Szlak Jelonków360° panoramas of Jelenia Góra – three lookout towers
Three viewpoints of Jelenia Góra gathered in one place: the tower of the ruined Chojnik Castle, the Kaiser-Friedrich tower on Sołtysia Hill above Cieplice, and Grzybek on Krzywousty Hill. Turn the view, zoom in, read the labels of the Karkonosze peaks – then pick the terrace worth climbing for real.
Which viewpoint should you choose?
The widest and farthest view is from Chojnik – the highest of the three terraces and the only one reached like a mountain summit, through forest and rocks. Sołtysia Hill offers the finest close-up of the Karkonosze ridge, and the climb is short and gentle, so it works with children and fits a walk around Cieplice. Grzybek is the urban view – the old town lies right below the tower and the walk from the Town Hall Square takes a quarter of an hour or so. If you only have time for one: Chojnik for a whole day, Sołtysia for an afternoon, Grzybek for an hour between city sights.
| Viewpoint | Height | Tower | Panorama | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chojnik Castle | 627 m | castle keep, 14th-century ruins | full 360° | about an hour’s climb from Sobieszów |
| Sołtysia Hill | 434 m | Kaiser-Friedrich, 16 m (1895) | full 360° | a short climb from Cieplice |
| Krzywousty Hill | 375 m | Grzybek, 22 m (1911) | partial, about 172° | about 20 minutes from the Town Hall Square |
From the tower of Chojnik Castle
The highest of the three terraces – 627 m, on the summit of a rocky mountain above Sobieszów. The panorama covers the whole main ridge of the Karkonosze from Szrenica to Mount Śnieżka, the Rudawy Janowickie, the Kaczawskie Mountains and the entire Jelenia Góra Valley. More than a hundred peaks, rocks and towns are labelled.
Loading panorama… Castle history, the legend of Kunigunde and how to get there
From the tower on Sołtysia Hill
The brick Kaiser-Friedrich tower of 1895, restored in 2022, stands at 434 m above Cieplice. The view runs straight at the main ridge of the Karkonosze – from Szrenica through the Śnieżne Kotły cirques to Mount Śnieżka – with the spa part of the city spread out closer by.
Loading panorama… From Grzybek on Krzywousty Hill
A tower from 1911, raised for the 800th anniversary of the city and known today as Grzybek („little mushroom") after the shape of its cap. The hill measures 375 m and the view is the most urban of the three: the old town and the Bóbr valley below, the Karkonosze and the Rudawy Janowickie behind. This is a partial panorama, not a full circle.
Loading panorama… The Kaiser tower, the legendary stronghold and how to get there
One more panorama – Piastowski Square in winter
Besides the three towers there is one more 360° panorama, this one from street level: Piastowski Square in Cieplice on a winter evening, with the Christmas tree by the entrance to the Spa Park. You can explore it on the spa page.
Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój – the panorama and the sights of the spa
How to use the panoramas
Each panorama loads by itself once you scroll down to it – until then the frame shows its thumbnail. Then drag with the mouse or a finger to look around, and scroll (or pinch) to zoom. The peak labels can be hidden with the button in the top right corner, and the fullscreen icon opens the panorama full screen. Labelled summits that have their own page here are clickable.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best view of the Karkonosze in Jelenia Góra?
The widest and farthest is from the tower of Chojnik Castle (627 m). The finest view of the ridge itself is from Sołtysia Hill above Cieplice, while Krzywousty Hill shows the mountains as a backdrop to the panorama of the city.
Do the panoramas work on a phone?
Yes. You turn them with a finger and zoom by pinching. A panorama loads only once you scroll down to it, so it does not use data unnecessarily.
What is the difference between a 360° and a partial panorama?
A 360° panorama is a full circle – you can turn all the way around, as on the terrace of a tower. A partial panorama covers only a slice of the horizon (about 172 degrees on Krzywousty Hill), so turning is limited to that slice.
Can the peak labels be switched off?
Yes, with the button in the top right corner of the panorama. Labels can be hidden and shown at any time, and summits that have their own page here are clickable links.
How long does it take to reach these viewpoints?
Chojnik takes about an hour on foot from Sobieszów, Krzywousty Hill about 20 minutes from the Town Hall Square along park paths, and Sołtysia Hill a short, gentle climb from Cieplice.
