Szczytna: Culture and Hiking Destinations
Accommodation in Szczytna
Szczytna lies between the Stołowe Mountains and the Bystrzyckie Mountains, on the Bystrzyca Dusznicka River. Its location combines a striking mountain backdrop with buildings and trails that offer very different insights into the town and its history. When planning your trip, you can choose between short hikes on Szczytnik, longer excursions and cultural discoveries.
Location and directions
National road DK8 between Wrocław and Kudowa-Zdrój runs through Szczytna. The railway line from Kłodzko to Kudowa-Zdrój also passes through the town. The road and railway provide two geographical reference points to help you locate Szczytna on your trip through Poland.
Trails on Szczytnik and longer excursions
The yellow hiking trail leads from Szczytna to Szczytnik. The 1.3-kilometre ascent is estimated to take about 40 minutes. This provides a clear guide to the distance and time if you want to include a short hike in your plans. Szczytnik rises 589 metres above Szczytna; a 19th-century Neo-Gothic castle belonging to the Hochberg family stands on its summit.
One longer option is the 11.1-kilometre circular hike “Ze Szczytnej na Wolarz” (From Szczytna to Wolarz). It leads to the 852-metre-high Wolarz in the Bystrzyckie Mountains and starts at a historic railway station dating from 1890. The route therefore requires a different time commitment from the short ascent to Szczytnik. The 14.1-kilometre “Na Muflon” hike starts at the intersection of international road 8 and Sienkiewicza Street, by the statue of St. John of Nepomuk. Schronisko pod Muflonem, the tour’s destination, lies outside the municipality; most of the route runs within the municipality of Szczytna.
There are also different types of cycling routes: an approximately 50-kilometre linear route leads from Szczytna to Bystrzyca Kłodzka. Trains can be used for the return journey or to complete the route. A 127-kilometre blue cycling loop around the Stołowe Mountains also runs north of Szczytna. It follows paved roads throughout, along the Polish-Czech border. This offers two different planning options: a linear connection that can be combined with train travel and a much longer loop.
Buildings and history
Among Szczytna’s distinctive buildings is the Baroque Church of St. John the Baptist. Construction was completed in 1726. Another historic feature is located on Sienkiewicza Street, above Kamienny Potok: a listed statue of St. John of Nepomuk dating from 1711. It is also a prominent landmark at the starting point of the “Na Muflon” hike.
On rocky Szczytnik above Szczytna stands Leśna Skała, a Neo-Gothic palace built between 1831 and 1838 as a hunting residence. Its terrace offers sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. Szczytnik is also home to a fort built between 1790 and 1795 as part of a line of fortifications. At the time, its purpose was to warn Kłodzko Fortress of approaching enemy armies. These buildings offer different historical perspectives, from Baroque religious architecture to the military role of the fortification line.
Sports and events
Sports and active pursuits in Szczytna include a sports, active holiday and exercise therapy centre, three artificial-turf pitches and a high ropes course with a climbing wall. The annual Skatepiknik Integracyjny, held since 2010, also features an Olympics for preschool children. If you would like to include the festival in your travel plans, check the dates for your travel period.
More destinations
Bielice, Potoczek, Kudowa-Zdrój, Polanica-Zdrój, Miedzygorze, Poręba, Domaszków, Goworów
For the wider travel overview: Kłodzki.
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