Lysica and Holy Cross with kids - the Holy Cross Mountains

How do you climb Lysica with kids? The shortest way is from Swieta Katarzyna on the red trail: it is about 2 km and roughly an hour uphill through the Fir Forest, and below the top there is a stone field (goloborze), a slope covered with loose rocks. Lysica is the highest peak of the Holy Cross Mountains, about 614 m. A day later we were on the other famous peak of these mountains, Lysa Gora with the Holy Cross monastery.

We came to the Holy Cross Mountains from the Jura region, through the Bledow Desert and Checiny Castle. The plan of our whole 2020 holiday is in the post Poland road trip with kids 2020.

Up Lysica from Swieta Katarzyna

On Saturday 15 August we drove from the campsite in Suchedniow to Swieta Katarzyna. At the start of the trail there is a board of the Holy Cross National Park and the Fir Forest. The kids immediately found walking sticks and set off uphill.

The trail leads through the forest, over stones and roots. On the top there is a cross and a sign with the name, and not far away is the stone field, a slope covered with grey stones. The kids sat on the stones and rested, and we took a photo next to the summit sign. Another peak was added to the Mountain Tourist Badge (a Polish hiking badge for collecting peaks).

Holy Cross and the viewing tower

On Sunday 16 August we drove towards Nowa Slupia, to Lysa Gora. On the top stands the monastery at Holy Cross, run since 1936 by the Oblate missionaries. In the chapel they keep relics of the Wood of the Holy Cross, which gave the place its name.

We climbed the viewing tower next to the monastery. From the top you can see the forest all the way to the horizon and the roof of the basilica below you. In the monastery we were surprised by an electronic collection plate, where you choose an amount on a screen. The kids also stamped their Mountain Tourist Badge booklets.

Both days are in our film from the Holy Cross Mountains:

Fun fact

In the crypt of the monastery at Holy Cross lies a coffin with remains that for years have been said to belong to Prince Jeremi Wisniowiecki. To this day, however, nobody is sure it is really him.

Next day

The next day we said goodbye to Suchedniow and drove to a railway shelter from the Second World War: Konewka railway bunker with kids. We described other places in this region in 2015, for example Krzemionki and Sandomierz.

Practical info

We checked in November 2026.

• Entry fee to the Holy Cross National Park: PLN 11 (adult), PLN 5.50 (reduced).
• Lysica: from Swieta Katarzyna about an hour up, with kids rather an hour and a half. Parking in Swieta Katarzyna is paid.
• View: the very top of Lysica is covered by trees, and the best view is from the stone field.
• Holy Cross: the viewing tower costs PLN 10 (reduced PLN 5). Next to it is the park's Nature Museum.
• Pushchair: not on Lysica, because the path is stony and full of roots.