English version

The Karkonosze National Park protects the highest part of the Sudetes along with their highest peak – Śnieżka. There certainly is a reason for this mountain to have such a name (which can be translated as “snowball”), because there is always a lot of snow in the Karkonosze Mountains. The peak of Śnieżka extends far above the forestless mountain plains, called the table-like top, overgrown with vegetation resembling the Arctic tundra. Below, the slopes of the Karkonosze Mountains (also called the Giant Mountains) descend steeply into rocky cirques. Thousands of years ago, these cirques were filled with glaciers, today charming mountain ponds can be found in two of them. The National Park extends down to the foothills. The lowest part of it is Mount Chojnik. It is crowned with a medieval castle situated on granite rocks. Such rocks are one of the characteristic elements of the Karkonosze landscape.

The logo of the KNP includes components of both animate and inanimate nature. In the foreground, there are two plant species – Campanula bohemica on the left, and willow gentian on the right. There is the highest peak of the Karkonosze and Sudetes Mountains – Śnieżka in the background. Even though Campanula bohemica is an inconspicuous plant (reaching only 40 cm in height), it is endemic to the Giant Mountains. Walking around the KNP, we can run across it mainly in the mountain pastures (Szrenicka, Złotówka and Polana). Unfortunately, its number is declining due to the cessation of traditional hay and pasture farming. In order to preserve it, similarly to other rare species, it is cultivated in the Living Gene Bank in Jagniątków. Śnieżka is made mainly of metamorphic rocks called hornfels, and on the west (at its base) of granite. There is a specific climate at the top, similar to that beyond the polar circle. Alpine vegetation developed at lower altitudes. Due to its location and shape, it is a great place to study climate change. Local impacts on the climate are minimised here almost to zero. On Śnieżka, you can observe meteorological phenomena rarely found elsewhere, such as St. Elmo’s fire, Brocken spectre, or glory.

^{The opening hours of individual places are subject to change. Please check the website for up-to-date information before visiting.}

The Nature and Education Center is located in a historic palace complex dating back to the early 18th century. In 2013, the entire complex was taken over by the Karkonosze National Park, which has since made efforts to adapt the historic buildings into a modern nature education center and a new headquarters for the Park. The center opened to the public at the end of April 2023. Two multimedia exhibitions, a conference room for 150 people, workshop rooms, and a didactic path around the Palace - all these facilities are used to carry out nature and regional educational activities. The offer is aimed at children, young people and adults. The Center wants to respond to the needs of tourists, but also the region's residents, offering a wide range of classes, workshops, meetings and regular events. 

The biggest attractions of the Center are two multimedia educational expositions. Climatic Karkonosze exhibition shows the beauty of nature around and takes the visitors from geological beginnings of Karkonosze mountains through the plant floors, a hall of weather phenomena, a laboratory styled to the 19th century up to the room where tourists can experience night in the woods. The exhibition was designed to be explored independently and is a kind of science center, where at individual stations one has to discover the principle of functioning of environmental elements and try to gain knowledge and experience related to them. The visual beauty of the arrangements inspired by nature is intertwined with a whole spectrum of sounds, textures and smells, affecting our senses and emotions.

"Sobieszów Palace” is the other exhibition and this one tells the story of the history of nature conservation in Karkonosze over the centuries and gives the information about the Schaffgotsch family who were the owners of the Palace before the Second World War. One can learn a lot about  the family's cultural contribution to the development of the Karkonosze region. Despite its historical background, the exhibition also gives the impression of being modern, intriguing and interactive. It uses a number of modern multimedia technologies integrated into traditional furniture, scenographic and architectural forms. The arrangement of the palace exhibition was intended by its authors to evoke the atmosphere of an old library or archive. The last exhibition room is dedicated to the history of the two Karkonosze national parks - the Polish and Czech, the current "managers" of the Karkonosze.

Both exhibitions are available in 4 languages - Polish, Czech, German and English. They are also fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. Visitors with mobility impairments or parents with children in strollers can move freely throughout the complex. A visit to the Center is an excellent introduction to the area of Karkonosze National Park. It is also an option for those interested in the nature and history of the Karkonosze, who cannot or do not feel like going to the mountains for various reasons.

Time: about 5-6 hours

Clearing (Polana)
Pielgrzymy
Kocioł Wielkiego Stawu
Spalona Strażnica
„Strzecha Akademicka” PTTK Mountain Hostel
„Samotnia” PTTK Mountain Hostel
Clearing (Polana)

The nature path around Kocioł Wielkiego Stawu and Kocioł Małego Stawu allows you to see one of the most beautiful parts of the KNP. On your way, you get to know the richness of the world of plants forming the plant layers of the Karkonosze Mountains. Their composition changes along with an increase in altitude: from the lower and upper subalpine forest to the subalpine layer. Observing them, you can find traces of human activity from the 19th and 20th centuries. 

The beginning of the path is located in Polana where you can get to from Karpacz along the green trail from the Biały Jar bus stop or following the blue trail from the Wang Church. Then, we follow the yellow trail in the direction of groups of rocks called Pielgrzymy (pilgrims) and Słonecznik (sunflower). After reaching them, we go along the red trail leading over the edges of Kocioł Wielkiego Stawu and Kocioł Małego Stawu, towards the crossroads near Spalona Strażnica. From there, you can go for a well-deserved rest to the Strzecha Akademicka or Samotnia mountain shelters located on the blue trail. Following the blue trail, we will reach the “Hunting Lodge” and further to Polana from where, following the green trail through the Pląsawa Valley, we will reach the end of the path. 

When planning your hike, take into account the weather conditions. The safest period is from April to September. Hiking the trail in winter requires the use of appropriate ski equipment.

Tourist trails:
Hiking – 27 trails – 132 km
Biking – 5 trails – 22.1 km
Horse riding – 3 trails – 12.8 km
Skiing – 20 trails – 83.9 km backcountry skiing and ski touring, and 8 km downhill race and snowboard

Educational paths:
10 trails – 80.6 km
2 trails with a length of 1.66 km adapted to the needs of people in wheelchairs.