Złotoryja Forest
A large forest complex in the western part of the Kaczawskie Foothills, located between the villages of Nowe Łąki to the east, Twardocice (Rochów) to the south, Bielanka to the west, and Czaple to the north, belonged to the town of Złotoryja for several centuries, hence its name. In the centre of the forest complex lies the woodland settlement of Choiniec, which administratively is part of Czaple. A peculiarity of the Złotoryja Forest is the numerous stone crosses made of sandstone. Most of them have been found recently and re-erected, sometimes requiring the joining of two fragments of a broken structure. The crosses are connected by a specially marked educational path called “The Trail of Stone Crosses in Czaple (Choiniec) in the Land of Extinct Volcanoes.” It has a length of approximately 14 kilometres, starting in Choiniec and ending at a forest car park located a bit further to the west. On the route, there are seven stone crosses, mostly complete (cross no. 5 has broken arms), with heights ranging from 73 to 210 cm. Some of them feature carved depictions of weapons (spears, swords), and some contain inscriptions (the richest in content is cross no. 6). Cross no. 4 is unique as it bears the image of masonry tools: a trowel and a level. On the path’s route, there is also a sandstone boulder with a commemorative inscription. The crosses originate from various periods. Some of them are clearly dated (1760, 1775, 1808), while the age of others remains a matter of speculation. They could be medieval reconciliation crosses.
Description: Piotr Migoń
