A mountain resort at the foot of Śnieżka peak, known for its 12th-century Wang Church - a wooden temple moved from Norway in 1842. Popular for winter sports and hiking.
Karpacz winds along the base of Mt Sniezka (1603m) in Poland's Karkonosze Mountains. In this mountain town, you'll walk through the Wang Chapel, a 13th-century wooden church transported piece by piece from Norway, watch cars seemingly defy physics on the gravity hill, and hike to glacial rock formations in Karkonosze National Park. The 10km town road connects ski slopes that come alive in winter with summer hiking paths leading to the highest peak in the Sudetes range.
Getting Around Karpacz
The 10km main road connects two parts of town: Lower Karpacz, where you'll find most restaurants and accommodation, and Upper Karpacz, filled with vacation homes. Local buses run between these areas throughout the day. Walking from one end to the other takes about two hours, with Mt Sniezka visible from many points along the route.
Weather and Mountain Climate
Mountain weather patterns make Karpacz's climate unpredictable. Wind speeds can reach 100 km/h, and thick fog often reduces visibility to several meters. Winter temperatures drop below -15°C with snow accumulating from November to March. Summer brings frequent rain showers, so bring waterproof clothing and warm layers any time of year.
Hiking in Karkonosze National Park
From Karpacz, six marked paths lead to Mt Sniezka's 1603m summit. The red trail, the most direct route, takes 4 hours up and 3 hours down. You'll walk past granite formations shaped by glaciers 12,000 years ago and stop at mountain shelters like Samotnia or Dom Śląski for hot meals. Choose from 2-hour valley walks to full-day mountain climbs.
Winter Sports and Activities
The ski area extends from 820m to 1340m altitude, with seven lifts including a chairlift to Mt Kopa. Most runs suit intermediate skiers, with 4km of groomed slopes. Snow machines cover 80% of the trails when needed, and the mountain rescue station operates daily from 8:00 to 16:00 during the season.
The Wang Chapel
This wooden church traveled from Vang, Norway to Karpacz in 1844. Norwegian craftsmen used interlocking wooden joints instead of nails, creating a sturdy structure that has lasted nearly 800 years. You'll find the chapel at 885m altitude, where pine forests open up to views of the Karkonosze range.
Unusual Phenomena
On Karpacz's gravity hill, place a ball or car in neutral gear and watch it roll "uphill." The surrounding hills create an optical illusion that tricks your eyes about the true downward slope. The Wild Waterfall drops 300 meters through rock formations, reaching its peak flow of 1,500 liters per second during April's snow melt.
