Radków Rocks

On some of the sandstone towers of the Radków Rocks you can still see inscriptions carved by the Silesian Forestry Society in the first half of the 20th century — traces of the time when these cliffs bore the German name Wünschelburger Lehne. The rock wall rises almost vertically to a height of up to 100 metres, and the individual rocks are separated by steep gullies, labyrinths, tunnels and deep crevices. This is a rugged, less crowded corner of the Table Mountains, lying south of Radków at about 600–700 m above sea level.

How the rock wall formed

The Radków Rocks are made of Upper Cretaceous jointed sandstone resting on impermeable marl. That arrangement is the key to their appearance: water washed out weathered material at springs along the boundary of the two rocks, so the sandstone slab cracked vertically, subsided and broke into block landslides. Over some 70 million years, a changing climate, a network of tectonic fractures and the varying cement of the rock carved it into the towers, pillars and fantastic forms we see today.

What to see

• The rock wall with its towers and pillars — most impressive from the paths at its foot.
• Labyrinths and crevices between the blocks, typical of the Table Mountains.
• Memorial inscriptions of the Silesian Forestry Society carved into the rock.
• Climbing routes — the Radków Rocks are known as a climbing area, but climbing rules are set by the Table Mountains National Park.

Tripto tip

The easiest way in is the Road of a Hundred Bends (Szosa Stu Zakrętów), which runs from Radków via Karłów to Kudowa-Zdrój along the foot of the rocks — there is a "Radkowskie Skały" car park on the route. The blue trail comes here from Radków, and from the car park the red trail continues to the Rock Mushrooms (Skalne Grzyby); dogs are allowed on both sections, though in the national park they are only permitted on selected routes. Entry to the park is free, but some trails in the area are closed from time to time for safety reasons, so check the park's notices before setting off. Higher up, above the cliffs, runs the Droga nad Urwiskiem path, from which side paths lead to the rocks.