Jaworzyna Kamienicka, Mountain summit in Gorce Mountains, Poland
Jaworzyna Kamienicka is a mountain summit in the Gorce range that rises to about 1,288 meters (4,226 feet) and features a broad clearing at its top where views extend across the surrounding landscape. Dense spruce forest blankets the slopes below, creating a distinct transition from open summit to thick woodland.
Before World War I, the forests covering these slopes were cleared entirely and the timber hauled to manufacturing centers in Prussia and Hungary to supply demand for wood products. The spruce forests visible today have regrown over the decades following that intensive logging era.
The Bulandowa Chapel stands on the summit, built in 1904 by a local shepherd as a place of worship for those working in the high pastures. It reflects the deep connection between mountain communities and this landscape that has endured for over a century.
Various hiking trails reach the summit from different starting points, offering options for different skill levels and walking times. Plan to visit during warmer months when trails are dry and conditions are stable underfoot.
The Zbójecka Jama cave sits on the western edge and according to local stories once sheltered regional bandits fleeing authorities. Explorers who find the cave entrance can enter a different landscape where rock formations and echoes feel worlds apart from the forest above.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
