Ciężkowice-Rożnów Landscape Park

The Ciężkowicko-Rożnowski Landscape Park, established in 1995, is located in the southeastern part of the Małopolska Province, within the Rożnów and Ciężkowice Foothills, covering an area of 18,247.2 hectares. It features a diverse landscape where hills are built of flysch formations, while stream valleys have been carved into shales and sandstones. The park is home to numerous rock formations, such as the Skamieniałe Miasto (Fossilized City) Nature Reserve and Diable Skały (Devil’s Rocks). Its exceptionally well-preserved nature includes valuable plant communities, such as acidic mountain beech forest and fertile Carpathian beech forest, as well as xerothermic grasslands. The park’s flora comprises around 900 species of vascular plants, including 40 protected species, such as Staphylea pinnata and Dactylorhiza majalis. The park is also a habitat for many fauna species, including protected mammals, birds, and reptiles, such as the edible dormouse, black stork, hazel dormouse, and fire salamander. Within its boundaries, there are mineral water springs, as well as valuable protected habitats. The Environmental Education Center in Polichty conducts educational activities, and the Małopolska Region Landscape Parks Board is responsible for protecting the area’s exceptional natural, historical, and cultural values. As a buffer zone for the Ciężkowice Foothills Protected Landscape Area, the park is an ideal location for conservation and educational activities, and its natural richness attracts numerous tourists and nature enthusiasts.