Skała Kmity Nature Reserve

Skała Kmity is a landscape nature reserve in Zabierzów, where the Rudawa breaks through the Tenczynek Ridge in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. It lies 11 km from Kraków, in Tenczynek Landscape Park.

Nature of the reserve

The reserve, covering 19.36 ha, was created in 1959 to protect the landscape of the Rudawa gorge, the rock vegetation and the forest. Eighteen protected plant species grow here, including Aconitum moldavicum, violet helleborine and false helleborine. The main rock is a steep limestone wall about 25 m high, and beside it stand several smaller Jurassic rocks in a forest dominated by oaks.

The legend of the knight Kmita

According to a legend from the early 16th century, the knight Kmita fell unhappily in love with Olimpia Boner, daughter of the owner of Balice, and in despair threw himself from this rock with his horse. In 1854 two inscriptions were carved on the rock, including verses by Wincenty Pol. Documents do not confirm that Kmita died by suicide.

Practical information

• You can reach the rock from the former “Kmita” restaurant, by which there is a car park; the rock rises above provincial road no. 774.
• From the reserve a 2.5 km educational trail with five stops leads into the Grzybowska Valley.
• Nearby: Radziwiłł Palace in Balice, about 2.2 km.