Skalica Quarry

Skalica is a disused quarry in Ustroń, lying between the Vistula and Skalica Street. Upper Cretaceous Godula sandstone was extracted here; today the working is overgrown with forest, and the rock faces are used by climbers.

What was extracted and what the stone was used for

The quarry operated in the 1920s and 1940s. The Godula sandstone dates from the Turonian, from about 83 to 89 million years ago. It was used mainly as a cladding stone for facades and for making monuments, and the hardest parts went into paving setts and aggregate.

What it looks like today

The working covers about a hectare and is gradually being taken over by forest. It is formed by three rock faces, and the bases of the southern and eastern faces are covered by scree. In 2014 the site was designated a documentation site, which protects it as a record of the geological structure.

Climbing

The walls reach about 20 metres, and the higher parts are covered with moss. Six climbing routes of difficulty up to VI+ on the Polish scale have been set out here, with fixed protection points installed. Climbing requires your own equipment and experience, and the condition of the rock and protection must be judged by yourself.

Practical information

• Location: Ustroń, on the Vistula, by Skalica Street.
• Nearby: the Jan Jarocki Ustroń Museum is about 1.2 km away.
• The site has no official visiting route; before your visit check current conditions and rules of access.