Kotarz, Mountain summit in Beskid Slaski, Poland
Kotarz is a mountain summit in the Silesian Beskids, a forested range in southern Poland. Its slopes are covered with mixed forest that gradually thins toward the top, where the ridge opens up to wider views.
The area around Kotarz has been used since the Middle Ages by shepherds and farmers from the nearby valleys who grazed their animals on the mountain slopes. In the 20th century, the trail network was developed to support growing interest in hiking across the Beskid range.
A small chapel stands near the summit and serves as a resting point for hikers passing through. Chapels like this are common across the Beskid mountains and reflect how faith has long been woven into the daily life of people living in these valleys.
The most common starting point is the village of Brenna, where several marked trails lead up toward the summit. Sturdy footwear is a good idea as the paths can get slippery after rain, especially through the forested sections.
Kotarz sits on the boundary between two protected landscape areas, so standing near the summit means you are at the edge of two different protected zones at once. This is noted on trailside information boards but many hikers pass by without noticing it.
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