Karkonoskie Tajemnice (Giant Mountains Mysteries)

Karkonoskie Tajemnice (Giant Mountains Mysteries) is an interactive exhibition in Karpacz on Mickiewicza street, devoted to the figure of the Spirit of the Mountains (Rübezahl) and the legends of the Karkonosze (Giant Mountains). The venue has operated since 2011, with the aim of bringing visitors closer to the history and beliefs of Lower Silesia.

Where the exhibition came from

The exhibition was arranged on the spot where, during construction work in March 2011, a skeleton was discovered. The find was later transferred to the collection of the Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann Museum in Szklarska Poręba. An underground exhibition devoted to the Spirit of the Mountains and local legends was created in the same place.

What the exhibition covers

The exhibition tells the story of figures and themes known from Karkonosze folklore: the Spirit of the Mountains, herbalists, Walloon prospectors searching for minerals, an enchanted garden, mandrake and the legendary treasures of the Karkonosze. Visitors move through underground rooms arranged in a fairy-tale, theatrical atmosphere, where light and sound create the mood. The exhibition is interactive and multimedia, with elements that let visitors discover further threads of the story on their own.

Offer for groups and schools

The venue runs educational activities for children and young people, combining ethnographic knowledge of local legends with geographical and geological information about the Karkonosze. An offer is available for schools, kindergartens and organised groups.

Nearby

In Karpacz it is also worth visiting the Video Game Console Museum, devoted to the history of electronic entertainment.

Not far away, the Museum of Sport and Tourism also operates.

A trail towards the peaks leads from Karpacz to Śnieżka.

Practical information

• Address: Adama Mickiewicza 1A street, Karpacz.
• Getting there: the venue is in the centre of Karpacz, next to other local attractions.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, it is worth checking on the venue's website before your visit.
• What to expect: a tour of underground, dark rooms with light and sound effects.