Heiligkreuz: Nature, Hiking Trails and Cultural Heritage

In Świętokrzyski National Park, you may only travel on marked hiking trails or in places designated for educational activities. Check the current park notices before your trip. The “Świętokrzyskie Tourist Trails” platform lets you browse hiking trails and plan your own excursions using its extensive map features. Route data and features may evolve.

The national park protects the highest mountain range in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and its surroundings. On the summit of Łysa Góra is a boulder field formed during a glaciation from quartzite sandstones around 500 million years old. Protected landscapes and geological traces are thus among the region’s diverse natural features.

Flint, Caves and the History of the Earth

In 2019, the prehistoric mining region of banded flint in Krzemionki was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The flint mines were in operation during the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, from around 3900 to 1600 BC. This long timespan makes Krzemionki a place where the history of prehistoric mining can be placed in a tangible context.

Jaskinia Raj also reveals geological formations in many colours: mineral formations in white, beige, brown and rust-brown cover the ceilings, floors and walls of its passageways and chambers, as well as detached rock blocks. The cave lies on the 20-kilometre red hiking trail from Kielce to Chęciny. The trail starts at Karczówka Hill in Kielce and ends at the market square in Chęciny.

Architectural History and Regional Culture

Chęciny Royal Castle was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries as a hilltop castle on a rise 360 metres above sea level. The Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia offers a different perspective on architectural styles: it presents rural and small-town buildings in natural settlement groups, including sections of villages, a mill, a windmill and a smithy.

In Sandomierz, the Underground Tourist Route includes a multimedia exhibition about legendary figures from the city. Check the exhibition’s availability before visiting. The history of the Kurozwęki Palace dates back to the 14th century, making architectural history another topic to consider when planning your trip.

Cycling and Other Experiences

Those wishing to compare routes can choose from different distances: the red hiking trail from Kielce to Chęciny is 20 kilometres long; the Czerwona Pętla Rowerowa is a 60-kilometre circular route with a stated duration of six hours. It passes, among other places, through Chęciny Rynek and Podzamcze Chęcińskie, as well as other locations in Chęcinsko-Kielecki Landscape Park.

The Bałtów Complex is located on the Świętokrzyski Archeo-Geological Trail. Its dinosaur park is supervised by palaeontological scientists; new discoveries lead to changes to dinosaur figures or their display locations. Seasonal rafting trips are also available on the Kamienna River in Bałtów.

At the Leonardo da Vinci Centre, interactive displays in the building and garden teach visitors about the human body. On the bison safari in Kurozwęki, you can observe the animals from a Western-style wagon that drives into the enclosure. Qualified guides explain the herd’s history and the habits of bison. Check the current operating details in advance.

When planning your hotel stay, you can first consider which themes you want your visit to focus on: hiking trails and geology, prehistoric mining, architectural history, or activities such as cycling and rafting. These interests can help you organise the destinations that appeal to you for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Pińczów, Skarżysko, Sandomierz County, Opatów, Ostrowiec, Starachowice, Końskie, Jędrzejów, Kazimierza, Buski, Staszów, Włoszczowa, Kielce

For the overview of destinations: Poland.