Medieval Settlement in Huta Szklana

At the foot of Łysa Góra, on the opposite side from Nowa Słupia, the Medieval Settlement stands in Huta Szklana in the Bieliny commune — a dozen-odd reconstructed rural huts with full furnishings. The site belongs to the Centre of Traditions and Tourism of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains and pairs well with a trip to Święty Krzyż: the car park at the entrance to the national park lies a few hundred metres away.

Crafts of centuries past

Behind the wooden gate with its palisade spread thatched-roof huts, each "inhabited" by a figure from the past: the smith talks about work at the forge, the weaver spins flax, the carver cuts lime wood, the herbalist serves medieval gingerbreads and herbal teas, and the potter shapes vessels. Along the way you can pick up old vocabulary — for instance that rzezimieszek (bandit) comes from the thief who rzezał — cut — the money pouches hanging from a belt.

Practicalities

The settlement is at Huta Szklana 37; it is open Monday to Thursday, 11:00–17:00, and Friday to Sunday, 10:00–18:00. An inn operates on site, and the red Main Świętokrzyski Trail passes through the village. The ascent of Święty Krzyż, home to the oldest sanctuary in Poland, starts at the neighbouring car park — the village borders the Świętokrzyski National Park directly.