Well-visible from the Jawor Plain, Górzec (445 m) is located in the eastern part of the Kaczawskie Foothills, within a tectonic ridge, constituting the edge of the Foothills.
The basalt forming the summit of the elevation is approximately 33.5 million years old and belongs to the oldest occurrences of Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Land of Extinct Volcanoes. Near the summit, you can see low basalt rocks, revealing a relatively regular columnar jointing. Górzec is an example of a neck, which is an elevation built from solidified lava in a former volcanic vent, exhibiting greater resistance to weathering and erosion than the surrounding rocks.
The summit areas of the elevation have been significantly altered anthropogenically. The defensive structure existed already in the medieval period, and during its creation, the summit was leveled, and a dry moat was excavated. In 1740, the Stations of the Cross were established, leading from Męcinka, with the so-called hermit’s cottage at the foot of the hill, a chapel at the summit, and stations along the so-called Calvary Road. In its current form, the Calvary dates back to the 19th century. The final section of the ascent to the summit plateau is guided by stone stairs.
In the vicinity of Górzec, at a distance of approximately 350 metres to the south, there is a solitary rocky elevation called Kanciasta. It is a rare example on the Foothills of a rock built from volcanic breccia (agglomerate). It is formed by crushed and fused fragments of basaltic lava and rocks through which the lava penetrated on its way to the surface of the terrain.
Description: Piotr Migoń
The route from Męcinka:
The route from Chełmiec:
