
Kielce - Capital Of The Świętokrzyskie Region
Historical Towns and Villages
The capital of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship is filled with attractions. Visitors are recommended to go to the highest point in the city, Telegraph Hill, accessible also by chairlift. There is a sky lift on the slopes of the adjoining peak, Pierścienica Mountain, and the Forest Stadium at its foot, a popular park and forest complex.
Another must-see is one of the Kielce nature reserves (e.g., Ślichowice, Kadzielnia, or Wietrznia, with its modern Geo-Education Centre). The city centre holds numerous museums, and above all Castle Hill with the 17th-century baroque Bishops’ Palace (currently a branch of the National Museum) and the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Mary, which dates back to the 12th century. It is worth visiting the wooden church in Białogon and the 17th-century monastery on Karczówka, where the St. Barbara statue made of galena (lead ore) is kept. Moreover, Kielce is a starting point for all neighbouring trails and cycle paths taking visitors to the biggest tourist attractions of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, e.g. Paradise Cave, Chęcin, the Bartek oak tree, or the St. Catherine village, where one can take a trail to Łysica.