Fort Charles

Fort Karola, also known as Blockhaus, is the remains of a historical fortress located on Ptasia Góra (Bird Mountain) in the Stołowe Mountains, near Lisia Przełęcz (Fox Pass). Built in 1790 on the order of the Prussian King Frederick William II, the fort was intended to serve as a small guard post on the border between Prussia and Austria, with the aim of protecting the road to Radków. Architecturally, only fragments of the walls have survived, including remnants of a gate, windows, stairs, and a viewing platform. Inside, there is a courtyard measuring 10x14 meters, from which stairs lead to a viewpoint with a pedestal indicating the cardinal directions. The history of the fort is tied to the construction of a defensive system designed to secure the region against potential attacks. Major Bonawentura von Rauch, responsible for the construction, utilized local sandstone rocks, incorporating them into the defensive structure. Due to political changes, work on the fort was halted, and over time, the site was abandoned and began to fall into ruin. Today, a yellow hiking trail passes near the fort, connecting Duszniki-Zdrój with Karłów, attracting tourists to explore the area and discover the remnants of this historical fortress. An interesting fact is that the village leader (sołtys) of Karłów, Franz Pabel, became the first officially recognized mountain guide in history with the right to charge fees for leading tourists. Fort Karola is part of a broader defensive system that included other fortifications in the region, such as Bateria nad Pasterką, Fort Fryderyka, and Fort Wilhelma, highlighting the strategic importance of this area in the 18th and 19th centuries.