Chełmiec: Mining history at the foot of the Chełmy Hills

Discover mining history along the trails

The 5.0 km “Śladami kopaczy” educational trail runs between Chełmiec and Raczyce. Traces of polymetallic mining from the late 19th century can be found along the way. Its name and theme make the trail a tangible point of reference if you are interested in the area’s mining history.

Other routes offer a view beyond Chełmiec. The Brzeżyny hiking trail runs from Złotoryja via Leszczyna, Chełmiec and Myślibórz to Grobla and Bolków. The second route of the Kopaczy Trail runs from Chełmiec via Jerzyków, Myślinów, Nowa Wieś Wielka, Lipa and Radzimowice to Wojcieszów. The sequences of places help you understand the routes’ geography: the Brzeżyny hiking trail passes through Chełmiec on a longer route between Złotoryja and Bolków, while the second Kopaczy route starts here and continues towards Wojcieszów. If you plan to take one of these routes, check its course before your visit.

Mining is also part of the area’s history beyond the routes described: remains of mining adits have been preserved in Chełmiec. Together with the traces along the educational trail, they invite you to see mining not merely as a single attraction, but as a recurring theme as you explore the area.

Village layout and manor history

Chełmiec has the layout of a green-village settlement. Its long, spindle-shaped green ends in the southwest at the church and cemetery. This form draws attention to the village as a whole, not just to individual historic buildings. If you are interested in settlement history, it offers a distinct perspective on the area’s past alongside its mining heritage.

The manor estate included an extensive, approximately oblong rectangular courtyard. The landscape park lay south of the palace. The palace stood in the centre of Chełmiec and was destroyed after 1945. The spatial arrangement of the courtyard, park and palace describes another historical layer of the area; it complements the story of the village layout and mining without conflating these histories.

Historically, Chełmiec belonged to the Cistercian Order of Lubiąż. This connection adds the area’s religious history to the picture. During your stay, you can bring together different interests: the educational trail’s clear connection to mining, routes that pass through several places, and the village’s historic form. Each theme has a tangible connection to Chełmiec, but each raises different questions about the area.

Chełmiec as a destination for your trip

When looking for a holiday destination, its location west of Jawor and its proximity to the Chełmy Hills can both help you get your bearings. Your choice may depend on the themes you want to focus on: mining history and routes that pass through several places, or Chełmiec’s settlement and manor estate.

More local pages

Granowice, Męcinka, Bolków, Paszowice, Kondratów, Jastrowiec

For the main travel overview: Jawor.