PTTK "Kochanówka" Shelter

The "Kochanówka" Shelter is a mountain tourist facility of the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, located in the Karkonosze Mountains at an altitude of 510 meters above sea level in the picturesque area of the Szklarka Gorge, above the cascade of the Szklarka Waterfall. It was built in 1868 in a historic building that has undergone numerous modernizations. Architecturally, the shelter stands out due to its location among steep, rocky slopes covered with spruce forest mixed with fir and beech trees. The shelter features a viewing terrace that offers a beautiful panorama of the surrounding landscapes and the waterfall cascade. Three main hiking trails pass near the shelter: the blue trail from Piechowice, the black trail around Szklarska Poręba, and the green trail leading to Karpacz and Przesieka. The history of the shelter dates back to the second half of the 17th century when the road to the waterfall was built. In the 19th century, under the influence of its owners, the site became increasingly attractive to tourists through the introduction of additional attractions, such as artificially damming the water at the waterfall's edge. The shelter not only serves gastronomic and accommodation functions but is also an element of local culture and regional history, bearing witness to the development of tourism in the Karkonosze Mountains.