The Ruins

Zwałisko, also known as the Evening Castle (German: Abendburg), is a hill with an elevation of 1,047 meters above sea level, located in the Western Sudetes, in the Jizera Mountains, between the Izerskie Garby and Wysoki Kamień. It is characterized by a narrow ridge with hornfels rocks and picturesque rock formations at the summit. The massif consists of weathering-resistant hornfels at the top, with Carboniferous granites and ancient Paleozoic metamorphic rocks on the slopes. Zwałisko has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, when Walloon prospectors visited the area, believing it concealed rich mineral deposits. In the 16th and 17th centuries, small gold mine shafts were located nearby, and these sites were frequently mentioned in the Walloon Books. In the 19th century, the hill became a popular destination for tourists who arrived on horseback or in sedan chairs, and before World War II, it was declared a natural monument. Due to an ecological disaster in the 1980s caused by air pollution, the monoculture spruce forest on the upper slopes was destroyed and has since been replaced by a new generation of young trees. Zwałisko is surrounded by numerous legends about hidden treasures and mysterious passages to underground chambers. Today, the hill remains popular among hikers, with three trails crossing its summit. Although the views of the surrounding landscape are increasingly limited due to forest regrowth, the area is often shrouded in clouds and fog, and snow cover persists until late spring.