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Kraków
Skołczanka is a steppe reserve within the boundaries of Kraków (Cracow), in the Tyniec district, on limestone hills descending towards the Vistula valley. It protects xerothermic and sandy grasslands together with a patch of woodland of pine, fir and beech. Warm, sun-exposed slopes sit next to shaded stands, a combination of habitats rare in the region.
The greatest curiosity of the reserve are its insects: around 500 butterfly species have been recorded here, including forms tied exclusively to dry grasslands. Xerothermic vegetation needs open ground, so the area requires management that stops shrubs from taking over. The grasslands are at their most colourful in spring and early summer.
The green Tyniec trail runs through the reserve and is the easiest way to combine a walk with a visit to the Benedictine abbey in Tyniec. The paths are narrow and steep in places, so footwear with good grip helps. Keep to the marked trails only — walking onto the grasslands damages protected plants.
