The Trzebnica Hills conceal many secrets. Traces of habitation by a distant human ancestor discovered here, settlements dating back several hundred thousand years, and the bones of bison and rhinoceroses contributed to the establishment of the Trzebnica Cultural Park. The development of Winna Góra with the support of European funds has made this area more attractive to tourists.
Until recently, Winna Góra, the highest elevation of the Trzebnica Hills, also known as Kocia Góra or simply Kociak, was a rather neglected place. Local residents would sometimes walk here for the beautiful views, but tourists rarely visited. The hill had no infrastructure conducive to recreation, nor was there any information about the importance of this site even on a national scale. Knowledge of Winna Góra’s inanimate natural monuments, particularly its loess deposits, which are a natural asset found extremely rarely in Poland and Europe, was limited. The situation changed only after the Trzebnica Cultural Park was established here.
Traces of early humans
But that is not the end of its extraordinary features. At the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, Prof. Jan Burdukiewicz, PhD, DSc, of the University of Wrocław discovered traces of habitation by Homo erectus on Winna Góra dating back 500,000 years. They proved to be the oldest camp in Poland and one of the northernmost in Europe.
Naturalists also value this area because it is home to a wealth of plant species, including European elder, grey alder, Norway spruce, maiden pink, hollowwort, and broom.
Routes for Walkers and Tourists
The main purpose of establishing the Trzebnica Cultural Park is to protect and make the natural resources of Winna Góra accessible. The project involved developing infrastructure to enable access to the hill, developing the Trzebnica municipality’s tourism products, and providing environmental education.
The work included tidying up the area and adding pathways and park amenities such as benches, lighting, and plantings. The routes of the educational paths were planned to allow visitors to freely access all the attractions designed in the park.
“The development of Kocia Góra fulfils the promise I made to residents when I took office,” says Marek Długozima, mayor of Trzebnica. “The beautiful panoramic view of our picturesque town from the summit, together with the orderly space and newly created infrastructure, has made residents take to the hill for walks and family picnics. The traces of early humans dating back 500,000 years discovered here are an additional educational and historical asset of the area, making Trzebnica even more attractive to tourists.”
Residents appreciate the changes in their immediate surroundings. Edward Bąk, who has lived in Trzebnica since 1980, believes that tidying up Winna Góra was a very good idea, as many people walk here every day. He has heard that an observation tower and a café are also planned.
Informational material from the Marshal’s Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.
