Kotarz

Set into an altar on the slopes of Kotarz are stones from Jerusalem, the Sahara and Australia, and even fragments of meteorites. Kotarz (974 m) is a wooded peak above Szczyrk and Brenna in the Silesian Beskids, the highest point of the ridge between the Salmopolska Pass and the Karkoszczonka pass. You can reach it from the pass in under an hour, and the Hala Jaworowa meadows give a view of the Skrzyczne massif – one of the most pleasant short hikes around Szczyrk.

A shepherds' peak and a boundary

The name is usually derived from the Slovak chotár, meaning a village's territory or its boundary – the ridge still separates Brenna from Szczyrk. A popular folk explanation links it to sheep that gave birth (kocić się) on the pastures in spring. Shepherding has a long history here: the Kotarz shepherds' hut was mentioned as early as 1689, and in 1913 it grazed 211 sheep and 12 cows, making it one of the largest in the Silesian Beskids. In the 1970s and 1980s the tradition was continued by an experimental sheepfold of the Polish Academy of Sciences' Institute of Animal Production, demolished in the first decade of the 21st century.

The European Altar

In 2008 the European Altar was built on Kotarz from stones brought from European countries and many parts of Poland. Stones from Jerusalem, the Sahara and Australia, as well as meteorite fragments, were also set into it. It was consecrated on 28 September 2008 by Paweł Anweiler, bishop of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (Lutheran). It is a place for reflection, so keep quiet and do not take any stones.

Nature

Kotarz lies within the Silesian Beskids Landscape Park. Its slopes are covered by Carpathian beech woods, and the meadows hold some of Poland's largest stands of foxglove. The ridge is the only wildlife corridor linking the Równica and Barania Góra ranges with the Klimczok and Skrzyczne massifs; it is used by wolves, among others, and Ural owls live in the forest. Plans for a large ski resort, and later for luxury apartments on Hala Jaworowa, were dropped after protests by residents and conservation groups.

Trails

• Red trail from the Salmopolska Pass – about 50 minutes; the easiest option, suitable for families with children.
• Blue trail from Brenna – about 2 hours up.
• Red trail from the Klimczok side via the Karkoszczonka pass – about 2 h 10 min.

Tripto tip

The easiest way is to drive through Szczyrk up to the Salmopolska Pass (about 934 m), where the red trail starts – the height difference is small, so it makes a good afternoon outing. The summit itself is wooded; for views, head down to the Hala Jaworowa meadows sloping towards the Żylica valley. Access is free all year, but the trail can be icy in winter. From the pass you can easily extend the hike to Malinowska Skała and Skrzyczne, and in Szczyrk there are lifts up Skrzyczne and the slopes of Szczyrk Mountain Resort.