Karczówka (339 m a.s.l., Svatokřížské hory)

About peak Karczówka

Polsko

Logged on Vrcholovka 1x in total. Vrchol Karczówka was added here by Milda and info was completed by Milda.

Karczówka (339 m a.s.l.) is the highest peak of the Kadzielnia mountain range, located in the southwestern part of Kielce. It is composed of Middle and Upper Devonian limestone, which contains lead ore. In 1953, the Karczówka Landscape Reserve was established, covering an area of 26.55 hectares. The reserve includes the Karczówka hill, except for part of the northern slope (owned by the Pallottine Fathers) and the summit itself, which is crowned by the buildings of the former Bernardine church and monastery. A fragment of pine forest is protected, forming a valuable landscape surrounding the historic 17th-century monastery and the monument to the insurgents of 1863.

The area of Karczówka hill has been historically heavily mined. Lead ore was extracted here. Approximately three thousand mining shafts operated here, the remnants of which are still visible today. On the western slope, next to the path, there are ditches and depressions known as "cracks." When Poland was struck by a cholera epidemic in 1620-22, the Bishop of Kraków, Marcin Szyszkowski, ordered prayers and services in Kielce. He himself lay face down in the collegiate church of Kielce, praying for God's salvation. He made a vow that if the epidemic passed the city, he would establish a church on Karczówka hill. When the plague spared Kielce, the bishop fulfilled his promises and built the Church of St. Charles Borromeo on the site of the former wooden miners' chapel. The church was completed in 1628, and in 1631 both the church and the monastery came under the ownership of the Bernardines. The monastery was closed by the Tsarist authorities in 1864 due to the monks' participation in the January Uprising. In 1918, the Sisters of the Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus moved into the monastery and established a school and kindergarten. In 1957, the monastery and church were taken over by the Pallottine Fathers.

Visitors to the monastery complex can view the main altar made of Kielce marble, the stairs made of two-colored sandstone, and a unique statue of St. Barbara. In 1646, miner Hilary Mala extracted three enormous pieces of galena (lead ore). These pieces were used to create statues: the statue of St. Barbara, located in the church in Karczówka (the statue weighs approximately 1,800 kg), the statue of the Virgin Mary in the Kielce Cathedral, and the statue of St. Anthony in the church in Borkowice.

From the terrace next to the monastery, there is a view of the northern parts of Kielce and the main range of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains. The red tourist trail of Sylwester Kowalczeski runs through the summit of Karczówka, connecting Kielce to Chęcinek.

Chalet/accommodation

There is no chalet on the peak.

Stroller access

This peak is accessible with a stroller.

Views

There are views from the peak.

Cable car

There is no cable car to this peak.

Equipment

No special equipment is required for this summit.

Accessibility

Peak is freely accessible.

Nearest peaks: Orla (345 m,  3.1 km) Bugalanka (367 m,  3.3 km) Pierścienica (367 m,  3.4 km)