***Hell Rocks by Niekłań (in Polish: Skałki Piekło pod Niekłaniem)

The inanimate nature reserve is another example proving that the region abounds in names containing such word as hell or devil. Located in the Stąporków commune, the reserve was established in 1959 to protect interesting sandstone formations caused by wind erosion.

Scattered over a line, one-kilometer-long, they resemble  mushrooms, ledges, chimneys, pulpits, and the like. Their height reaches 8 meters in some places. The rock formations are found close to the blue hiking tourist trail (Kuźniaki – Sielpia – Końskie – Pogorzałe) or to the black one  leading from Wólka Plebańska (7 km).

A long tome ago the devils of the Świętokrzyskie Region were punished by the Lucifer himself: they were ordered to stay for some time in the grim rocky environment. As the penalty was not really very severe, the devils started their devilish games climbing rocks and toppling them down. Eventually the rocks started to emit hellish light and hence their present name. How to get there: Go along the national road no. 42 in the direction of Skarżysko-Kamienna. In Stąporków turn left heading to Szydłowiec. At the end of the Niekłań Wielki village there is a car park. The way to the nature reserve is along the blue and red walking trails or as indicated by the signposts of the forest district.

***Sołtyków Jets (in Polish: Gagaty Sołtykowskie)

The nature reseve is located in the eastern part of the Stąporków commune, between Odrowąż and Sołtyków. It was created in 1997 and cover the area of 13,3 ha, including the goaf left after the former mine where iron ores and ceramic clay were extracted. The subject of reserve protection is jurassic outcrops of silt and sullage as wel as interesting mineralogical and paleontological specimens. The feature of the nature reserve is the mineral of jet i.e. a variant of soft coal in black, used in jewellery. Currently, it is very difficult to come across the stone on the surface. The peleontological sensation was the discovery of the dinosaurs tracks well preserved on the surface of sandstone. There were the traces of the existence of theropods discovered – two-legged predatory dinosaurs and of a plant-eating sauropod which are the oldest record of the herd life of this species. It is undoubtedly a curiosity on a global scale. How to get there: from Końskie in the direction of Skarżysko-Kamienna, past Odrowąż one needs to turn left into a fire lane no. 6, next from the car park on foot as the road signs show.

***the Krasna valley 

The Upper Krasna nature reserve encompasses the area of meadows, forests, swamps and waters amounting to 413, 02 ha. It was created in 2004 and is sitruated in the following communes: Stąporków, Zagnańsk and Mniów. The objective of area protection is preserving the natural part of the Krasna river and a section of its valley. The objective of area protection is preserving the natural part of the Krasna river and a section of its valley. The reserve territory is very diverse, both in terms of geomorphological conditions and land use.

The river can be divided into two sections. In the southern and eastern part the river overflows the area and meanders. The river valley is very wide and the river gradient – slight. In this part mid-forest ecosystems dominate: meadows, pastureland and swamps. The backwater of the very river best presents itself in the neighbourhodd of the place called Luta.

In the northern part of the valley the area is rather covered by forest ecosystems, from which the pine forest is the most popular. In this partthe Krasna river flows in deep river bed and has the shape of an upland river.

„Upper Krasna” is a floral-ornithological nature reserve, with huge areas of precious vegetative congeries of: waters, reedbeds, pleat, meadows and forests and protected rare species of animals, primarily birds. In terms of its surface area, it is one of the biggest reserves in the Świętokrzyskie province and due to the presence of the rare, valuable and exctinction-endangered species of flora and fauna it has been included in the European ecological network called „Nature 2000”.

On the terrain of the reserve one can see, primarily, animals such as moose, beaver, otter, many species of dragonflies, of butterflies ( from the lycaenidae family), beetles (Carabus coriaceus), amphibia, reptiles or birds (including corncrake, lesser spotted eagle, crane), numerous species of freshwater fish. In the river there is salso the habitat of the cyclostomi representative – Ukrainian brook lamprey. Amidst the plants one can find, from among others, drosera, marsh helleborine (a species of orchid), globeflower, Davall’s sedge and many more other species of plants typical of pleat bogs, meadows, pasturelands and isolated still water bodies.

How to get there: from Kielce by the national road no. 74 in the direction of Łódź, in Mniów heading to Stąporków. Tourist trails that lead to the nature reserve: yellow walking trail Końskie – Serbinów, green bicycle trail Sielpia – Czarniecka Góra.

***Sielpia (holiday resort)

Amidst beautiful pine forests, by the picteresquely situated reservoir there is Sielpia  - one of the holiday resort localities most frequently and most willingly visited by tourits in the Świętokrzyskie region. This tourist jewel of the Konskie region can boast a perfect micro climate and sightseeing sites. The reservoir and its surroundings create desirable conditions for fans of angling, bathing and water sports. The woods are liked by mushroom pickers, cyclists and horse-riding amateurs. Nature lovers can encounter here rare species of flora and fauna (the Nature 2000 area by the Czarna river).

Sielpia offers a well developed tourist, gatronomy and sports base, ensuring good conditions to have  a good rest, not only in summer. Besides resort centres and training and recreation facilities there is  also a complex of caravan parks, campsites, a well developed commerce network and rental shops with water, tourist and sports equipment. Holiday-makers have got at their disposal a beach volleyball court and rental stores with bicycles. Fans of water sports have the best conditions for practising them within guarded swimming areas where, besides bathing, one can go canoeing, ride a water bike, boat, sail or go surfing.

The tourist offer ensures perfect service during holidays, winter camps, conferences, training sessions, symposiums, reunions, social get-togethers and sports events. An additional attraction is interesting cultural, sports, tourist and recreation occasions which allow people to spend their time in a fun way.

For active tourists Sielpia is a great place for organising hiking, bicycle or bus trips. It’s very close from Sielpia to attractive tourist facilities of the Świętokrzyskie region, such as: Bartek Oak, Paradise Cave, Henryk Sienkiewicz Museum in Oblęgorek, Castle in Chęciny, Jura Park in Bałtów or Archeological Museum and Krzemionki Reserve.

To get to know better the neighbourhood one has a good network of walking and bicycle trails at their service, leading to the prettiest and not so easily accessible nooks.

In the proximity of Sielpia there is a nature monument called „Hell (rocks) by Gatniki” where one can admire fantastic forms of huge sandstone jurassic rocks and beautiful forest paths. More about it in a separate entry in the section on nature-related monuments.

Sielpia is a great tourist attraction also because of the Museum of the Old Polish Industrial Region. It is one of the most valuable, in historical terms, industrial monuments in the country and Europe. More details on the facility beneath in the section on industry-related monuments.

***Hell (rocks) by Gatniki (in Polish: Skałki Piekło)

The nature monument called „Hell (rocks) by Gatniki” is a mysterious place situated in the neighbourhood of Sielpia on the blue walking trail, in the proximity of the villages „Niebo” (in English "Heaven") and „Piekło” (in English "Hell"). This monument of inanimate nature is located in the forest between Piekło and Niebo, close to one of the biggest holiday resorts in the Świętokrzyskie province, i.e. Sielpia. It is a group of jurassic sandstone rocks, picturesquely shaped by erosion, reaching up to 5 m high and stretching along around 100 m.

How to get there: from Końskie to Sielpia, from there along the blue walking trail.

***Hell (rocks) by Szkucin (in Polish: Piekiełko Szkuckie)

The rock formation situated around Szkucin in the Ruda Maleniecka commune delights everyone with the shapes of jurassic rock conglomerates presented picteresquely on the edge of the forest.

The nature reserve was created in 1995. It occupies the top part of a mild hill, encompassing the area of the forest and rocks amounting to 2,5 ha.  The objective of the protection is to maintain natural jurrasic conglomerates, which form rocks of a unique structure – smooth grey rounded boulders of sandstone rocks submerged in sandy bond. The area of the nature reserve is covered by the mixed forest with most pines but also oaks, beeches, firs and birches.

How to get there: From Ruda Maleniecka or Fałków, along the asphalt road in the direction of Lipa to Szkucin. The nature reserve is located on the verge of the wood, south-west of the village.

***Hubal Oaks in the Końskie county

Hubal Oak, close to Szkucin: the pedunculate oak is over 160 years old. The tree of an impressive height: 390 cm in girth, as measured at 130 cm from the ground and 30 m tall. The span of the tree crown amounts to 13 m x 11 m. It is a valuable and healthy specimen for regional nature and constitutes an attractive part of the landscape. Its name refers to the regional history. The troops of major Henryk Dobrzański aka „Hubal” intensively operated on the terrain at the beginning of WWII. „Hubal” himself was stationed in a forester’s lodge in Zychów. The Hubal Oak grows close to Szkucin in an enachented grove called „Little Hell” (in Polish: „Piekełko”) in the nature reserve of Hell (rocks) by Szkucin”.

Hubal Oak, near Furmanów: the Hubal Oak, which is a roughly 160-year old nature monument, grows in Furmanów in the forest district of Bieliny. Its name was also given to commemorate major Henryk Dobrzański, alias „Hubal”, who fought in this region during WWII. The height of the oak is about 25 m, the diameter of the trunk is 1,29 n, the girth of the trunk – 4,07 m. The name „Hubal” was given on 28 April 2006. It was chosen through a school contest by the students of The Complex of Public Schools in Niekłań Wielki.

***Alley of Lime Trees

The alley is located within the area of Końskie and Modliszewice. It consists of over a dozen trees which are around 300 years old. They are the long-lived trees that grow by the provincial road no. 746 from Końskie to Żarnów. In the neighbourhod of Modliszewice there is also one more landmark worth a visit  - a fortified mansion (more about it in the section on architecture-related monuments below) situated next to the seat of the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Centre of Agricultural Counselling in Modliszewice.

***Przedbórz Landscape Park (Protected Area)

The Przedbórz Landscape Park was established on the basis of the regulations in 1988 to protect the most precious natural, cultural and scenic features on its terrain. The area of the park lies on the verge of the Łódź and Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) province. Within the forest district of Ruda Maleniecka the park encompasses the Słupia Konecka commune i.e. the forest district of Ruda Pilczycka.

The place is one of the most valuable landscape parks in central Poland. It distuinguishes itself from the other parks through its mixed geological structure and landform, which impacts on increased diversity of other parts of the natural habitat: soil, ground and surface water, microclimate, flaura and fauna. Due to this a picturesque landscape was formed which is characterised by a large variety of nature and beautiful vantage points. What needs to be protected is natural and scenic features, mainly from the most unaffected area in the valley of the Pilica river and its tributaries, immense forest complexes (the remains of the Pilica forest) as well as a range of jurassic and cretaceous geologic uplifts.

How to get there: From Końskie along road no. 728  heading to Radoszyce, then according to the road signs in the direction of Słupia and Oleszno. The Landscape Park embraces the terrain of the Słupia commune situated east of the village of Skąpe by the border with the Łódź province.

Further information: Forest District of Ruda Maleniecka, ul. Piotrkowska 29, 26-300 Radoszyce, tel. +48 41 373 15 95, https://radoszyce.radom.lasy.gov.pl/lesnictwa

***Końskie-Łopuszno Area of Protected Landscape 

Końskie-Łopuszno Area of Protected Landscape is situated in the west-north part of the świętokrzyskie province and was established in 2005. The protected area covers the land of 98000 ha. It entirely encompasses the following communes: Ruda Maleniecka, Radoszyce, Smyków and Stąporków and also parts of the communes such as Końskie, Słupia Konecka, Mniów, Bliżyn, Łopuszno, Piekoszów, Krasocin and Małogoszcz.

The most important functions of the area are: the protection of spring areas of the creeks of the Pilica river (including the Czarna Konecka river) and forest complexes. The most essential role is  the protection of surface and ground water as well as climate-creation, aerosanitary, recreational and touristic functions.

The flora of the area is strongly diversified. Nearly half of the protected area Surface cosists of forest complexes. In the northern and eastern parts prevail mixed forests mixed with fir trees. In the neighbourhood of Stąporków there are mixed oak-hornbeam forests with firs. On tops of the dunes and on their eastern slopes dry cladonia forests are being shaped.

The terrain of the Końskie-Łopuszno Area of Protected Landscape is also a crucial hydrographic junction. The folllowing rivers flow out from here: Czarna Konecka, Czarna Włoszczowska, Czarna Taraska, Nowa Czarna, Drzewiczka, as well as Radomka, Kamienna and Łośna. The most important role of the area is thus the protection of Surface and groundwater. It is a significant place of relaxation and recreation too.

Within the area there are also two nature reserves: Hell Rocks by Niekłań and Gagaty Jets. The first presents unique forms of sandstone rocks shaped through wind erosion, the latter is a former clay mine with the outcrops of jurassic rocks and interesting dinosaurs’ traces.

References:

Nature Protection in the Forest District of Stąporków, 2010, published by the Forest District of Stąporków.

Regional Directorate of Environment Protection in Kielce

***Devil's Rock (in Polish: Czarci Kamień)

The Devil’s Rock, as it was named by the local residents, used to be a bone of contention between the two field owners for it lay on their border. This enormous erratic boulder is undoubtedly an ornament of the „Hellish Trail”.

It is situated close to a campsite in Kamienna Wola. In order to see the devil’s wonder, in the neighbourhood of the site one needs to go off the red walking trail and enter the meadow as indicated by the signs. This granite protected boulder is 2,5 m high, has the girth of 16,5 m and stands out from the ground by around 1 m!  

translated by Anna Kania, the employee of the Tourist Information Centre in Końskie