Queen Jadwiga Gorge and St. Jacek Gorge in Sandomierz

The loess gorges are one of the biggest natural attractions in Sandomierz! Two gorges with steep slopes, the Queen Jadwiga Gorge and the St. Jacek Gorge, are almost in the very center of the city - just 500 meters from the Old Town! In the summer, you can find blissful shade among the gorge walls. The deep slopes of the gorge are covered with trees, their roots hanging down like mangrove forests. It's definitely worth taking a family trip here!

• The gorge passage is rough terrain, not suitable for a walk with a stroller
• On a hot summer day, you can find coolness and plenty of shade in the gorges
• It's a good idea to have mosquito repellent with you, as there can be quite a few of them here in the summer

Start of the route - Needle's Ear

You can start your walk through the gorges at a distinctive point in the old town - the Dominican Gate, also known as the Needle's Ear. This is where the approach to the St. Jacek Gorge begins.

St. Jacek Gorge also known as the Old Town Gorge

This gorge is located closest to the Old Town - it was through its bottom that the Dominicans from the nearby monastery used to head through the Needle's Ear in the city walls to get into the city.

The gorges were carved out by rainwater flowing to the nearby Vistula River. As it flowed, it carried away small particles of loess soil. In this way, over the centuries, it has sculpted these amazing gorges!

Queen Jadwiga Gorge

This is the longest and most magnificent of the Sandomierz gorges. It is about half a kilometer long, and its walls rise up to a height of 10 meters.

The Legend of Queen Jadwiga

Queen Jadwiga reportedly loved to visit Sandomierz, often prayed in the church of Saint Jakub and walked through the picturesque gorges on the outskirts of the city. One winter, while returning from Sandomierz to Krakow, the weather worsened and her coachman completely lost sight of the road. Seeking help, he came across a small village near the road.

When the sun came out the next day and the queen could return to Krakow, she asked the villagers how she could repay them for their rescue. She was moved by the story of the unscrupulous owner of the village and reportedly bought the village for her own gloves. Indeed, the village was bought and today it is called Świątniki, and Queen Jadwiga's gloves can still be seen in the Diocesan Museum located in the house founded by Jan Długosz in Sandomierz.

Długosz House - Diocesan Museum in Sandomierz

Długosz House, also known as the Sandomierz Diocesan Museum, is a place where you can encounter the city's history in its various forms. Several museum halls house true treasures, as well as many surprising curiosities. ...

share

Author: Krzysiek
Publish Date: 2023-09-23