Mountains
the highest point of Szczawno-Zdrój, with a 45-metre millennium cross and a view reaching as far as Wrocław
Parks and nature
an English-style spa park from 1812, with a neo-Gothic tower built in 1817
Viewpoints
a stone tower from 1888 made of Permian porphyries, next to a forty-five-metre cross
a historic church from 1937 with the largest mosaic in Lower Silesia in its chancel
Mountains
a peak in the Chełmiec Massif, separated from Chełmiec by the Rosochatki saddle
Sport and recreation
horse riding and a riding school on the grounds of a recreation centre near Wałbrzych
For children
a seasonal park of inflatable attractions and trampolines next to a horse stud farm near Szczawno-Zdrój
Mountains
a hill of the Wałbrzych Mountains with a former watchtower function, on the boundary of Szczawno-Zdrój and Stary Zdrój
Mountains
a 532-metre summit above Szczawno-Zdrój, formerly called Wzgórze Tkaczy and Wzgórze Szpitalne
a domed outgrowth of the Chełmiec Massif built of Carboniferous greywackes and sandstones
Museums
a private collection of model aircraft with a flight simulator, previously shown at Książ Castle
a 19th-century Jewish cemetery on Prusa Street, today absorbed into the communal cemetery
Things to do in Szczawno-Zdrój: an 1812 spa park, Wałbrzych Mountains summits with a lookout tower, and a museum of model aircraft.
Start in the Henryk Wieniawski Spa Park. It was laid out in 1812 in the English style, so instead of formal flower beds you get winding paths and loosely grouped trees. You will find a monument to Wieniawski and a concert shell, and trails into the Wałbrzych Mountains (Góry Wałbrzyskie) begin here. It is the town's main green space and the natural starting point.
In town itself, step into the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was consecrated in 1937 and holds the largest mosaic in Lower Silesia, in the chancel. For local history there is also the Jewish cemetery on Prusa Street, founded in the 19th century and destroyed during the war. Today part of the municipal cemetery stands on the site. Nothing is visible, but the place belongs to the town's story.
The highest is Chełmiec, 850 m above sea level and the highest point within the town limits. A lookout tower and a millennium cross stand on top, and the dome-shaped mountain can be seen from far away, even from Wrocław, 70 kilometres off. The Chełmiec lookout tower is a stone structure from 1888, 22 metres tall and built from Permian porphyry, the same rock as the summit itself.
Lower hills make for gentler walks: Chełmiec Mały (776 m), Cichawa (751 m), Gedymin Hill (532 m) and Stróżek (517 m), crossed by the E3 European long-distance trail. Gedymin Hill lies within the spa park area, so it combines easily with a stroll along its paths. All the peaks are gathered on our page about mountains in Szczawno-Zdrój.
In Dworzysko, right next to town, the seasonal Jump 4 Fun inflatable park has bouncy castles, trampolines, an obstacle course with a rope river, carousels and a water zone. Next door the Dworzysko Stud Farm offers horse riding and a riding school for beginners.
For bad weather, try the Model Making and Miniature Aviation Museum: four rooms of model aircraft, a flight simulator and aviation trophies. The collection was shown in Książ Castle in 1998-2008 and has had its home in Szczawno since 2011.
You can carry on without returning to Wałbrzych: Jedlina-Zdrój and Głuszyca are next door, and Książ Castle lies a few to a dozen or so kilometres away. If you travel alone, also check the list of places for solo outings.
It works well as a single day: summits in the morning, the park in the afternoon, and the museum or the inflatables at the end, depending on the weather and the age of your companions.
