Things to do
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Kłodzko Fortress
A huge eighteenth-century Prussian fortress on the hill above the old town, with ramparts, casemates and kilometres of tunnels. The guided route goes underground through the mine galleries, and the walls give a wide view over the valley. Entry is ticketed, and the tunnels stay cool all year.
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Chapel of Skulls
A small chapel in Czermna, near Kudowa-Zdrój, whose walls and ceiling are lined with thousands of human skulls and bones gathered by an eighteenth-century parish priest. Thousands more lie in the crypt below. Entry is ticketed, short guided talks run inside, and photography is not allowed.
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Szczeliniec Wielki
The highest summit of the Stołowe Mountains, a sandstone tabletop reached by several hundred stone steps from Karłów. A one-way route on top threads through crevices and past rock towers with views into the Czech Republic. The plateau route is ticketed and closes in winter snow.
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Bear Cave
A limestone cave at Kletno, named for the bones of cave bears found inside, with dripstone formations along a lit walkway. Visits are guided only, in small groups at fixed times, and the cave stays at about 6 degrees. Book ahead in summer, as daily places are limited.
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Błędne Skały
A maze of sandstone blocks and narrow corridors on a plateau of the Stołowe Mountains, some passages barely wide enough to squeeze through. The marked route takes about an hour. Access by car is on a timed one-way system with a ticketed car park, and the road closes in winter.
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St. John's Bridge
A Gothic stone bridge over the Młynówka channel, lined with Baroque statues of saints in the manner of Prague's Charles Bridge. It links the old town to the island quarter below the fortress. The bridge is free and open at all hours, at its best in the evening light.
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Wambierzyce Basilica
A Baroque pilgrimage basilica approached by a monumental stair, at the heart of a village called the Silesian Jerusalem for the chapels scattered across its hills. A moving nativity scene with hundreds of figures stands nearby. The church is free, with crowds on Marian feast days.
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Zamek na Skale
A castle hotel on a rock above the Nysa Kłodzka at Trzebieszowice, north of Lądek-Zdrój, with period rooms, a restaurant and a spa. Rooms in the tower are the most atmospheric. It is a popular wedding venue, so book ahead for summer weekends.
