Chojnik Castle from Sobieszów
A short, steep climb through the woods of the Chojnik reserve to the ruins of a 14th-century castle on a granite peak, with views over the Jelenia Góra valley and the Giant Mountains.
- Difficulty
- E Hiking
- Length
- 5.2 km
- Elevation gain
- +310 m / −310 m
- Time
- 1.5–2 hours round trip
- Route
- Out and back
- Altitude
- 358–604 m
- Season
- Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Download the GPXDirections to the start ↗
Saved. You'll find everything in My trip, where you can split it into days and see it on the map.
Saved on this device: you can open it even without a connection. All your saved pages are in Offline guides.
The topographic map loads OpenTopoMap tiles (an external server) only when you open it.
The story
For centuries the castle belonged to the Schaffgotsch family, and it burned down after a lightning strike in 1675. Legend tells of Princess Kunegunda, who would marry only a man who could ride around the walls: many knights fell to their deaths in the ravine.
Why go
Because it is the easiest walk to a real castle in the Sudetes.
Practical information
- Start
- Sobieszów, a district of Jelenia Góra
- Finish
- Chojnik Castle (627 m), returning the same way
- Best time
- All year round; take care on the rocks when icy
- Parking
- Car park at the start of the trail, in Sobieszów.
- By public transport
- City buses from Jelenia Góra to Sobieszów.
- Water
- Café inside the castle in the warmer months.
- Shade
- Entirely in woodland.
- Huts and refreshments
- There is a small refreshment point in the castle.
- With children
- Yes: short and in the woods, with a few stretches of rock steps.
Weather at the start
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
What to see on the route and nearby
- Chojnik CastleOn the route
- Jelenia GóraOn the route
- Szklarska Poręba waterfalls10 km from the start
- ★ Vang Stave Church10 km from the start
- Valley of Palaces and Gardens13 km from the start
More hikes in Lower Silesia
- 1Śnieżne Kotły from Szklarska PorębaE 8.6 km · +860 m · 3–3.5 hours up · point to point
- 3★ The Ślęża loopE 16 km · +310 m · 4.5–5 hours · loop
Routes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Waymarked Trails and BRouter; elevations from a digital terrain model. Times and elevation gains are indicative: waymarks on the ground and closure orders always take precedence.