Rock formation of the Giant Mountains: stone carvings and legend

One of the most recognizable elements of the landscape of the Krkonoše Mountains are the amazing rock formations, rising as high as twenty-five meters in the midst of the forest. A total of about one hundred and fifty rock groups and individual rocks form a unique in the country complex of natural stone sculptures of various forms and heights, which, due to their fantastic shape and the legends associated with them, have taken individual names such as Pielgrzymy, Słonecznik or Końskie Łby.

Glacial basins and waterfalls of the Giant Mountains: natural mountain wonders

Glacier kettles, which are huge rocky depressions surrounded on three sides by steep slopes, are also incredibly impressive. In the Karkonosze, the most spectacular are the twin Snowy Cauldrons, as well as the Great Pond and Little Pond Cauldrons with the beautifully located Samotnia hostel. If we add to this numerous streams, waterfalls headed by the Kamieńczyk Waterfall and Szklarki Waterfall, as well as rich fauna, including wolves, lynx or mouflons, we get a wonderful, rich land ideal for a holiday or winter holidays.

Giant Mountains: adventure with nature and architectural monuments

However, Karkonosze is not only nature and landscapes, but also a region full of architectural monuments and picturesque towns. It is worth visiting beautiful Jelenia Góra with its spa town of Cieplice; Szklarska Poręba, chosen by Polish Radio Program III as the Winter Capital of Poland, or Karpacz, known for its Wang Temple and visited in large numbers at any time of the year. Chojnik Castle on Mount Chojnik near Jelenia Gora is also spectacular.

The Jizera Mountains: a picturesque region on the border of Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany

The Izera Mountains, together with the Foothills, are the westernmost part of the Polish Sudetes, with borders with the Czech Republic and Germany running through them. The highest peak of the Izera Mountains is Wysoki Kopa (1126 m), rising in the High Ridge. The picturesque, captivating landscape of the Izera Mountains is dominated by wide valleys and hills with elongated, gentle slopes. Flowing through them are the four most important rivers: the Izera, Kwisa, Kamienica and Kamienna in some sections have a rushing current characteristic of mountain rivers, while in others they gently meander in a typically flat manner. The vast peat bogs, the oldest of which are up to 10,000 years old, are covered with many unique plant species, protected through four nature reserves: “The peat bogs of the Jizera Valley”, “Krokusy w Górzyńcu”, “Grądy koło Posady” and the forest-flower reserve “Góra Zamkowa”.

An excellent destination for skiing and bicycle tourism

The Jizera Mountains are attractive to tourists all year round. In winter it is a mecca for cross-country skiers with a network of perfectly groomed trails on both sides of the border, accessible via tourist border crossings, while in summer it is a region where many two-wheeled enthusiasts can be found. Large sections of these mountains feature flattened peaks and large tracts of nearly level terrain, providing excellent opportunities for planning varied bicycle routes. Tourist traffic is concentrated in two towns: Swieradow-Zdroj and Szklarska Poreba, part of which is Jakuszyce with the famous Jakuszycka Glade.