Discover the beauty of Králický Sněžník

Králický Sněžník, also called Kladský Sněžník in Czech, is a peak reaching a height of 1423 metres and is situated on the Czech-Polish border. It belongs to the Krkonoše-Jesenice subprovince and dominates the district of Ústí nad Orlicí and the Pardubice Region. This mountain is the highest point in the Kladsko district of Poland, where it is located in the municipality of Stronie Śląskie in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

Geologically, Králický Sněžník is modelled by frost weathering, which creates characteristic scarps on its summit dome. The name 'Sněžník' refers to the long-term presence of snow cover, which lasts up to 8 months a year.

The mountain is part of the geomorphological district of the Hornomoravská hornatina in the Králický Sněžník mountain range, which stretches approximately 16 km from Králíky to Kladská sedlo. The main European watershed runs through its territory, which affects the hydrology of the region: in the south, the Morava River drains into the Black Sea, while in the north the Polish part of the mountain belongs to the Baltic Sea.

The vegetation at the top of Králický Sněžník is typical of subalpine meadows and treeless zones dominated by spruce forests. The lower parts of the mountain are covered with mountain reed spruce, which creates a diverse environment for the local fauna.

In addition to its natural beauty, Králický Sněžník is also interesting historically. A new lookout tower, completed in 2022, stands at the summit, replacing the original 1899 structure and the Lichtenstein hut from 1912, which were demolished in the 1970s. About 200 metres below the summit stands the Tridentine Stone, the historic tri-border of the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Margrave of Moravia and the County of Kladsko.

Nature protection on the Czech side includes the NPR Králický Sněžník, which has been a protected area since 1990 and is part of the Natura 2000 European site of importance. On the Polish side, the mountain is part of the Śnieżnik Kłodzki Nature Reserve and the Śnieżnicki Landscape Park.

Králický Sněžník is also a popular destination for hiking trails leading from both sides of the border, offering visitors views of the unique natural and historical attractions of this picturesque part of the Czech-Polish border region.