Stara Morawa Reservoir

At around 525 m above sea level, in the Morawka valley between the Śnieżnik Massif and the Bialskie Mountains, lies one of the highest artificial reservoirs in Poland. The Stara Morawa reservoir covers only 5.5 ha, but in summer it has a lifeguarded bathing area with a sandy beach, a pier and a lookout tower – all surrounded by mountains where iron was once smelted and cannons were cast.

History: a young reservoir in an old village

The reservoir was built between 2000 and 2006 with EU funds for water retention and recreation, and officially opened on 7 July 2007. At the same time the dirt road from Stronie Śląskie via Sportowa street was asphalted, and piers, a tower and the bathing area were built. The south-western shore is natural, with direct access to the water, while the other banks are lined with a concrete embankment.

The village of Stara Morawa itself is much older. It was mentioned in the 14th century, and in the 17th century a forge here produced cannons and cannonballs – the iron-working era ended around 1680. A hydro-engineering curiosity: as early as 1840, a flood-control dam with a dry retention basin was built at the northern end of the village, so today's reservoir has a very old predecessor in the valley.

What to see and do

• A lifeguarded bathing area with a sandy beach – summer season only.
• A pier and jetties with a lookout tower offering views over the water and the wooded mountain slopes.
• A campsite, food stalls and accommodation in the village.
• A walk around the water – the lake is small enough to circle at a leisurely pace.

Nearby

Just above the village, on the road to Kletno, stands a historic early 19th-century lime kiln designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. Since 1978 it has been home to the family of Professor Jacek Rybczyński, who rescued it from ruin and run the "Łaskawy Kamień" gallery here with a Japanese garden. Further on, the road leads to Kletno with its Bear Cave (Jaskinia Niedźwiedzia) and to the trails of the Śnieżnik Massif.

Tripto tip

The bathing area is open only during the summer holidays – check dates and prices in Stronie Śląskie before you go. Water in a mountain reservoir warms up more slowly than in the lowlands, so midsummer is best for swimming. Allow 1–2 hours for the beach and a walk, and spend the rest of the day on the lime kiln and Kletno.