Guardian of Eternity

The Guardian of Eternity is a stone figure depicting an upright man in a hat, standing at the start of the so-called Path of Eternity in the Bystrzyckie Mountains, near Paszków.

A sculpture on a mountain road

The Path of Eternity is a 5.5 km route, laid out in a straight line, connecting Pokrzywno with Huta. The Guardian of Eternity stands at its start as a stone, upright figure of a man in a hat, with his hands folded on his stomach.

History of the figure

The stone figure was created on the spot where, during a blizzard, a resident of one of the surrounding villages froze to death - a date, probably 1872, is carved on the sculpture. The sculpture formerly also bore the names Grey Man and Stone Man, in German Grauer Mann.

Destruction and reconstruction

The figure was destroyed at the end of the 1960s or in 1975 - first its nose was broken off, then its head, and the broken-off fragments were stolen. In 1989 the sculpture was reconstructed by Andrzej Pękalski with the help of members of the Student Circle of Sudetes Guides.

Former role as a signpost

For many years the figure also served as a signpost to the nearby village of Pokrzywno, at the time bearing the German name Nesselgrund. The name, together with a carved arrow, was placed on the cuff covering the man's hands folded on his stomach.

Practical information

• Near the village of Paszków, in the Bystrzyckie Mountains, Kłodzko County
• The figure stands on an open trail, at the start of the Path of Eternity connecting Pokrzywno and Huta
• Worth planning a longer route in the area - within a few kilometres lie, among others, the Torfowisko pod Zieleńcem nature reserve, Łomnicka Równia and Fort Wilhelm
• Further on, towards Bystrzyca Kłodzka, is Gorzanów Castle