Szczytna lies between the Table Mountains and the Bystrzyckie Mountains, on the Bystrzyca Dusznicka River. The combination of striking buildings, a mountain backdrop and routes of varying lengths gives the town several facets: you can explore its history or include hikes and cycling routes in your travel plans.

Finding your way between the mountain ranges

National road DK8 between Wrocław and Kudowa-Zdrój passes through Szczytna. The railway line from Kłodzko to Kudowa-Zdrój also runs through the town.

Church, monument and military history

The Baroque Church of St. John the Baptist is one of Szczytna’s most distinctive buildings. Construction was completed in 1726. Another historic landmark stands on Sienkiewicza Street, above Kamienny Potok: a listed statue of St. John of Nepomuk dating from 1711. The church and statue offer different points of connection to the town’s history, from Baroque church architecture to a single monument in the streetscape.

A fort was built on Szczytnik between 1790 and 1795 as part of a line of fortifications. Its purpose was to warn the Kłodzko Fortress of approaching enemy armies. The fort is therefore part of a military history narrative about the fortress and its surroundings; it is presented here as a historic building, not as a claim that the site is intact today.

Szczytnik and Leśna Skała

Szczytnik rises 589 metres above Szczytna. At its summit stands the 19th-century Neo-Gothic castle of the Hochberg family. Leśna Skała is described as a Neo-Gothic palace on rocky Szczytnik, above the town. The building was constructed from 1831 to 1838 as a hunting residence; its terrace offers wide-ranging views of the surrounding landscape. Its architectural history and views bring together the town’s architectural character and its mountain setting.

Hikes of varying distances

For a relatively short climb, a yellow hiking trail leads from Szczytna to Szczytnik: the route is 1.3 kilometres long and takes about 40 minutes to walk. A longer circular hike is “Ze Szczytnej na Wolarz.” It is 11.1 kilometres long and leads to Wolarz, at 852 metres, in the Bystrzyckie Mountains. It starts at a historic railway station dating from 1890.

The 14.1-kilometre “Na Muflon” hike starts at the junction of international road 8 and Sienkiewicza Street, near the statue of St. John of Nepomuk. Its destination, Schronisko pod Muflonem, lies outside the municipality; most of the route runs within the municipality of Szczytna. The three hikes therefore differ not only in distance, but also in whether you are looking for a climb, a circular route or a trail with a destination outside the municipality.

Cycling routes and other activities

A linear cycling route of about 50 kilometres leads from Szczytna to Bystrzyca Kłodzka. Trains can be used for the return journey or to complete the route. A 127-kilometre blue cycling loop around the Table Mountains also runs north of Szczytna. It follows fully paved roads along the Polish-Czech border. The two options differ in length and route: one connects two towns, while the other is a long loop in the border region.

Szczytna’s sports, active recreation and movement therapy centre has three artificial-turf playing fields and a high-ropes course with a climbing wall. Skatepiknik Integracyjny also adds to the local activity offering: this annual event, held since 2010, includes an Olympics for preschool children. The mix of experiences in town offers various options when choosing a hotel in Szczytna, from historic buildings and hikes to cycling trips and sports activities.

Discover more destinations: Kletno, Lądek-Zdrój, Sienna, Jugów, Długopole-Zdrój, Międzylesie, Nowa Morawa, Ołdrzychowice Kłodzkie

For the broader travel overview: Kłodzko County.