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Nowa Słupia
Święty Krzyż, also called Łysiec or Łysa Góra, rises to 595 m above sea level and is one of the highest peaks of the Holy Cross Mountains, in the Łysogóry range. It is built of Cambrian quartzite sandstones and shales, and its slopes are covered by an old protected fir and beech forest.
The summit is a place where nature and history are unusually closely intertwined: beside the rock fields there are traces of a pre-Christian stone rampart, and a monastery complex has stood here for centuries.
The greatest curiosity of the summit are the gołoborza, fields of sharp-edged quartzite blocks devoid of trees and undergrowth. Above one of them, on the Huta Szklana side, a viewing platform has been built, offering a good look at both the sea of stone and the wide panorama of the surroundings.
On the summit stands a monastery complex with the Sanctuary of the Relics of the Holy Cross, cared for by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Tradition links the beginnings of the abbey with the times of Bolesław the Brave, which makes it one of the oldest centres of worship in Poland. The relics kept here have drawn pilgrims for centuries, and the place remains an important point on the map of Polish culture.
The classic approach leads from Nowa Słupia along the so-called Royal Road. The red Main Holy Cross Trail also runs across the summit from the direction of Łysica. The easiest access starts in Huta Szklana and is just under two kilometres along a surfaced road; paid minibuses also operate on this route for those who prefer to avoid the climb.
Source: https://www.swietykrzyz.pl/
