If you only have one day in the Holy Cross Mountains, this is the walk I’d give you. It has forest, the highest summit in the range, and a village at the end that still lives at its own pace. It’s an easy introduction to the region, and it shows you what makes this landscape different.
Starting point: Święta Katarzyna
Święta Katarzyna is a small village named after St Catherine. Walkers and pilgrims have set out from here for centuries, and it’s home to the Bernardine Sisters’ convent at the foot of the mountain. Before you start, or when you get back, have a coffee and an ice cream at Cud Miód. It’s a small thing, but it says something true about the region today: old traditions are getting along comfortably with quiet new ideas.
The ascent to Łysica (612 m)
The trail climbs steadily through the dense, well-protected forest of Świętokrzyski National Park to Łysica, the highest peak in the range. It’s not a tall mountain, and the height isn’t the point. The point is the atmosphere. You walk through thick old fir and beech forest and past gołoborza, rock fields formed in the Ice Age, and the place is unusually still. Pagans worshipped here before Christian tradition absorbed the mountain, and you can still feel both layers.
Two pieces of summit trivia to impress your friends with:
- The Żeromski connection: a small chapel nearby is linked to Stefan Żeromski’s writing. It recalls an inscription scratched into the plaster by an unnamed insurgent of 1863, which Żeromski himself echoed as a schoolboy.
- Agata: Łysica has two tops, and the lesser-known Agata is about 65 cm higher. Purists, take note.
Descent to Kakonin
On the way down, the forest gradually gives way to fields and scattered wooden houses. Kakonin doesn’t feel staged for visitors. It just feels lived in. Plan to eat at Chata Kaka, which is known locally for some of the best pierogi in the region and for pajda chleba, thick slices of bread with simple, rich toppings. It’s honest regional food, and after the climb it tastes like a reward.
Getting back: two options
- Bus to Święta Katarzyna: local buses link the villages, but they don’t run often. Check the timetable before you set off.
- Walk back on unmarked paths: older, informal paths link Kakonin back towards Święta Katarzyna. They are lightly used, signage is poor, and conditions change. Bring offline maps and treat the route as part of the adventure rather than a sure thing. This is where the idea of a “Holy Cross Path” really begins.
Practical notes
- Parking: in Święta Katarzyna, the easiest starting point
- Distance: about 8–10 km one way, depending on your route
- Difficulty: easy to moderate, with a steady climb and nothing technical
- Chata Kaka: usually open daily from late morning to early evening. Check before you go.
Coming next
Future walks will include the pilgrimage paths up to Łysa Góra (Święty Krzyż), quieter forest ridges, and cultural stops that link the landscape with the people who live in it.
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