Main information
Natural treasures
The Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship is abundant in natural treasures. This is due to the fact the around 65% of its area is covered by legally protected natural areas. The biggest and the most priceless one – the Świętokrzyski National Park is the second-oldest in Poland, occupying the area of ca. 7 626 ha with a buffer zone of over 20 786 ha. It is located in the central and eastern part of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, covering mostly its highest mountain ranges. These are vast areas of old fir and beech forest with 647 nature monuments and endemic stands of flora and fauna. The most popular place in the Łysogóry Range, are post glacier, deforested and rocky slopes, known as “gołoborza”.
Apart from the national park, one can also find nine landscape parks and 72 nature reserves, as well as natural gems outside the parks, e.g. the newly established Kielce Botanical Garden or the Bartek Oak, near Zagnańsk – one of the oldest trees in Poland.
Geological heritage
The Świętokrzyskie Mountains are the oldest mountain range in Europe, uplifted during three different orogenic periods. That is why there are many priceless geological, paleontological and archeological sites here, e.g. the traces of the legendary tetrapod – an ancestor to first land creatures. The unique geological structure can be observed e.g. in the Paradise Cave, near Kielce with beautiful dripstone structures and enormous stalactites and stalagmites. It has been also proven that the area used to be inhabited by Neanderthal tribes.
The numerous quarries in the region are attractive not only for its geological quality, but also as beautiful tourist spots, perfect for walks and active time spending. All fascinated by the subject will find here something for themselves, e.g. in Wietrznia Nature Reserve and Geo-Education Centre in Kielce, Kadzielnia Nature Reserve – which has been turned into and impressive amphitheater and a place for many open-air events, as well as Archeological Museum and Nature Reserve in Krzemionki. Most of these can be easily visited alongside the Świętokrzyski Archeo-Geological Trail.
Land moulded by rivers
The natural borders of the region are the Vistula River to the east and the Pilica River to the west, the other great river, floating through this land is the Nida River. Together with dynamic geological processes, they have formed a great part of the Świętokrzyskie region, especially the two picturesque sub-regions: Ponidzie and Sandomierz Land.
Ponidzie is known for its characteristic, massive hammocks and famous deposits of gypsum, stone and curative mineral waters, but most of all, beautiful protected Nature 2000 stands in the Nida meanders. The Sandomierz Land, shaped mostly by the great Vistula River, is characterized by gentle hills with many fruit orchards, grown there for centuries, thanks to sandy, yet rich, soils – mainly loess. Nature lovers can find there such breathtaking places as the Pepper Mountains or numerous ravines, particularly Queen Jadwiga’s Ravine. The specific climate conditions and gentle, sunny slopes enabled also the development of local vineries, mostly in the area of Sandomierz and Ponidzie.
