Karpacz - tourist attractions you have to see | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Karpacz is located in the Krkonoše Mountains, whose highest peak Śnieżka reaches 1,603 metres
• The nearest railway station is Jelenia Góra; continue to Karpacz by bus or taxi
• The Wang Temple, a 12th-century Norwegian stave church, is one of Karpacz's top attractions
• Karpacz sits within the Karkonosze National Park, which protects nearly 6,000 hectares
• The area offers year-round activities: skiing and sledging in winter, hiking and cycling in summer
• Late spring and early autumn offer fewer crowds and comfortable temperatures for exploring

Giant Mountains

The Western Sudetes include mountain ranges in three countries: Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. These include the Lusatian foothills, the Liberec Basin, the Jizera Mountains and the Krkonoše Mountains. The latter are the highest range of the Sudety Mountains, and their highest peak , Sněžka, at 1,603 metres above sea level, is also the highest peak of the Lower Silesian Voivodship, Silesia and the Czech Republic. The main Krkonoše Ridge runs along the Polish-Czech border.

The Krkonoše Mountains form a heterogeneous, very interesting relief. In the granite rocks and valleys of rapid streams, you can discover the diversity of the natural environment, the value of which was appreciated when the Krkonoše National Park was established in this area. The protection covers almost 6,000 hectares of space, and Karpacz alone has a 33 per cent share of the Park area. On the Park's website, you can read about natural curiosities, gain knowledge about the terrain and important elements of the flora and fauna of the Karkonosze. Since 1992, the Krkonoše Mountains have been included in the UNESCO's worldwide network of biosphere reserves within the framework of the Man and Biosphere programme, which aims to strengthen the balance between economic development, cultural development and the preservation of biodiversity. Thanks to this, the Krkonoše Mountains on both the Polish and Czech sides continue to develop, exploring the environment and taking care of such an important asset - nature. The results of this cooperation can be personally appreciated by walking through the kilometres of greenery of the Krkonoše National Park.

The area around Karpacz has historically attracted gold prospectors. In the 15th century, Karpacz is mentioned as an area known for silver and lead mines. In the following centuries, the town became popular for visits and pilgrimage tourism due to the construction of the St Lawrence Chapel on Śnieżka and the importation of an Evangelical wooden church from Norway known as the Wang Temple. The area was also populated by herbalists, researchers involved in herbal medicine and later laboratory scientists, who appreciated the area's rich mineral and plant resources. The nineteenth century was the strongest moment in the development of tourism and the discovery and creation of attractions, Karpacz developed dynamically economically and recreationally, inns and taverns were built for the town's guests. The establishment of the Voluntary Sanitary Column of the German Red Cross at the beginning of the 20th century, which performed the functions of a mountain rescue service, became important for the mountain resort aspect.

The twentieth century brought further development, the settlement of Karpacz was granted town rights in 1960, and the tourist boom continues to this day. Questions about what to visit in Karpacz are answered in the following paragraphs.

Directions

Although the town is not located in the central part of the country, getting to Karpacz should not be problematic. Thanks to its close proximity to Jelenia Góra, Wrocław or Legnica and good connections with both the railway and bus infrastructure, as well as with the national roads, you can plan an optimal route for your holiday in Karpacz. There is a huge number of car parks in the town, so leaving your car will not be a problem.

Public transport

If you give up travelling by car, you can easily switch to public transport in Karpacz. The town itself is large and is divided into Karpacz Główny, Budniki, Płóczki, Wilcza Poręba and Wodna. It is important to get a good idea of which stops on the bus route will coincide with destinations to visit. Carrier KarpaczBus, for example, stops at:

• Karpacz STOKROTKA
• Karpacz WANG
• Karpacz PEGAZ
• Karpacz MORSKIE OKO
• Karpacz KOPA
• Karpacz BIALY JAR
• Karpacz HEALTH CENTRE
• Karpacz BACHUS ul. Parkowa
• MERCURE Taxi, Obrońców Pokoju Street
• GREEN MOUNTAIN, Sarnia Street
• ARTUS HOTEL, Wilcza Street
• RELAKS, Sklana Street
• Karpacz ORLIK, Skalna Street
• Karpacz Skalna ul.Skalna/ Kościuszki ul.
• Karpacz Skalna ul.Skalna/ ul.Granitowa

Tickets are sold by the driver. One of the trip offers access to the Czech town of Pec pod Sněžkou, where you can start or finish your route to Sněžka on the Czech side.

KarpaczBus also provides group rides upon prior reservation.

To visit the surrounding towns and cities, you can use the Karkonosze County Transport, which connects Kowary, Jelenia Góra, Mysłakowice, Cieplice, Miłków, Sosnówka, Szklarska Poręba and Podgórzyn, among others, with Karpacz.

Karpacz's attractions multiply thanks to its location in a natural mountainous landscape, where relaxation is combined with extremely interesting places. Karpacz is undoubtedly an important centre when it comes to sporting activities such as skiing, hiking on mountain trails, competitive riding or recreational cycling.

Winter sports

These cannot be narrowed down to just skiing, the sports centres offer excellent conditions for whole family activities. Downhill ski ing can be practised on more than a dozen ski slopes, in practically every district of the city. Depending on your level of ability, Karpacz offers a variety of piste options, so you can choose the perfect spot for you.

If you want to try cross-country skiing or touring, you can easily rent the necessary equipment and, under the guidance of a qualified instructor, traverse the trails on the Tourist Ski Trail and Równia pod Śnieżką. The Ski Centre will also provide the experience of hiking on skis and snowshoes on snowy terrain.

Skiing is not the only thing that reigns supreme here in the winter season, there are also snowmobiles for those craving for adrenaline. And, as we all know, children are the biggest thrill-seekers, so Karpacz is prepared for them too. Attractions for children include the year-round AlpineCoaster toboggan run - a roller coaster that is sure to delight even adults. Snowtubing, a ride on a pontoon down a special track, is also a real treat. Sledding hills are located in various parts of the town, so make sure you have your sledding gear handy and enjoy the ride to your heart's content. The largest centre for small and large tobogganers is Sledge Mountain. The town's tobogganing tradition is also worth mentioning. In the 20th century, tracks for bobsleigh and professional tobogganers were created in Karpacz; one of them, on the slopes of Husycka Mountain, still exists today.

Karpacz also regularly invites you to go sleigh rides. Of course, depending on the weather, you can join the expedition and afterwards warm up by the fire and feast with your winter ride companions.

In addition, ice-skating fans are sure to appreciate the synthetic ice rink, open all year round, located near Biały Jar in Karpacz. There, you can hire all the equipment, sharpen your skates and skate on the ice.

Mountain trails

What to see in Karpacz? Karkonosze's natural wonders on the trails! In the Krkonoše climate planning trips is both easy and difficult. Easy, because the routes can range from small walks to rugged expeditions, and always in stunning landscapes. Difficult, on the other hand, because you have to finally choose something from this vast array of possibilities!

Let's take a look at a few selected routes recommended by mountain enthusiasts.

Route to the PTTK Samotnia mountain hostel - starting at the Olimpijska Street, follow the yellow trail on a gentle path to the biggest hostel in this part of the Karkonosze Mountains, to Strzecha Akademicka. Then, taking the blue trail, we quickly reach the Samotnia mountain hostel, which is picturesquely located at the bottom of a postglacial basin on the bank of the Small Pond. The one-way route is only 4.3 km, a peaceful hike for families.

The route to Równia pod Sněžkou is a slightly longer hike of around 5 km, during which we can pass several smaller peaks: Biały Jar (1225 m) on the yellow trail, pass through Strzecha Akademická climbing the blue trail and the Spalona Strażnica summit (1430 m), along the red trail finishing the climb to Równia pod Śnieżką at 1416 m above sea level.

Route to Śnieżka through Łomniczka Kotel - entering the Karkonosze National Park slightly above the Orlinek ski jump, the red trail leads gently through the forest to the Nad Łomniczką chalet. A more demanding stage is to cross the road to Przełęcz pod Śnieżką, stopping for a breather there to admire the Łomniczka cascades or the Cemetery of Mountain Victims. At the end of the section, the Dom Śląski mountain hostel awaits us at an altitude of 1,400 metres above sea level, from where we can choose the gentler Jubilee Trail or the more demanding Steep Zakosy. On the highest peak of the Krkonoše Mountains, you will find the Śnieżka Meteorological Observatory and the St. Lawrence Chapel - a wooden church from the 17th century. The Polish-Czech border runs across the summit. Apart from all the surrounding elements, the most stunning thing about Sněžka is the view; in good visibility you can admire the horizon for up to 100 km.

Route to Kopa - connects the yellow, blue and black trails. The hike begins at the Wang Temple, the aforementioned Norwegian church from the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries brought to Karpacz by King Frederick William IV of Prussia from the village of Vang. The temple in the original town proved too small at the time and it was decided to sell it. In Karpacz, it was refurbished and given to evangelicals. Today, it still houses the Evangelical-Augsburg community, impressing with its Scandinavian style and being a treasure of old Nordic art in Poland. We take a gentle and picturesque forest trail through the Bronek Czech's Glade, then head towards the Samotnia mountain hostel. Not far away, but after a sharper ascent, lies another hostel, Strzecha Akademicka. The yellow trail will lead you to the source of Złoty Potok, to Biały Jar. Then the black one will take you to the top of Kopa (1377 m), from where you can take a chairlift to the centre of Karpacz.

The route to Śnieżka via Krucze Skały, Owl Valley, Owl Pass, Black Ridge - in this case the start of the route is the Museum of Sports and Tourism in Karpacz. Follow the black trail all the way to Krucze Skały, once a place for gold and gemstone prospectors and now popular with adrenaline seekers for climbing. A wide bridge opens up the Owl Valley, considered one of the most beautiful in the Krkonoše Mountains. The Owl Pass then serves up stunning views. From there, the red and blue trails lead to Sněžka, and the Czech mountain chalet Jelenka is to be found along the way. A hike along the Black Ridge reassures you of the incredible views even before the summit. Reaching the summit via the Jubilee Trail crowns the route and allows for a well-deserved rest.

Route to Karpatka - with the youngest mountain hikers in mind. The route starts in the park near the dam on the Łomnica River, which starts in Mały Staw near the Samotnia mountain hostel - the dam is 105 metres long, seeing it will be an additional attraction. So is visiting the Spirit of the Mountains - Liczyrzepa, whose stone statue sits proudly among the park's trees. Around it, you can find animal statues made of steel sheeting, such as a bear, wolf and deer, whose form was assumed by the aforementioned Spirit. There are two paths leading up to Karpatka; we can take them interchangeably, climbing up one and descending down the other. The whole route among the trees and rocks is gentle and comfortable to follow with toddlers. At the summit, in addition to the sweeping views, you can take a look at the weathering cauldrons, the "seeded" rocks that have formed as a result of the uneven weathering of the rocks.

The aforementioned hostels "Dom Śląski", "Samotnia" and "Strzecha Akademicka" offer hikers a place to rest, a buffet and even overnight accommodation in tourist conditions. It is worth visiting them not only for the rest or the food, but to take in their unique atmosphere, the smell of wood and hospitality, and in the morning to enjoy the stunning sunrises in the mountains.

Cycling routes

Cyclists will also find plenty of opportunities here. For those who decide to explore the trails on site, bicycle rentals are available throughout Karpacz.

Not all parts of the Krkonoše National Park are open to cyclists, but after a specific check there is definitely no shortage of areas to cross. Worth mentioning is the 1st Sudeten Route, which runs between the Sopot and Brocz rivers, stretching for more than 7 kilometres through the park's landscapes. It is impossible to describe all the possibilities; you can meander along the trails not only in Karpacz , but also in surrounding towns such as Jagniątkowa, Piechowice, Szklarska Poręba or Kowary, and visit local tourist attractions on the way.

Karpacz can offer, for example, a popular cycling route - the "Ursula's Way". The gentle and pleasant path invites the whole family. Along the way, you can cross the Wilczy Potok, as well as the Łomniczka, all submerged in greenery and hills.

A curiosity is the ascent to Sněžka. Organised, it usually takes place several times a year. Conquering the summit in the cycling version starts in the heart of Karpacz and leads through 14 kilometres of demanding route with an altitude of over 1,000 m.

Baths

For the regeneration of tired muscles, a solid bath is recommended. Karpacz's attractions providing relaxation in water are definitely aqua parks. Among the options is the Tropicana Water Park located in the Golebiewski Hotel within 3 km of the centre of Karpacz. Attractions for children such as a wave pool, river pool or slides will encourage a larger group to spend time here. For adults, there is no shortage of warming variety of jacuzzi and saunas. Additional health-enhancing attractions include a salt grotto, an ice cave and a brine graduation tower. The Sandra Spa Complex is no less tempting, offering refined relaxation in therapeutic massage pools and children's frenzy in the water jungle.

We can already find highlighted attractions for children in earlier paragraphs. Karpacz undoubtedly allows you to go on a family trip and find points of interest to convince everyone in the group. What to visit, what to see in Karpacz with children?

In addition to tobogganing on the AlpineCoaster track or playing in the aquapark, there are other interesting places for the little ones. Karpacz has a wonderful collection of toys from the private collector Henryk Tomaszewski, mime and founder of the Wrocław Pantomime. The collection forms the City Toy Museum, which has examples of toy-making from all over the world and a cross-section of 200 years. Fairytale experiences in the world of toys can also be shared by parents, recalling their childhood toys, telling their children about them and experiencing the diversity of cultures that are also manifested in these small children's objects.

Continuing in a fairytale atmosphere will be ensured by playing in the Fairytale Park. The youngest can visit the huts in the park and see staged fairy tales in them, such as: "Little Red Riding Hood", "Sleeping Beauty", "The Snow Queen", "Thumbelina", "Hansel and Gretel", "Cinderella", "Puss in Boots", "Rapunzel" and "Pinocchio". The ticket price also includes one pontoon ride, as the venue is famous for its summer pontoon run, which can be used by children and adults alike. A modern playground with daring constructions and obstacles is also an attraction in itself. For some, the summit of Snow White may still be unreachable, but the Fairy Tale Park provides the opportunity to conquer it in miniature. In addition, the tunnel with the hidden treasure of the Mountain Spirit, trampolines or water games will definitely attract children to this place, which is open every day in good weather.

Another place worth visiting is Kowary, located just 8 kilometres from the town of Karpacz. Tourist attractions for children focus there on visiting the Miniature Park, which tells the story of the monuments of the Lower Silesian region. At a scale of 1:25, you can see numerous models of palaces, churches and castles and learn about their history. It is an amazing experience to look at the roof of a tower that is actually tall, or to accurately count the sculptures on the facade of a vast palace. The craftsmanship of the workmanship and the natural scenery of the park will certainly make this an enjoyable and knowledgeable walk.

The Snezka Parrot House is an exotic attraction for those who want to spend time with their parrot companions. The birds live there slowly in the flight halls, and you can feed them with special food purchased on site while listening to the guides' comments and curiosities about the exotic world of parrots. It's worth bundling up your hair and putting your trinkets in your pocket, the parrots love to hitch up and play with the sparklers. A visit to the parrot house lasts about an hour, although this is relatively short, after which time you leave with colourful images and loud parrot cries in your head!

What else is hidden in the town of Karpacz? Interesting places to visit among the mountains and parks are also museums. The Museum of Sport and Tourism, as a cultural institution of the local government of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, is a collection of the collections of a region rich in tourism and sport. The permanent exhibition tells the story of the origins, development of the region and the city in aspects of travelling and welcoming travellers. There are examples of sporting history and important trophies. There is no lack of space for natural history specimens, which show the importance of the environment for the beauty of the region. In addition, the museum regularly holds temporary exhibitions on the curiosities of the Krkonoše Mountains and important figures associated with them. The museum building itself is impressive in its wooden construction. It was built in 1932-36 specifically for regional museum exhibitions on herbalism, laboratory science and mountaineering in the past. The site continues its purpose to this day; after a hiatus, the museum reopened in 1974 as a branch of the Museum of Sport and Tourism in Warsaw. It is open daily except Mondays.

Another museum worth visiting is the Multimedia Museum of the Giant Mountains. It is a great complement to a tour of the area. Through the impressions of hiking in the mountains, you can fully "touch" the Krkonoše Mountains with the knowledge gained in the museum. And it is not knowledge on the pages of books, but a multimedia portion of curiosities that are hard to forget. The Multimedia Mock-up of the Krkonoše Mountains phenomenally illustrates the nature and phenomena among the mountains. Thanks to technology, it was possible to build 9 multimedia rooms, which present the history and vast amount of facts about the Krkonoše Mountains. Another stimulating effect in the museum is the music, a famous film score, thanks to which the education comes with redoubled power. The museum, which is open daily, offers a family ticket, encouraging entire groups of loved ones to come face to face with the power of the mountains in modern terms.

Entering the Krkonoše Secrets website, you are captivated by its refinement from the outset. You travel through it as if it were a medieval script of legends, which inspires you to buy a ticket and discover the underground Krkonoše mysteries in Karpacz. You can compare this attraction to a picturesque, elaborate game that hides stories about the Karkonosze area and the legendary Mountain Spirit. In the vaults themselves, there is an exhibition that can be visited with a tablet, telling 12 stories in a multimedia and interactive way, stimulating dialogue among the audience, who can create their own image of the Lord of the Mountains, search for the philosopher's stone or disperse storm clouds. The entire exhibition has an original character thanks to the curation by renowned artists, who took care not only of the exhibits, but also of the sound and light, building up the atmosphere of the underground. Apart from 1 November, the Krkonoše Mysterons host daredevils willing to learn the secrets of the mountains every day. As a curiosity, the location of Karkonosze Secrets is no coincidence, it was there in 2016 that the ancient costume of the Mountain Spirit was discovered and to this day the question of who he really was is still being asked.

It is the nature of Karpacz that attracts many tourists. What is worth seeing in the area? For example, the Wild Waterfall on the Łomnica River. It can be reached via Olimpijska Street on foot or by car - the car park is located near the attraction. The Wild Waterfall is a dam on the Lomnica River, although the river itself is not large, its steep gradient and location on the bottom of a valley with steep slopes combine with the consequences of rapid rise and collection of branches and stones from the valley in heavy weather. In the 19th century, flooding of the river caused serious damage to the area, so in the early 20th century it was decided to build flood defences, one of which was a debris dam, the so-called Wild Waterfall. It is a picturesque place, among trees and rocks, visited by tourists and often chosen for photo shoots.

When visiting Karpacz, interesting places spring to mind on their own. Walking along ul. Strażacka in Karpacz Górny, we come across the site of a gravitational anomaly. To our eyes, it is impossible for an object to roll upwards on its own. However, it is an optical illusion called the "magic hill" - although the road leads uphill, the road descends along the slope of the valley. Tourists like to test the 'hill' by stopping the car and 'driving' uphill while idling. This interesting unusual phenomenon, which disturbs our perception of Newtonian gravity, is worth observing.

What other extravagant attractions does Karpacz offer its visitors?

The Mill of Love and its romantic legend of the miller's daughter who fell in love with a knight is a meeting place for lovers. The folk message conveys that: "it was only here that the mill wheel turned grain into flour and spun people's fates, and made the miller's daughter equal to a princess". A miniature mill with the miraculous properties of reciprocated love can be admired in Karpacz Górny, in a place where, according to legend, there was once a real mill. The attraction was realised in the 1960s, while in 2012 the mill was renovated according to an idea by Janusz Motylski.

The Krkonoše Mountains have long inspired visitors with their charm and power of nature, and it was here that the landscape painter Professor Carl Ernst Morgenstern (1847-1928) travelled from Munich. Thanks to his depictions, Karpacz was commemorated in various seasons and from many picturesque perspectives, which was eagerly used at the end of the 19th century in the development of tourism and in the creation of postcards from the resort. Thanks to the fame of his works and funds, Morgenstern built a house in Karpacz, the charm of which can unfortunately only be viewed from the outside, as it continues to serve as a private property. It is, however, a beautiful reference and tribute to an esteemed artist in love with the Karkonosze landscapes.

An unexpected tourist attraction is the Wild West-themed amusement park Western City. The uniqueness of this place makes it worth a visit out of curiosity. The programme includes typical Wild West stunts such as riding a mechanical bull at a rodeo, shooting with air rifles, western spikes, revolvers, winchesters and a bow, as well as milking a cow, throwing a spear or knife at a target, throwing a lasso and panning for gold. For less experienced cowboys, there is also a train, a playground, an inflatable slide, a nature trail where you can learn about the history of the Wild West and a Sheriff's Academy. For animal lovers, there is a mini zoo with horses, sheep, ponies, goats and donkeys, as well as horseback rides. You can leave Western City with a dollar with your own likeness or a 'Wanted' letter. It's worth setting aside plenty of time for this vast array of attractions so you don't miss out on any Western opportunities. Western City also offers horse riding training and communication workshops based on the horse-human relationship. For children who have swallowed the bug and want to be further educated in the saddle in the Wild West, the place offers holiday periods. All the information you need about opening days and times in the respective months and the training and entertainment schedule can be found on the Western City website.

Not all places are as crazy, but certainly delightful. Attractions in Karpacz that focus on remembrance for the mountains and the people associated with them are particularly special. The Conquerors' Footprints Square is a memorial to Polish Himalayan climbers located next to the Karpacz Town Hall. Cast in bronze, their footprints and signatures honour mountain people for their passion. Among the footprints one can find, among others: Maciej Berbeka, Eugeniusz Chrobak, Leszek Cichy, Anna Czerwińska, Jerzy Kukuczka, Janusz Kurczab, Maciej Pawlikowski and many other conquerors. In 2010, on the 30th anniversary of the Polish winter expedition of Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy to Mount Everest, a 12-ton Everest stone was placed in the square to commemorate the Poles' notable undertaking.

Karpacz for everyone

Guaranteed relaxation and recreational moments for the health and for the spirit! Attractions in Karpacz pride themselves on the fact that every generation is not left at a loss. The mountain climate and lush nature attracts whenever you need a break from the big city and the crowds. In the Krkonoše Mountains, despite the popularity of tourism, there is always space for a peaceful hike in silence and greenery. And when you need a boost of energy in the form of water rambles, multimedia educational trails or horse riding, both children and adults will be delighted. Find your favourite paths in Karpacz and enjoy the interesting terrain and history.