Za Kapliczką Spring

The Za Kapliczką Spring (Behind the Wayside Shrine) is a mineral water spring in Wierchomla Wielka, in the municipality of Piwniczna-Zdrój. Since 1998 it has been a natural monument of inanimate nature. It lies in the valley of the Potasznia stream, in the Jaworzyna Krynicka Range in the Sącz Beskids.

What the spring looks like

The spring is at an altitude of about 535 m, on the right bank of the Potasznia, by a forest road running along the valley. It has a stone-built casing covered by a small wooden roof, and the area around it is fenced with poles. By the spring stands a board with information about the properties of the water. Occasional bubbles of carbon dioxide rise from the spring, and white colonies of sulphur bacteria can be seen in the outflow.

The water

It is a sulphide water of the HCO3-Ca-Mg+H2S type with a mineralisation of 0.54 g/dm³ and a temperature of 14.2 °C. Sulphide waters are used in balneology, in medicinal baths. Wierchomla Wielka also has other mineral water springs, among them Hanna, Zdrój, Jerzy and Rudawka.

The wayside shrine

About 50 m before the spring, going up the valley, a shrine made of a large block of rock stands by the road. The spring takes its name from it.

Nearby

From the valley it is not far to the PTTK Bacówka above Wierchomla, and higher up lies Jaworzyna Krynicka.

Practical information

• Location: valley of the Potasznia stream, about 300 m from the road from the centre of Wierchomla Wielka to Wierchomla Mała.
• The approach is along a forest road; it is worth asking the municipality of Piwniczna-Zdrój about the route and the condition of the road.