WILD ORLICA VALLEY
Often compared to Alpine valleys, the Wild Orlica Valley is considered as one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in Poland. It stretches for 25 km separating the Bystrzyckie Mountains from the Orlické Mountains.
The valley is dotted with traces of old settlements and economic activity. Ruins of mills, glassworks, and workshops recall a time when this region was bustling with life and was a center of local craftsmanship. In the past, the river played an essential role as a source of energy for the mills, which attracted people and drove the local economy.
Today, the valley reflects this past in its quiet and nostalgic atmosphere with abandoned villages immersed in memory. Despite the passage of time and socio-economic changes it continues to captivate with its wild beauty and unique ecosystem. The Wild Orlica Valley is part of the Natura 2000 network emphasizing its historical and ecological importance.
DISTANCE FROM US:
- Lesica (5 km)
- Rudawa (10,2 km)
- Mostowice (15,9 km)
- Lasówka (20,5 km)
Zemská Brána Nature Reserve
Zemská Brána, poetically called the “Gateway to the Land,” is a nature reserve.
This stunning landscape of the Wild Orlica river gorge is formed by majestic gneiss rocks and boulders surrounding the narrow riverbed. The impression of a natural gateway is emphasized by the simple stone bridge. Designed in the early 20th century by Italian engineers and built by local workers, the bridge blends harmoniously with the romantic nature around it. A 2.5 km educational trail runs through Zemská Brána, leading past Ledricek Rock and the “Smugglers’ Footbridge” (Pašerácka lávka).
In the past, due to the proximity of the Prussian-Austrian border, a smuggling route ran through the valley. Austrian cigars, gunpowder, tobacco, luxury goods, coffee, and chicory were regularly smuggled. The nearby village of Čihák (from čihat – “to ambush”) owes its name to the border guards who waited for the smugglers.
In the first half of the 19th century, the bandit Ledricek found a hideout here. He lived in a rock cave 40 meters above the ground, which he accessed by climbing a fir tree growing from the cliff. One day, he fell to his death, and the tree was later cut down to prevent others from using the hiding place.
The stone bridge, resembling a gate, was built between 1900–1903 by Italian builders and reconstructed in 2004 after a flood.
The picturesque gorge begins just behind the bridge. Once a smuggling trail between the Czech lands and the Kłodzko region, today it hosts a 3 km educational trail called “Zemská Brána.” About a kilometer downstream, you’ll find the “Smugglers’ Footbridge” commemorating this history. The trail includes 23 information boards about the local nature of the Orlické Mountains.
This charming 88-hectare reserve is the largest in the Orlické Mountains. Amidst spruce, beech, fir, and sycamore trees, one can hear and spot woodpeckers (black and great spotted) and observe grey wagtails and kingfishers in the riverbed. Wild boars, red deer, mouflons, and foxes also inhabit the area.