Karczówka, Limestone summit in Kadzielniański Range, Kielce, Poland.
Karczówka is a limestone summit in the Kadzielniański Range near Kielce, whose slopes are covered by old pine forests. The mountain rises about 319 meters high and holds the ruins of a monastery complex at its peak.
A Catholic bishop started building a monastery at the summit beginning in 1624, combining late Renaissance and early Baroque features. Before this century, the mountain had already been mined for valuable minerals.
The monastery contains a notable rococo statue crafted from native lead ore, discovered by miner Hilary Mala in December 1646.
Hikers reach the summit via marked trails that lead in various directions and offer different difficulty levels. The best time to hike is during warmer months when the paths are dry and easy to access.
On the southern and western slopes, traces of old mining sites remain visible, including filled shafts and natural depressions from the extraction period. These marks remind visitors of a time when mineral mining shaped the landscape.
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