views await you in the Zakopane Mountains.

From afar you can see the spectacular 600 meter high drop of the north face, which is strictly protected by the Tatra National Park. When hiking in the national park, make sure to follow the rules and not to disturb the local residents, such as marmots and chamois, but also bears.

The easiest way to Giewont is from the south over the Kondraga Pass. There are three marked hiking trails to choose from. If you start in the Zakopane district, for example in Kuźnice, you can expect a hike of about seven and a half hours, during which you will have a height difference of about 1.Overcome 000 meters.

For a hike of 15-20 kilometers you need very good physical condition and a certain amount of experience in the mountains. A confident gait and a sense of altitude are also important, as are sturdy hiking shoes.

The final climb to the summit is secured with chains and can only be climbed in one direction as it is quite busy. To avoid crowds, it's best to leave early in the morning and/or avoid weekends and holidays.

Take sufficient sun protection with you, as a large part of the route leads through extensive meadows and mountain pine fields. To the edge of the forest, at about 1.500 meters, you can still find shade under the tall trees.

Basically, the best time to climb Giewont is between May and October, but the basalt rocks are very slippery when wet. It is therefore advisable to find out about the weather conditions in advance and take warm clothing with you. In some places you still cross snowfields in June and a cold wind blows at the summit.

 

The fantastic view from the summit makes the effort of the climb quickly forgotten. Zakopane stretches idyllically in the valley, while around you the mighty rock faces and impressive peaks of the Trata Mountains rise into the sky.

4. Kamienie dla Dziewczyn

The impressive Mädelsteine ​​are a massive rock formation on 1.414 meters high. It is located in the beautiful Giant Mountains and, together with the Mannsteine, forms a double peak, the Hraniční hřeben (border ridge).

Its name comes from its visual resemblance to women in long skirts. From a geological point of view they are up to 8m. high granite blocks formed by erosion. Today the main ridge on the Polish-Czech border is located in two nature reserves.

Put on your hiking boots and get ready for idyllic and surprising moments in this seemingly untouched nature. For example, you can start in Špindlerův Mlýn (in Czech) or in Schreiberhau (Szklarska Poreba).

The round trip can take around five hours and there is around 800 meters of elevation gain to cover. If you like photography, you should plan more time for a hike to the Mädelsteinen, because there are interesting motifs as far as the eye can see.

You hike mainly through mountain pine and coniferous forests, but also along the mighty Elbe. With a bit of luck you will see a swift or a mountain pipit that have settled here. A trip to Mädelsteinen is best between May and September.

Once you have reached Mädelsteinen, it is worth another approx.750m. to move on. Here you will discover the equally impressive rock group of the Mannsteine, which is two meters higher.

Not far away, on the eastern slope, is the Petrova Bouda, which was destroyed by fire in 2011. However, it is currently being rebuilt, so from 2020 you will again find a place to stop off at a height. With a freshly brewed beer you can enjoy the beautiful view even more and you don't have to bring your own snacks.

5. The Hochstein mountain hostel

The Wysoki Kamień, one of the high ridge peaks, is located directly above Szklarska Poręba in the Jizera Mountains. In the mountains, the remarkable, elegant and offer several excellent viewpoints. One of them is the Wysoki Kamień, from which you can see not only the Giant Mountains or the Jizera Mountains, but also the Kaczawskie and Rudawy Janowickie Mountains. One can rightly say that the summit offers one of the most beautiful views of the Sudetes.

In addition, there is a private cabin with an authentic stone tower. The trip to the Hoher Stein is technically easy, undemanding and highly recommended. It is ideal for hikers or people with small children. However, remember that a stroller is not the best idea in this case. We recommend many other baby carriers and slings - you are welcome to come along!

In addition, you will find a private cabin with an authentic stone tower. The trip to Hoher Stein is technically easy, undemanding and highly recommended. It is a good idea for those who want to walk or for those with small children. However, remember that a stroller is not the best idea in this case. We recommend many other baby carriers and slings. You are welcome.

Before you start the actual hike, we recommend you approach the Death Bend viewpoint. It's only about 150 meters back, but we know that not everyone has the will to go back the way or is simply overwhelmed. And since the place was recently renovated, it's doubly worth it!

The path is very pleasant, leads quite quietly through the dense forest and does not bother tourists' knees. Apart from the initial viewpoint, the only way to see the panorama is from the Pierre Haute hut. After about three quarters of an hour you will reach the Black Mountain and the Red Rocks. This is a sign that you are halfway there and only 30 minutes remain to reach your destination. The good news is that the hardest climb is now behind you. But to be honest, it shouldn't tire you out much.

6. Chojnik Castle

The Chojnik Castle (German: Kynastburg) is a fortress near Jelenia Góra (Hirschberg) in the Giant Mountains on the Polish side. It belonged to the estate of Count von Kynast Schaffgotsch in the Prussian district of Liegnitz, and its legends and myths have inspired many writers such as Theodor Körner and Adam Chodyński. The most famous legend is the story of the beautiful Princess Kunigunde. Chojnik Castle is located on the edge of Jelenia Góra in the Sobieszów district in Lower Silesia in the Hirschberg Valley.

The ruins of the castle are located on the forested Chojnik (German: Kynast), a 627 meter high hill at the foot of the Giant Mountains, on the southeastern side of which there is a 150 meter high waterfall in the so-called Höllental. The castle is located in a nature reserve, which is an exclave of the Krkonoše National Park.

The most famous legend associated with Chojnik Fortress is the story of the beautiful Princess Kunigunde, daughter of a rich lord of the castle. Many important knights who came to the castle asked for her hand in marriage, but the princess set a condition for every bold man. She would marry the one who rode around the castle walls in full armor. Everyone knew that this wish was almost impossible to fulfill due to the steepness of the mountain, but more than one knight put his strength to the test. Everyone fell into the abyss, and the smarter ones gave up in time.

Many years passed and many young men lost their lives until the Landgrave of Thuringia finally arrived at the castle, who immediately took a liking to Kunigunda. He even wanted to give up the fateful attempt for him, but the proud daredevil sitting in the saddle accepted the challenge. He circled the castle, his horse standing firmly on the steep path. Fanfares sounded and the princess rushed to grab him by the throat. But the princess replied that he had been married for a long time and would never touch her bloody hand. He then left and the princess threw herself into the abyss of the mountain because she could not bear this humiliation. According to the second version of the legend, she entered a monastery and died shortly afterwards of heart failure; According to the third version, she married the knight Hugo von Erbach on behalf of the landgrave, had the wall torn down and atoned for her sacrilege.

This legend is in the collections of Johann G. Büsching - "Folk sagas, fairy tales and legends", Ludwig Bechstein - "German book of legends" and Johann Georg Theodor Grässe - "Book of legends of the Prussian state" preserved. Ludwig Bechstein ("The Ride of the Wall"), Theodor Körner ("The Kynast") and Friedrich Rückert ("The Greeting on the Kynast") used the legend as a template for ballads. The women's rights activist Louise Otto-Peters portrays Kunigunde as an emancipated woman in the poem "Auf dem Kynast".

7. Hayfuder

The health resort of Świeradów-Zdrój (Bad Flinsberg) in the border triangle of Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic is famous for its pleasant microclimate, its warm mountain winds, its healing springs and its rare radon deposits. These natural treasures have been used to heal and relieve pain for hundreds of years.

Świeradów-Zdrój is located in the province of Lower Silesia in the Jizera Mountains. The small town with around 4,500 inhabitants has been a well-known and popular health resort on the border with the Czech Republic for almost 250 years. Today Świeradów-Zdrój forms a joint health resort with the Czerniawa-Zdrój (Bad Schwarzbach) district.

In Świeradów-Zdrój there are mineral and radon springs as well as mud deposits. They are used in the treatment of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, neurological, gynecological and migraine diseases. The low doses of radiation stimulate the healing processes in the body. Radon is used primarily in the treatment of respiratory diseases, rheumatism and skin diseases such as psoriasis. It is used for inhalations, baths and drinking cures. The healing mud is obtained from the peat bogs of the Jizera Mountains and is prepared accordingly before use. Fir bark baths are one of the most important forms of treatment. They have a calming and regenerating effect.

The pretty little town is currently being modernized with the help of European funding. The charming architecture of the health resort invites you to linger, for example in the longest larch wood hall in Lower Silesia with a 46 meter high clock tower. The nearby spa park with its historic villas and beautiful rhododendron bushes is an ideal place for a stroll. The neo-Gothic church with two towers built by the Schaffgotsch family in 1899 is worth seeing.

Spa guests can hike through the natural landscape on numerous hiking and cycling trails. Less skilled cyclists can take the cable car to Stóg Izerski and from there go on a mountain bike tour. Świeradów-Zdrój is a well-known winter sports center with seven ski lifts. There is a second gondola lift right next to the gondola.500 meter long illuminated downhill slope with various levels of difficulty. Cross-country skiers will find beautiful and well-prepared slopes here. About 25 kilometers away is the Polish mecca for cross-country skiers: Jakuszyce (Jakobsthal). The international 50 km Bieg Piastów race takes place here every year.

About 25km. from Świeradów-Zdrój in the distance lies the town of Frýdlant of Čechách (Czech Republic - Friedland in Czech) with the neo-Renaissance castle of the same name. Karpacz (Krummhübel) is worth a visit. After a visit to the famous Norwegian Wang Church, an hour's drive takes you to Chata nad Małym Stawem-Samotnia, the most beautiful and one of the oldest mining huts in Poland.

8. Bohemian stones / Mužské kameny

The Bohemian Stones (Muzske Kameny - 1417 m) are located on the Silesian mountain ridge in the central part of the Giant Mountains. The name of the rocks comes from the peak of the same name, the top of which is formed by the České kameny. The rocks are made of Krkonoše granite. Geological and geomorphological processes characteristic of most rock formations in the Giant Mountains can be observed here, including triple cracks, i.e. H so-called granite fissures. The rocks are located in the subalpine zone, which is mainly covered by mountain pines and grasses. The Czech rocks are in the form of a ridge several dozen meters high, from the top of which you can see, among others, the Seven Valleys (Sedmidoli), Velky Šikhak, Sněžka, Równia pod Sněžkou, Kozí Hrbety and Lecni Hora. The main route of the Red Sudetes runs through České Kameny, but also along the Polish-Czech border: there are border crossings there. Interestingly, the Czech name Muzske Kameny and the German name Mannsteine ​​literally mean male stones, while the twin names Divci Kameny and Mädelsteine ​​(Silesian stones) mean female stones.

How do you get the Bohemian stones?

The rocks are located in the central part of the Giant Mountains on the Silesian Ridge above the Jagniątków district of Jelenia Góra, in the territory of the Giant Mountains National Park. The main route of the Red Sudetes passes through České Kameny, so there are several ways to reach the area.

From Jagniątków to České Kameny it is 7 km on the blue trail and 8 km on the black trail. From the saddle in Karkonoska it is another 4 km on the red trail. From Szrenica on the red trail through the Snowy Cirques 7.5 km. The Bohemian Stones are located in such a way that it is worth not choosing them as the main goal of the excursion, but visiting them on a hike along the Sudeten Road between Szrenica and Śnieżka.

9. Wielki Copiesiec

The Wielki Kocheniec 1328 m, also called Kocheniec, is an ideal suggestion for a winter mountain tour. Although it is small compared to the surrounding Tatra peaks, it offers its conquerors a wonderful panorama.On the way there you can see the Copiesiec Glade and the Olczyskie Spring.

How do you get to the Great Copyiec?

We start from the restaurant "7 Cats" in Toporowa Cyrhla. First walk down the street (approx. 300 m) towards the center of Zakopane. From the asphalt road, turn left onto a rocky path and follow the red and green signs to the summit.

You pass some buildings and meadows (in spring these meadows are covered with crocuses). You enter the area of ​​the Tatra National Park and reach a crossroads in a few minutes via a forest road.

We turn right and follow the green signs to Kocheniec. We follow the forest all the way, pass a small rocky threshold "Stus" and after about 20 minutes we are at the beginning of the Copyniec clearing, also called Skupniowa.

Now we can choose between two routes:

Through the clearing on its south side.

To the peak of the copy

We choose the second option, turn right at the granite cross and climb to the "Między Uszy" ridge. In winter it can take about an hour to reach the summit on a dirt road. On the way we can enjoy the sunrise over the Koszystá ridge and the beautiful winter landscape.

10. Rysy 2499 m above sea leveldM

Rysy (German: Meeraugspitze, Slovak: Rysy, Hungarian: Tengerszem-csúcs): a mountain on the Polish-Slovak border in the High Tatras (part of the Tatras). It consists of three peaks, of which the middle one (2501 m above sea level) is the highest and is located entirely in Slovak territory. The northwestern peak over which the border passes is the highest point in Poland (according to the most reliable sources 2499 m - more information in the "Topography" section) and belongs to the Crown of Europe.

The Rysy Mountains consist of three peaks. On the Polish-Slovak border is the northwestern, medium-high peak, whose various measurements have shown heights between 2498.7 and 2499.6 m (according to the traditionally accepted value of 2499 m). This peak is the highest point in Poland. Of the classic geodetic measurements of this peak, the most accurate was made in 1988, when the height of the geodetic point 60 cm below the peak was determined independently of the Polish and Slovak parts using a precise trigonometric level. The result was 2498.712 m in the Polish part and 2498.724 m in the Slovak part (a difference of only 1.2 cm), i.e.H the height of the northwestern peak of Rysy was (after rounding up to 0.1 m) 2499.3 m.

The Rysy peak is unique in its variety of plants. At an altitude of 2483-2503 m there are still 63 species of flowering plants, mainly from the group of alpine plants. The rare plants include the Carpathian apple, the knotweed and the Tatra panicle, species that only occur in the Tatra Mountains and only in a few places in Poland.

On the southern slopes there are chamois and marmots. Foxes come to the summit. There are also several species of birds and several species of lower animals: insects and mollusks. The endemic arachnid Polonozercon tatrensis was captured for the first time near the summit.