Dąbrówka Viewpoint, Chechło

From Dąbrówka hill in Chechło you look straight out over Poland's largest expanse of shifting sand. The viewpoint, at 355 m above sea level, faces the northern, treeless part of the Błędów Desert – the part you are not allowed to enter, because it is a military training ground. In return, with a bit of luck, you may watch paratroopers drifting down onto the sand during exercises.

A desert made by people

The Błędów Desert covers about 33 km², is just under 10 km long and up to 4 km wide, and lies entirely within the boundaries of Chechło village. It is not a work of nature alone. Glacial meltwater deposited the sand, but after the Ice Age it was covered by dense forest. From the 13th century the trees were felled for the silver and lead mines around Olkusz, and falling groundwater levels did the rest – the result was a man-made desert.

The valley of the Biała Przemsza river splits the desert into a smaller northern and a larger southern part. The southern part is now largely overgrown, while around Dąbrówka hill larger patches of open sand remain. The area is a Natura 2000 site and was closed to visitors in 2013–2014 while work was carried out to restore its desert landscape.

Soldiers on the sand

Since the early 20th century the desert has been used as a training ground. During the Second World War German airmen trained here and components of V-1 flying bombs were tested. Today only the northern part – the one you see from Dąbrówka – is still military. Units including the 6th Airborne Brigade from Kraków train here; parachute jumps are a bonus for visitors but follow no fixed schedule.

The platform and the view

The viewing platform was built in April 2017; a boardwalk leads up to it and information boards explain the landscape. The panorama feels more like a real desert than from other viewpoints: a sandy plain dotted with tufts of vegetation stretches all the way to the forest on the horizon. Brown signs reading “Dąbrówka – Pustynia Błędowska” lead to the platform from Kluczewska street in Chechło.

Tripto tip

Respect the no-entry signs – the land below the viewpoint is an active training area. 20–30 minutes is enough for the view. To see both parts of the desert, combine Dąbrówka with the Czubatka viewpoint (382 m) in Klucze, which overlooks both the southern and northern sections, and with Róża Wiatrów (“Wind Rose”), a set of wooden shelters linked by boardwalks in the southern part, with parking for about 60 cars and a toilet. On sunny days the sand heats up fast, so bring water and a hat.