Articles & Guides
Long-reads, practical guides and stories from Świeradów-Zdrój and the Izera Mountains.
Bad Flinsberg in Columns: How Documents Organised a Stay at the Spa
The former Bad Flinsberg can be read not only through its Spa House, springs and striking postcards, but also through spa registers, room li...
Not Just Bad Flinsberg: How Today’s Świeradów-Zdrój Emerged from a Map of Settlements
Does Świeradów-Zdrój have a single historic centre? No—today’s urban layout grew from several parts of the settlement, the spring district,...
Not Every Line on the Map Is a Trail: How to Build a Reliable MTB Plan in the Izera Mountains
A good MTB plan begins not with an app, but with understanding what the lines, colours and symbols on a map actually mean. This practical gu...
Who Really Maintains the Singletracks in the Izera Mountains? Water, Contracts and Trail Closures
A singletrack does not end with the construction of the trail. After heavy rain comes the work of managing drainage, surfacing and signage,...
Świeradów-Zdrój by Map and Compass: How to Read the Izera Mountains While Running, Hiking and Cycling
Świeradów-Zdrój can be explored by more than just trail colours. The Spa Park, Zajęcznik, Stóg Izerski and routes leading towards the Czech...
Natural Enduro in Świeradów-Zdrój: How to Read Sępia Góra Beyond the Bike Park
Sępia Góra or Bike Park Świeradów? The choice is not between an easier and a harder descent, but between two different ways of riding. Natur...
After the Treatment, You Go Home: How to Maintain the Benefits of a Spa Stay
The most challenging stage of a spa stay begins after departure — when a doctor’s and physiotherapist’s recommendations must be translated i...
Who Is Really in Charge of Your Treatment in Świeradów-Zdrój? The Spa Physician, Balneologist and Physiotherapist
At a spa, there is no single person who is “responsible for all treatments”. The spa physician qualifies and adjusts the treatment programme...
What May You Pick in the Mountains? Berries, Herbs and the Boundaries of Responsible Observation in the Jizera Mountains and the Giant Mountains
Two neighbouring national parks share the Giant Mountains, but their rules on gathering are not identical. This practical guide explains whe...
The Mountains Do Not End at the Border: Ecological Corridors Around Świeradów-Zdrój
The most valuable fragments of Sudeten nature do not always bear the name of a park, reserve or Natura 2000 site. Around Świeradów-Zdrój, st...
Sudeten Mountain Huts Without Barriers or Illusions: How to Truly Assess Access, Accommodation and Food
“Easy access” does not tell someone moving more slowly, using an all-terrain wheelchair, recovering from an injury or carrying a heavy pack...
Mountain Huts and Weather: How to Read Wind, Clouds and Exposure in the Izera and Karkonosze Mountains
Stóg Izerski, Wysoki Kamień, Hala Szrenicka, Szrenica and Jizerka are not interchangeable points on a map. Each creates a different weather...
