Chęciny-Kielce Landscape Park

The Chęcińsko-Kielecki Landscape Park is a picturesque area located to the south and southwest of Kielce, in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. Established in 1996, it covers an area of 19,781.6 hectares, with a buffer zone of 8,002.5 hectares. The park includes parts of the city of Kielce and the municipalities of Chęciny, Małogoszcz, Nowiny, Piekoszów, and Sobków. Within its boundaries, there are numerous historical monuments, including the Piast castle in Chęciny, which is an important tourist attraction and a testament to local architecture and history. Also worth noting is the open-air museum – the Ethnographic Park, which is part of the Kielce Village Museum, showcasing the life and culture of the region's inhabitants. The park is also characterized by rich biodiversity, including ten nature reserves, eight of which are dedicated to inanimate nature, one forest reserve, and one landscape reserve. An additional reserve is located in Wolica within the buffer zone. Among the most famous natural attractions of the park are the Miedzianka, Żakowa, and Zelejowa mountains, as well as the Raj Cave, known for its beautiful stalactite formations. Also of interest are sites such as Biesak-Białogon and Chelosiowa Jama, which attract both tourists and researchers. The park creates a unique landscape, combining natural beauty with rich cultural heritage, making it a significant point on the region's tourist map.