Swietokrzyski National Park
Encyclopedia
Świętokrzyski National Park is a National Park in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
in central Poland
. It covers the highest ridge of the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mountains – the Łysogory – with its two highest peaks: Łysica at 612 metres (2,007.9 ft) and Łysa Góra ("bald mountain") at 595 m (1,952.1 ft). It also covers the eastern part of the Klonowski Ridge and part of the Pokrzywianski Ridge. The Park has its headquarters in Bodzentyn
.
. In 1921 a first forest reserve in the Swiętokrzyskie mountains was created - this was Józef Kostyrko’s reserve on Chełmowa Góra (1.63 km²). The following year, two parts of the Łysogory with total area of 3.11 km² also became protected. In 1932 the area of the reserve was officially expanded to 13.47 km², but the National Park was not created until 1950. Its initial area was 60.54 km², but it has since expanded to 76.26 square kilometres (29.4 sq mi), of which 72.12 km² is forested. There are five strictly protected zones with a total area of 17.31 km².
trees here - now there are around 1300 of them. Most of Park’s area is forested, mainly with pine
s and beech
es. Fir
trees are less numerous as well as forests of mixed oak
-fir character. Among the Park’s curiosities we must emphasize the endemic, unique only for this area, fir wilderness and areas of Polish larch on Chełmowa Góra.
is represented by more than 4000 species of invertebrate
s and 210 species of vertebrae (including 187 protected). One of local animal’s life most precious features is the fact that many of species are of mountainous kind. These usually thrive in the strictly protected areas and deep in the forests.
Holy Cross Abbey
from the first half of the 12th century, located on the peak of Łysa Góra. It is probable that here the oldest example of Polish writing was created - Kazania Świętoktrzyskie (Holy Cross Sermons
). An interesting feature of the local landscape is the numerous roadside chapels.
Other fine examples of architecture are situated beyond the Park’s limits. These are: female monastery at Św. Katarzyna (1633), churches at Bielice
(17th century) and Bodzentynów (15th century), ruins of a castle at Bodzentyn
(14th century), parts of rampart around Łysa Góra (9th century) and museum of metallurgy at Słupia Nowa, where occasionally ancient method of producing steel is presented to tourists. Park is full of historical monuments connected with Polish national uprisings and the time of Nazi
occupation.
Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, or Świętokrzyskie Province , is one of the 16 voivodeships into which Poland is presently divided. It is situated in central Poland, in the historical province of Lesser Poland, and takes its name from the Świętokrzyskie mountain range...
in central Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It covers the highest ridge of the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mountains – the Łysogory – with its two highest peaks: Łysica at 612 metres (2,007.9 ft) and Łysa Góra ("bald mountain") at 595 m (1,952.1 ft). It also covers the eastern part of the Klonowski Ridge and part of the Pokrzywianski Ridge. The Park has its headquarters in Bodzentyn
Bodzentyn
Bodzentyn is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,271 inhabitants . Bodzentyn Castle was built in 14th century.-External links:*...
.
History
The history of efforts to protect this part of Poland dates back to the times before World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1921 a first forest reserve in the Swiętokrzyskie mountains was created - this was Józef Kostyrko’s reserve on Chełmowa Góra (1.63 km²). The following year, two parts of the Łysogory with total area of 3.11 km² also became protected. In 1932 the area of the reserve was officially expanded to 13.47 km², but the National Park was not created until 1950. Its initial area was 60.54 km², but it has since expanded to 76.26 square kilometres (29.4 sq mi), of which 72.12 km² is forested. There are five strictly protected zones with a total area of 17.31 km².
Landscape
The Swiętokrzyskie are the oldest mountains in Poland, dating back 400–520 million years. Their present appearance was created by movements of the Earth around 300 million years ago. Long ago there was sea here and much evidence of rich life forms was preserved in the rocks, including fossil traces of animals and plants. Around two million years ago the range was covered by a glacier.Flora
The Park is famous for its trees, of which 674 are regarded as monuments of nature and as such are under protection. Park’s authorities successfully managed to reintroduce yewTaxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
trees here - now there are around 1300 of them. Most of Park’s area is forested, mainly with pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s and beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
es. Fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
trees are less numerous as well as forests of mixed oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
-fir character. Among the Park’s curiosities we must emphasize the endemic, unique only for this area, fir wilderness and areas of Polish larch on Chełmowa Góra.
Fauna
Park’s faunaFauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
is represented by more than 4000 species of invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s and 210 species of vertebrae (including 187 protected). One of local animal’s life most precious features is the fact that many of species are of mountainous kind. These usually thrive in the strictly protected areas and deep in the forests.
Architecture
Apart from nature, the Park and its vicinity has a lot more to offer. There are several important architectural relics, most of which of sacral character. The most precious is the BenedictineBenedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Holy Cross Abbey
Holy Cross Abbey
The Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary is a restored Cistercian monastery in Holycross near Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, situated on the River Suir. It takes its name from a relic of the True Cross or Holy rood....
from the first half of the 12th century, located on the peak of Łysa Góra. It is probable that here the oldest example of Polish writing was created - Kazania Świętoktrzyskie (Holy Cross Sermons
Holy Cross Sermons
The Holy Cross Sermons are the oldest extant manuscripts of fine prose in the Polish language dating from the early 14th century. The documents are named after the place where they had originally been housed—the Holy Cross Monastery in Poland's Holy Cross Mountains .-Description and history:The...
). An interesting feature of the local landscape is the numerous roadside chapels.
Other fine examples of architecture are situated beyond the Park’s limits. These are: female monastery at Św. Katarzyna (1633), churches at Bielice
Bielice
Bielice may refer to the following places in Poland:*Bielice, Lower Silesian Voivodeship *Bielice, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship *Bielice, Kutno County in Łódź Voivodeship...
(17th century) and Bodzentynów (15th century), ruins of a castle at Bodzentyn
Bodzentyn
Bodzentyn is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,271 inhabitants . Bodzentyn Castle was built in 14th century.-External links:*...
(14th century), parts of rampart around Łysa Góra (9th century) and museum of metallurgy at Słupia Nowa, where occasionally ancient method of producing steel is presented to tourists. Park is full of historical monuments connected with Polish national uprisings and the time of Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
occupation.