Ciężkowice Rock Town Nature Reserve

The Petrified City is a nature reserve dedicated inanimate nature, located in the Ciężkowice Foothills near the town of Ciężkowice in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It is renowned for its fantastically shaped rock formations, such as "The Witch" and "The Town Hall," which were formed from coarse-grained Ciężkowice sandstones that have undergone erosion. The tallest of these rock outcrops reach heights of up to 14 meters. The reserve features a multitude of rock forms, including pillars, pinnacles, and mushroom rocks, making it not only an intriguing tourist destination but also an excellent educational site for observing sedimentary and tectonic structures. Efforts to protect these unique formations date back to before World War II, when the need for their conservation was first recognized. The reserve was officially established in 1974 and covers an area of 15.11 hectares. A protective buffer zone was designated in 2019, incorporating additional surrounding areas. A local legend associated with the reserve tells of a city that was turned to stone as a punishment for its degenerate inhabitants, adding a colorful backstory to the rock formations, whose names often reflect their shapes and these tales. In addition to its valuable flora, dominated by pine and oak trees, the area is also home to rare plant species and bats that use the caves as shelters. The reserve also includes the Ciężkowice Ravine and the Witches' Waterfall, which have been under legal protection since 1968. Despite regulations prohibiting climbing, bouldering enthusiasts have named many of the smaller rocks, highlighting the area's popularity among climbing enthusiasts. Contemporary conservation efforts focus on preserving these unique formations from further erosion and damage.