Wzgórze Gajowickie

Wzgórze Gajowickie is an artificially raised hill in the Gajowice district of Wrocław, about 139 metres above sea level. Residents commonly call it Górka Pafawag, after the nearby, now defunct stadium of the Pafawag Wrocław club.

How it was formed

In the early years of the 20th century, this spot, then on the outskirts of Wrocław, was a municipal rubbish dump. It operated for fifteen years, receiving around 40,000 cubic metres of municipal waste a year from twenty districts of the city, over 600,000 cubic metres in total. Plans to build multi-family housing estates in the Gajowice area led in the 1920s to the closure of the dump and its reclamation, carried out between 1928 and 1932. After reclamation, the hill became a recreational area for residents of the city's southern districts.

What it offers today

The hill is part of the Hugo Richter Promenade, an important part of Wrocław's network of walking and cycling routes, and lies along the Wrocław Freight Railway Bypass. It has an outdoor gym and a small set of street workout equipment. In winter the hill is used for sledging. From its top a view opens over the Sudeten Foothills and the neighbouring districts of Wrocław.

Work in recent years

Between 2016 and 2020, as part of Wrocław's participatory budget and with the involvement of the Gajowice District Council, all the walking and cycling paths were renovated, the area was lit, benches and bins were installed, and the Municipal Green Spaces Authority planted young trees and shrubs across the whole area.

Practical information

• Address: Gajowice district, Wrocław
• Getting there: along the Wrocław Freight Railway Bypass, along the Hugo Richter Promenade, near the Old Jewish Cemetery and Aquapark Wrocław
• What to expect: an artificial hill with walking and cycling paths, an outdoor gym, a viewpoint and a sledging run in winter, free access at all times