Choina

Choina is a small hill 450 metres above sea level in the Wałbrzych Mountains, in the Central Sudetes, about a kilometre south-east of Zagórze Śląskie. On its summit stands the ruin of the Piast-era Grodno Castle, which makes the hill easy to recognise in the landscape.

A castle ruin on the summit

The hill has the shape of an extensive mound, with steep slopes on the south, east and west sides and a gentler slope to the north. On the summit stands the ruin of Grodno Castle, built as far back as the Piast era.

Nature reserve

Since 1957 the entire hill has been covered by a landscape nature reserve called Góra Choina. The slopes, built of gneiss, are covered with a large number of small rocks, and the whole area is overgrown with mixed forest with specimens of old-growth oak, lime and beech.

Forest undergrowth

The forest undergrowth has preserved its original vegetation with protected species: nettle-leaved bellflower, Solomon's seal and foxglove grow here, along with many species of orchids and ferns.

Practical information

• Coordinates: 50.7533, 16.4114, about 1 km south-east of Zagórze Śląskie
• On the summit the ruin of Grodno Castle, described separately
• The hill lies within the Góra Choina Nature Reserve
• It is worth checking the exact route and walking time before setting off