Quarry and Observation Tower in Józefów (Roztocze)

In the limestone walls of the Babia Dolina quarry in Józefów, a sharp-eyed visitor can find clam shells about 20 million years old – from the Miocene, when conditions here resembled today's Great Barrier Reef. Stone has been quarried here since the 17th century, and above the pits stands a stone observation tower that looks like a medieval keep. It is a good place to understand why Józefów, in the Roztocze hills of south-eastern Poland, has long been known as a stonemasons' town.

History: the stone that built Józefów

Józefów was founded in 1725 by Tomasz Józef Zamoyski, head of the Zamoyski family estate, and alongside trade and sieve-making, stone quarrying, stone carving and lime burning soon flourished. Limestone from Babia Dolina was, and still is, used for building, and local workshops carve it into sculptures – most often figures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary, which decorate the town's streets, gardens, squares and cemetery. The quarry also has a tragic history: on 11 May 1942 the Germans shot about 120 members of Józefów's Jewish community in the streets and in the nearby quarry.

The observation tower

The tower was built in 2011 on a rise above the quarry. It is about 18.5 m tall (the municipality rounds it to 20 m), and the viewing terrace is about 11.8 m up. From the top you see the whole quarry, a panorama of Józefów and the Roztocze forests around the town.

What to see

• Layers of limestone separated by thin bands of clay and cracks – single blocks measure several square metres.
• Fossils – clam shells and traces of the ancient sea, as well as karst shafts and chimneys.
• Traditional quarrying – stone is still split the old way: a groove is cut into the rock, wooden or iron wedges are set into it and struck one after another until the rock splits with a characteristic dull "groan".
• Stone figures around town – the work of local stonemasons.

Did you know?

Today the quarry is also used for trial biking, mountain biking, rock climbing and airsoft, and in the past it served as a training ground for soldiers preparing for missions in Afghanistan. Its scenery is used during the "In the Footsteps of Singer" festival and painting and sculpture workshops. Józefów's market square is a perfect square with 170 m sides – another legacy of the 18th-century town plan.

Tripto tip

The quarry lies on the edge of town, not far from the centre. Access rules and opening times for the tower may change, so check with the Józefów municipality before you go. Allow about an hour for the tower and a walk round the quarry. The quarry walls are steep – stay away from the rock edges and keep an eye on children. Nearby, visit the springs of the Nepryszka river with a 1.5 km path, and the nature reserves with rock steps and small waterfalls on the Sopot river near Hamernia and on the Szum.