What to do and see in Swietokrzyskie Province, Central Poland: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas

Established in 1958. Protects unique landscape of highest peak in the area, shaped by many centuries of extracting minerals.

One of five landscape parks (equivalent of AONB in England), that encircle City of Kielce. The furthest one. Mainly forests. Interesting rock formations, including those that made Swietokrzyskie famous - "gołoborze" - fields of rocks. Many memorials from WWII. Three nature reserves, choice of walking trails, including main in region, marked with red stripes.

Established in 1996 this nature reserve protect around 6 ha of forests, mainly taken as natural, and the "gołoborze" - a steep slope of Szczytniak mountain, covered with stones.

One of the oldest nature reserves in Poland, now part of Swietokrzyski National Park. Famous for it's large numbers of european larch - Polish subspecies of larch was discovered here. Also enormous number of huge anthills.

Nature reserve established in 1982, covers nearly 25 ha of woods. Triassic sandstones on top have been used in prehistoric times as a kind of astronomic observatory and a holy site. The whole peak was closed with prhistoric stone circle.

One of two nature reserves of the same name in Poland, this one covers around 12 ha of forest in swietokrzyskie vojvodship. Pagan cultural stone circles, also earth trenches from the First World War, and a chapel from mid 18th century can be found in the reserve.

Established in 1988, covers area of 20693 ha. Forms vital part of a ring of landscape protection parks that surround city of Kielce.

Kadzielnia is Kielce’s most famous old quarry. The area, as the Kadzielnia Park and Reserve, covers about 14 ha. The central part of Kadzielnia, the Skałka Geologów (Geologists’ Rock) is under legal protection as an inanimate nature reserve. The remaining part of the area is protected within the Kielce Protected Landscape Area. It is worth mentioning and emphasizing that in the vicinity of the reserve is located, among others, the famous amphitheater, where numerous entertainment events take place. A new and very interesting attraction in this area is the Underground Tourist Route. Kadzielnia is a place with an interesting history, rich resources of animated nature, but most of all, a place that you must visit when you are in Kielce. You can spend a nice time here, relaxing while walking among the rocks, where the history of the tropical sea from hundreds of millions of years ago has been recorded.

The quarries in Ślichowice exploited the lime raw material as early as the interwar period. During exploitation in the excavation, unique tectonic phenomena were discovered, and therefore, in 1949, a part of the discovery was protected as a monument to inanimate nature. The high scientific and didactic value of the discovery meant that on 18 June 1952 a strict nature reserve was established - the Jan Czarnocki rock reserve. The reserve protection included a rock perch separating the former excavations with an area of 0.55 ha. In order to better explore the quarries, Geopark Kielce has prepared paths where didactic boards have been placed, which are a source of knowledge about the facility.

The former quarries at Wietrznia in Kielce are under reserve protection. It is the largest reserve in the city (almost 18 ha) and is named after Zbigniew Rubinowski. This place is called an open-air geological museum. The history of the old seas and lands has been recorded in the rocks located here. In order to help to understand it better, educational boards have been set up on the premises of the reserve. Therefore, it is worth taking a stroll through the area of Wietrznia, resting, relaxing in a pleasant environment, and at the same time immersing yourself in geological knowledge. While at Wietrznia, you should visit the Center of Geoeducation, with a multimedia exhibition describing the geological history of the area.