The document summarizes various entertainment, cultural, and natural attractions in the Świętokrzyski Region of Poland. It describes several annual music and sports festivals, indoor swimming pools, rollercoasters, air sports clubs, car racing tracks, hiking marathons, and ski resorts. It also outlines several historic castles, the Holy Cross National Park, caves, museums, and towns associated with famous Polish writers that provide cultural and historical insight into the region.

1. Świętokrzyski Region from the
Perspective of High School Students

2. Entertainment

3. Legends of the Świętokrzyski Region
• If you enjoy witches, herbalists, goblins, evil-spirits
and demons, you must visit the Bieliny commune. In
this village you can see real magic and combining
scientific experience with amusement

4. Krystyna Jamróz Music Festival
• This festival organized every year in Busko-Zdrój is regarded as
the most important musical event in the Świętokrzyski Region. It
starts on the first day of July and lasts for a week. For this
Festival many famous musicians, directions and singers arrive
from all over the world.

5. Indoor Swimming Pool “Rawszczyzna” in Ostrowiec
Świętokrzyski
• Inaugurated In 2004, a 50 meters long indoor swimming pool
‘’Rawszczyzna” is one of the most modern facilities. There are
10 lanes and seats for 1500 spectators. From these seats
spectators can see International Swimming Competitions. Polish
Olympic Games Champion – Otylia Jędrzejczak often exercises
in this indoor swimming pool before competitions.

6. Rollercoaster
• It’s a brand new offer of entertainment in Bałtów. This rollercoaster is 400
meters long. The speed is controlled individually. If you want to feel
adrenaline, try all those curves, rolls down – 382 meters and climbs – 135
meters.

7. Air Sports – Pinczów and Masłów
• If you enjoy fresh air and adrenaline, this sport is for you. You can
try to fly on gliders, para-gliders, hang-gliders, motor-gliders or
even take part in training courses organized by Aeroclubs.

8. Racing Track in Miedziana Góra
• A car racing track is organized every year in Miedziana Góra near
Kielce. It’s a Polish only track of that type with mountain sections.
Car racing contests attract motor- sports fans from all over the
worldll

9. The Konecka Setka and Sielpia eXtreme Marathon.
• These marathons are long-distance hiking events organized in
Sielpia between August and September. In the Konecka Setka
Marathon participiants have to cover a distance of 75-100 km by 27
hours. Whereas in Sielpia eXtreme Marathon participiants have to
cover a distance of 25-50 km by 11 hours. More and more people
take part in these rallies every year.

10. White Madness
• Mountains in Świętokrzyski Region aren’t so high as the Alps, but
many tourists adore them. Near Kielce there are about 20 ski lifts,
catering facilities, sports gears and ski-schools.

11. Castles

12. Castle in Chęciny:
• The panoramic view of the town is dominated by a
picturesque ruin of the royal castle raised on the hill around
1300.The ghost of Queen Bona, its former resident, is said to
still haunt the ruined construction. Knights’ tournaments
are frequently organized on the castle premises. In the past,
battle scenes were filmed here for the production of the
movie ‘’Pan Wołodyjowski’’: an attack on Kamieniec Podolski
is in fact the acquisition of the castle in Chęciny.

13. Castle in Bodzentyn:
• Bodzentyn Castle was built in the second half of the fourteenth
century, it is still in a state of ruin. One of the special events in
the history of this castle was the visit of King Wladyslaw Jagiello.
The King spent here two days in 1410 on his pilgrimage to Święty
Krzyż before the historical Battle of Grunwald.
• There are legends of rich Krakow bishops, gathered in
Bodzentyn. Archaeological work preserved documents
confirming that the castle was equipped with unprecedented
splendor.

14. Castle in Sandomierz:
• Castle in Sandomierz was built as a fortified castle on the hill in
the 10-11th centuries. In 1146-1166 it was the seat of Boleslaw -
Prince Henry of Sandomierz. After the third partition of Poland
Austrian invader built it as a prison in 1795 and established court
there. It had not been closed down until 1959.
Currently in the restored rooms of the historic building there is
located District Museum in Sandomierz.

15. Castle in Kielce
• The Palace of Cracow Bishops was founded in 1637-1641 by bishop
Jakub Zadzik. It was biult as a mansion with defensive construction.
During the ‘’Swedish deluge” the whole city was burnt. The only
saved parts were the palace and the church on the Karczówka Hill.
In 1816 Stanisław Staszic adapted the northem part of the palace
for the Academy and Mining School. Since 1971 tha palace has
been a National Museum.

16. Sandomierz
Sandomierz is called ‘’Smal Rome’’. Probably because of the fact it is situated
on the seven hills – just like Rome. Besides both in Rome and in Sandomierz
underground labyrinths stretch there. –.In Sandomierz there are former
merchants' cellars and legendary dungeons. And finally, both of these towns
have turbulent and beautiful history.
The most atractive places in this city include:
* Opatowska Gate
*Town hall in Sandomierz
*Market square
*Needle's eye
*Castle in Sandomierz
*Pepper Mountain

17. Town Hall in
Sandomierz
Market Square
Opatowska
Needle's Eye Gate Castle in
Sandomierz

18. Nature

19. Holy Cross National Park
• It has been established in 1950 and occupies an area of 19 thousands
acres. Holy Cross NP has taken under protection the central part of
the Holy Cross Mountains: Łysogóry with peaks: Łysica (621 m) and
Łysa Góra ( 595 m). In the park there are protected 82 plant species
and 29 animal species.

20. A Siberian iris, a globe flower and an ostrich fern are very rare and valuable
plants. Park's flora mostly consists of fir and beech forests, it has an endemic fir-
tree and 647 nature monuments. It's home up to 260 lichen species, 190
species of bryophytes, and 700 species of vascular plants. The post-glacier
gołoborza- small, totally deforested areas covered with boulders and stripped
of green vegetation are worth particular attention.
.

21. Ponidzie, or the Świętokrzyski Region Steppe
It's one of the most sun-heated territories in Poland. That's where there is a
special microclimate and we'll find vegetation characteristic for steppes there:
xerothermic grasslands, halophyte vegetation as well as splendid riverside and
alder forests. The picturesquely meandring Nida River draws in tourists for
kayaking rallies. The addition of Ponidzie landscape are karst inselbergs, rock
domes and gypsum outcrops. The protected species of birds and animals have
safe habitat there. That region is very popular for anglers because of a great
variety of fish in warm water of the local streams and rivers.

22. Górna Krasna Floral and Ornithological Nature Reserve
The wild River Krasna was included into European ecological network of
protected areas Nature 2000. It encompasses such different habitats as large
marshes, wood peatbog and areas of mountainous character. The floral and
ornithological reserve established here in 2004 was to protect rare animals
and plant species f. ex. beautiful Polish orchid (heleborine), carnivorous great
sundew and seventeen others. It's a real paradise for ornithologists, one can
see hazel grouse, black grouse, black stork, northern hobby, lesser spotted
eagle, Montagu's and marsh harriers, colourful kingfisher, penduline tit, and
six species of bats. Corn crake, species threaten with extinction:

23. Paradise Cave – Jaskinia Raj
Paradise Cave is one of the most beautiful caves in Poland and one of the most
popular
attractions of Świętokrzyskie Mountains. It’s situated near Chęciny, on the South
West from Kielce. There you can rave about picteresque and rich forms of mineral
karst which look like original patterns. You can also see local exhibition containing
history, geology and artifacts of the cave. In third-rate there were living prehistoric
humans.

24. Valley of Reptiles
• Tour of the Kielce exotarium, which is located on the premises, can
be very emotional for some visitors as they have a rare
opportunity to face the biggest reptiles of the world from Africa,
Asia and remote Australia: spectacled caiman, Yemen chameleon,
Indian python, Chinese water dragon, bearded dragon and frilled
lizard. Very interesting are monitor lizards, snakes and endangered
species.

25. Geopark
• Very well- known inanimate nature reserve is Kadzielnia that
contains the Rocks of Geologists, various fossils of corals,
cephalopods and rare Placoderms and brachiopods, which are
kept here under protection. There you can observe interesting
examples of tectonic, mineralization and Poland's most attractive
forms of mineral karst. There is also a splendid amphitheatre
picturesquely situated amidst rocks. The Ślichowice reserve shows
peculiar fragment of Hercynian tectonics. The Wietrznia reserve
situated in the eastern part of the Kadzielnia features limestone
containing remnants of prehistoric fauna. Surrounded by forest
the Biesak - Białogon reserve protects also many amazing tectonic
phenomena.

26. Museums
• Do you think the same as I do, namely that visiting museums is
the most boring option of spending our free time? If you think so,
I will take you by surprise, because despite the fact that I'm not a
fanatic of museums, I found some really interesting places here. I
have to write you something about Museums in Świętokrzyskie.
Let's start!

27. If you want to see one of the best-preserved historical monuments of
architecture from the Vasa dynasty times – come here!
• It won't be a boring trip. Why? Because it will be an educational
travel. This place is a palace that today houses the National
Museum. Once belonged to the Cracovian bishops. The upper
floor rooms have original interior decorations with beam ceilings,
ceiling frescoes on walls. In this museum there are many
exhibitions including period interiors (17th-18th cc.), old
European and Far East arms and weaponry. If you want to acquire
knowledge about one of Polish Marshal Józef Piłsudski you can
learn something about him in memory room which is devoted to
him.
To the National Museum in Kielce you can come from Tuesday to
Sunday from 10 am to 6pm.

28. If you would like to remember or learn how children used to
play, come to Toy Museum in Kielce!
• This museum was opened in 1979! It changed its name and location
in 2006. It's fame reposes on the collection of old toys. The
following are the most precious items: a German wax doll, dolls
with porcelain heads in costumes from the turn of the 19th century,
lead soldiers, furnished rooms for dolls, miniature sawing machine.
Besides old items, there are also folk toys and modern
entertainment exhibits such as Afternoon Tea, In Grandma's Attic
as well as temporary exhibitions: Made in Poland - cultic toys from
the Polish People's Republic. Do not miss the chance to check if
these toys would make you satisfied!
This museum is open every day except for Mondays from 9 am to 5
pm.

29. If you would like feel like children and play with porcelain come!
• Life Museum of Porcelain is the first of this kind museum in
Poland. This museum is located in the little town Dmielów and it is
famous for their high quality figural porcelain. The masterpieces
of this place you can admire in the art galleries of New York,
Chicago, Paris, Moscow and in many other capitals of European
countries. The factory offers a possibility of active participation in
the production process and even opportunity to make your own
figure. No wonder that the place is very popular with children.
I think it can be a great adventure!:)

30. If you want to feel like a real soldier and get behind the wheel of a real
tank – come here !
• The White Eagle Museum occupies the former building of the
Refow steelworks(19th century) administration. The museum
permanent displays show items connected with World War II,
including soldiers' equipment and uniforms. A large part of
exhibition was placed outdoors there, so visitors can admire
guns, armored vehicles, helicopters, aircrafts and tanks. The
museum owns one of Poland's biggest collection of heavy
armaments dating back to World War II and manufactured during
the postwar period.

31. Towns of poets and writers

32. Oblęgorek
• The palace in Oblęgorek was a gift for Henryk Sienkiewicz from
Polish people in order to commemorate the 25thanniversary of his
literary career. He lived in the palace from 1902 till 1914. Some of
his pieces were written there, for example: "Dwie łąki", "Na polu
chwały", a school set book "W pustyni i w puszczy" and excerpts
from "Legiony". Now in Sienkiewicz's palace there is a Museum. We
can admire there an exhibition which tells about life, journeys and
non-literary activities.

33. Kielce
• Stefan Żeromski's life was linked to the Kielce region. He attended to
one of the gymnasiums in this amazing city. Now this school houses
the Museum of Stefan Żeromski's school year. We can see pictures of
his family, friends and youthful loves and fascinations there. Almost
in every of his literary works we recognize elements of the
Śwęitokrzyski region. Descriptions of landscapes linked to this places
are found in "Syzyfowe Prace", "Dzieje Grzechu", "Ludzie Bezdomni"
and "Puszcza Jodłowa".

34. Nagłowice
• Mikołaj Rej is called the father of Polish literature, he was the first
one to use Polish language in his writings. The well known Polish
poet and writer of the Renaissance period is an author of, for
example : "Wizerunek własny żywota człowieka poczciwego",
"Zwierzyniec", "Krótka rozmowa między trzema osobami, Panem,
Wójtem a Plebanem". Today in Nagłowice there is a Mikołaj Rej
Manor with the Mikołaj Rej Memory Room showing the poet's links
with this town.

35. Bodzechów, Doły Biskupie
• This town is a place where Witold Gombrowicz spent his childhood.
This region and his amazing landscapes were an inspiration to many
scenes found in : "Pornografia", "Ferdydurke" and "Zlub". Every year,
in June, in Doły Biskupie there is organized Witold Gombrowicz Picnic
where performances and exibitions are presented. The tourist can
learn more about this artist when they overcome trail for bikes and
cars known as the Świętokszyski Literary Route.