Mountains & peaks

Sokoliki Rocks and Krzyżna Góra in the Rudawy Janowickie

In the north-western part of the Rudawy Janowickie mountains rises the Góry Sokole range — a group of granite summits and crags named after the peregrine falcons that once nested here. Its two best-known tops are Sokolik (642 m) with the crags of Sokolik Duży and Sokolik Mały, and Krzyżna Góra (654 m), the highest point of the group, built of Karkonosze granite with rock walls up to 50 metres high.

The Hohenzollern steps and the cast-iron cross

When Prince Frederick William Charles of Hohenzollern bought Karpniki in 1822, 120 steps were carved into the rock of Krzyżna Góra, leading to a viewing point secured with a railing. The mountain's present name comes from the seven-metre cast-iron cross funded by Princess Maria Anna Amalie of Hesse-Homburg to commemorate her husband's birthday.

Sokolec Castle and the Hussite Rocks

Below Krzyżna Góra lie the remains of Sokolec Castle, probably erected in the first half of the 13th century by Henry the Bearded or Henry II the Pious. On the night of 11–12 August 1434 the stronghold was burned down by the Hussites, and later destroyed on the order of King Matthias Corvinus. The name of the Hussite Rocks commemorates fleeing Hussites who were said to have fallen into a 20-metre chasm. At the foot stands the Szwajcarka mountain hut from 1823, once the forester's manor of the Prussian king's brother.

In practice

Start the trip at the paid car park on the Karpnicka Pass (PLN 20 per day in 2025): it is 2.2 km one way to the Sokoliki, or 3 km with a detour to Krzyżna Góra, taking about 1.5 hours. Until 1947 the whole range was called the Łomnica Mountains, and in 1800 it was visited by John Quincy Adams, later President of the United States.

Sokoliki Rocks and Krzyżna Góra in the Rudawy Janowickie

The Hohenzollern steps and the cast-iron cross

Sokolec Castle and the Hussite Rocks

In practice

What to see

Place map

Places to stay nearby

Sources and further reading

Nearby attractions

Wojanów Palace

Łomnica Palace

Bukowiec Palace

Skalnik

Skopiec Peak

Colourful Lakes of the Rudawy Janowickie

Promenade in Karpacz

Wild Waterfall in Karpacz

Łomnica Dam

Sokoliki Rocks and Krzyżna Góra in the Rudawy Janowickie

About this place

The Hohenzollern steps and the cast-iron cross

Sokolec Castle and the Hussite Rocks

In practice

What to see

Place map

Places to stay nearby

Sources and further reading

Nearby attractions