Niedzwiedzia Cave in Kletno

The biggest natural peculiarity of the Massif of Śnieżnik is the Niedzwiedzia Cave, discovered in Ocober 1966, in the place of Precambrian marbles, on the right slope of the valley of the stream of Kleśnica, at the height of 800 m. above the sea level, during the works in the marble quarry Kletno III. Total length of the acknowledged halls and chambers on three levels reaches above 2,7m. With the middle level you can go through an attractive tourist route, presenting silt parts, rich in bone remainings of the ice age animals, and a part called “Palace Chambers”, rich in varied forms of calcitonin dripstone. In the pit of an old quarry you can find a pavilion with an interesting museum exposition.

The cave was created as a result of destructive dissolution processes and erosion of crystalline limestone by water, which began already 50mln years ago. These processes lead to the creation of dripstone forms such as stalactites, stalagmites, stalagnates, draperies, cascades, pot-holes and calcitonin glaze. The most impressive cascade dripstones reached the height of 8m (The Great Cascade). The stilt, which fills the most part of halls and chambers, contain a large number of bones of animals, which lived nearby the cave during the last glactiation (cave bears, lions, wolves, hyenas) as well as present living animals. Among the remainings of the ice age animals, the bones of the cave bear (ursus spelaeus) are the most frequent ones. They gave the name for the cave. At present, the cave is a sleeping place and winter shelter for many species of bats.

The present fauna of the cave also constitutes shade- and damp-preferring insects, spiders and small crustaceans living in water filling pot-holes. The cave and its surroundings are the objects of scientific research, lasting through many years. Tourist traffic in the cave, dating from June 1983, is restricted with detailed requirements, aimed at maximum protection of this unique object. Therefore, sightseeing in the cave can have place only in organized, 15-people groups, with a qualified guide, in a highly restricted time.

Due to the restrictions in the number of visitors in one day, it is best to book sightseeing in advance.

Tourist service in the cave is led by:

Zakład Usług Turystycznych “Jaskinia Niedzwiedzia”

Phone no.: (074) 8141250

Open daily except Mondays and Thursdays

10.00am – 5.40pm (January – April and September –November)

9am – 4.40pm (May – August)

Historical lime kiln “Łaskawy Kamień”from the end of 18^th century is placed in Stara Morawa, at the road to Niedzwiedzia Cave in Kletno. Since 1987 the Rybczyńscy family has been renovating the object, building the house and atelier on the remainings of foundations and walls of Wapiennik.

In the nearby park – following the pattern of Japanese gardens-you can find a gallery of works of arts (paintings, graphics, objects and sculptures), of: Erma,Jloa and Jacek Rybczyńscy. After prior arrangements, it is also possible to see the lime kiln.

The object is the seat for German-Polish Association “WAPIENNIK GNADSTEIN” (with the seat in Moguncja), Polish Association of Museum of WAPIENNIK and editorial office of regional art quarterly “STRONICA SNIEZNIKA”.

Both the object and organizations are managed by prof. Jacek Rybczyński. Interested individuals can take part in:

-summer academy of arts

-art seminaries

-conversations and language study

In 2002 a gallery no.18 in an old uranium mine in Kletno was open for sightseeing. It is situated about 800m from the central parking place in Kletno, next to the road to Sienna. It constitutes a separated system of casts in the highest part of the mine. The entrance is situated at the height of 773m above the sea level. The route of about 200m can be followed on special pavements, admiring attractively lit, large natural deposits of local minerals (fluor-spar, quartz, others) as well as other special expositions. The pavements are 1,5-2m wide and 1,7-2m high. The temperature inside is about+7degree C. The gallery is safe from radioactive radiation.

For the couple of years it has been the sleeping place for six species of bats.

Documented beginnings of mining in the Massif of Śnieżnik date back to the half of XIV century, and documents from XVI century mention the mines-galleries of St. Paul, Jacob and Gloomy Gallery (later galleries no.7, 9 and 11 of the uranium mine). Since then, in the valley of Kleśnica an exploitation of iron ore, silver ore, fluor-spar ore, copper and uranium ore, and marble has been led from time to time.

In 1974 Russian specialists began a search on the territory of Poland, especially in Sudety, in order to find uranium ore, necessary for SSR in the production of atomic bomb. In the summer of 1948, a strong radioactivity of dumps near the Middle age galleries in Kletno was stated. After their exploitation, a construction of a mine called Kopaliny begun. During its activity since the beginning of 1953, casts of total length of 37km (incl.20 galleries, 3 shafts about 83-150m deep) were created. Lower and lower amount of uranium, with the greater depth for mining led to finishing of the exploitation. A total amount of 228 000sq.m has been excavated. From an ore about 20 tons of uranium was taken, which constitutes only 5% of uranium dug in Sudety,and a trace amount of uranium mining for SSR in countries of Eastern and Middle Europe. Between 1953-58 an exploitation of fluor-spar was also led.

The glassworks was created in 1864 by Franc Losky. Situated on the lands bought from princess Marianna Orańska, on the place where o glassworks existed a century ago. It was called “Oranienhute”. Due to the care of the owner, it developed fast and its products were bought all over the world. A railroad access to Stronie Śląskie created in 1897 helped to develop the glassworks even further., but the good period was destroyed by the outbreak of the World War I. The inter-war years were also difficult and during the World War II the place fell into crisis. The last owner was Eberhardt Losky. After the war manufacturing began with decorating crystals. The glassworks was given the name “united Glassworks of Lower Silesia – National Crystal Glassworks in Stronie Śląskie”. In 1951 smelting glass began.

At first it was boron-silicon glass. Since 1953 the production profile was changed into crystal glass and the export of crystals began the same year. The glassworks was always the first to use new technologies. In 1961, as the first in the country, used a smelt of glass in tube-shift stove, instead of a pot hole one.In 1970 the name was changed into Crystal Glassworks “Violetta” in Stronie ŚlĄSKIE”, and in 1992 it was turned into a public company with the name Crystal Glassworks “Violetta S.A. in Stronie Śląskie. Since the very beginning it has been acknowledged by artists, who made their works of arts here, thanks to the kindness of the authorities.

On working days glassworks can be visited in organized groups. During the trip you can get to know technology, methods of production and ways of working on glass.

Created in 1981 it entails three mountain groups of Eastern Sudety: Massif of Śnieżnik, Złote and Bialskie Mountains, with extraordinary natural values.

The area takes up 28 800 hectares, and its protection zone – 14 900 ha. The area of the park and its protection zone is on the area of theree communities: Stronie Śląskie, Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Lądek Zdrój, Międzylesie, Złoty Stok and Kłodzko. The park is characterized by different landscape types: from lowland mountainous valleys, through landscapes of old middle mountains, old river valleys, to erosive landscape of tectonic ridges and peak area of ŚNIEŻNIK with its sub-alpine character. Rocks, stones and big caves with unique drifts constitute a big attraction. On the area of ŚLP five nature reserves can be distinguished:

1. Śnieżnik Kłodzki – due to the protection of woodless peak of Śniężnik as an Alpine floor witch rich flora and dwarf mountain pine

2. Nowa Morawa – reserve in the valley of Morawka on the slopes of Bialskie Mountains. The protection covers part of beech and spruce forest with fir tree and sycamore. In underwood you can find mountain ash, daphne. In upper and damp parts of the forest you can find a bluebell and an edelweiss.

3. Śnieżna Białka Primeval Forest – reserve with remaining part of the forest called Sycamore Forest, with the area of 124, 68 hectares, takes up part of a deciduous forest within its upper part of existence. Encourages living of numerous big animals like a deer, roe-deer, marten and forest birds: hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse. At the river you can find white-throated dippers, in the river – speckled trouts. Forest entails natural beech wood, with 150 years’ old beech and sycamores. A fir tree, spruce and old mountain ashes – relics of the old forest of Sudety – can also be found here

4. Wilczki Falls – protection of falls with the gorge characterized as canyon on the stream of Wilczka

5. The Niedzwiedzia Cave – protection of an unique cave with beautiful dripstones and bone remainings, as well as numerous protected plants in the vicinity of the cave.

Numerous species of flora and fauna can be found in the park, including many protected species, as well as precious endemic species and relic types of invertebrates. Special attention needs to be given to mufflon, stoat, black stork, hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse, eagle-owl, salamander, many species of bats and, seasonally coming, brown bear. An additional attraction in the Massif if Śnieżnik is a herd of mountain goats, which in winter can be observed near the Niedżwiedzia Cave. Forests constitute 80% of the area of SLP with spruce as a dominating type of tree.

Due to the mountainous area, four levels of flora have developed:

1. Plateau level / to 400m above the sea level/, which has been most widely transformed. The places of oak and hornbeam forests were taken by substitutional meadow flora with rare types of plants.

2. Lower level /400-1000m above the sea level/ with the monoculture of spruce introduced artificially in XIX C for the needs of industry after robbery cuts.

3. Upper level /1000-1250m above the sea level/ is covered with spruce characteristic for the upper level, adapted to local environment best. Beech, sycamore, fir-tree and mountain ash can also be found.

4. Highmountain meadows are present only on the peak area of Śnieżnik. Lawns and herbs constitute a precious natural spot with numerous protected rare plants.

Among other values of the park the following should be added:

1. presence of sulphide and fluoride mineral waters

2. long lasting snow layer occurrence /from the height of 900m above the sea level, up to 150 days in a year/

3. historic and cultural assets of the park characterized by:compatibility of architecture with natural conditions, classical layout of chain village with the architecture characteristic of a typical Sudety village, numerous historical buildings with typical architecture of lodging houses, in Alpine style of Międzygórze.

Culturally harmonic landscape dates back to XIII C and the period of intensive settlements which were going up the rivers. A typical set of chain village situated in the axis of valley, with arable land, pastures and forests above.

Parish church of Mother of God Queen of Poland and St. Maternus from XIII century. First wooden, in 1732 rebuilt from gothic style into baroque one. This is a basilical building, with three aisles and hemispheric presbytery, as well as vault covered with frescos. The entrance is decorated with a coat-of –arms cartouche and a niche with the figure of Christ, above which the bell tower rises. Rich interior contains: Baroque XVIIIcentury: altar, polychrome pulpit and stone baptismal font. Next to the church there is a chapel and the tomb of the von Losky family.

Baroque figure of ST. John Nepomucen from XVIII C, next to the paricsh church in Stronie Śląskie.

Ruins of an early-baroque chapel of St. Onuphry from 1732, the chapel was risen by the owner of Stronie, earl Johan von Wallis.

Coat of Arms of Princess Marianna Orańska from the end of XIX C, placed in the façade of the building, at 60 Kosciuszki Street in Stronie Śląskie

Gothic-renaissance parish church of St. Joseph Oblate in Bolesławowo, built in 1598, destroyed in XVII C, rebuilt in baroque style, rich equipped.

Baroque votive column from 1672, founded by then judge Wolf. The exceptional feature of the column is its primitiveness. Sculpting decoration pictures scenes from the Bible, portraits of bishops and popes. The whole decorated with motifs of grapevine and birds.

Mansion of XIX C in Stronie Śląskie, at present the building of the Town Council, was the seat of landowners and an administrative centre. The building was risen as a summer palace, used by the royal family in the holidays

Baroque church of St. Michael Archangel in Stare Gierałtowo from XVIII C. This is an one aisle church witch separated presbytery. Rich and varied equipment inside.

Subsidiary church of the parish of Stronie Śląskie in Sienna. Made of brick, with one aisle, with hemispheric presbytery, covered with vault and gable-type roof, from which a tall thin octagonal ave-bell crowned with cone-shaped dome rises. Church raised in the second half of the XVIII C.

Muzeum Ziemi Geologiczne - Kletno

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Tropy gadów ssakokształtnych sprzed około 250 min lat- najlepiej zachowane ślady w Europie. Ślady łap dinozxaurów z gór stołowych - jedne z pierwszych i nielicznych śladów dinozaura jakie znaleziono w Sudetach. Kolekcja skamieniałych zębów dinozaura, pra-krokodyla, mamutów, gadów i ryb. Różnego rodzaju i wielkości muszle amonitów - również tzw. amonity spirytyzowane. Skamieniałe pnie drzew sprzed 250 mln lat, oraz różne ślady życia flory i fauny z minionych epok Ziemi. Meteoryt, który został znaleziony na Syberii. Wielki szczotki kwarcu różowego z gór Izerskich. Przeróżne formy kryształów gipsu z kopalni miedzi. Kolekcja agatów z Polski i z całego świata - wśród nich największy agat jaki znaleziono w górach Kaczawskich. Kolekcja krzemieni pasiastych z gór Świętokrzyskich i wiele wiele innych minerałów i skamieniałości.

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