The Polish Maldives is a unique place, much loved by both locals and tourists. The Grodek-Jaworzno Park, still commonly referred to as the Polish Maldives, is a flooded quarry with very clear water and walking trails. It’s close to Katowice, so it’s the perfect stopover for a trip to Zakopane with the kids, the Polish mountains or Energylandia.
Polish Maldives
Polish Maldives
The Polish Maldives or Grodek Park is located in Jaworzno, Silesian Voivodeship. It is located in a former dolomite mine, where work stopped in 1997. The mine’s electricity was cut off for non-payment of taxes. It only took a few dozen hours for the quarry to fill up with water. Machinery and equipment were submerged under water. This created two pools of water. The regional authorities decided to exploit the site for tourism purposes. And their idea has paid off handsomely. Nowadays, the site is very popular and visited by both local tourists and foreigners.
Polish Maldives
Polish Maldives
Important things to know if you want to visit Grodek Park
There are currently two bodies of water here. One of them is a private area with holiday homes. At the other body of water there is a famous bridge over the water with gazebos. It is very difficult to tell when the path is under water and when it is not, but it is the most fun passing through the water. To get to this water body from the car park, you have to walk about one kilometre along a forest path. There are either paid parking spaces or you can park on the street.
What to see in Poland with children
It is very popular in the summer, with temporary cafés, ice-cream kiosks, food and souvenir shops. It is important to note that the pools are not for swimming.
Things to see in Poland
The park is animal-friendly, and we have seen many pets splashing in the water on hot summer days. The quarry can also be visited from above.
It’s a really interesting one, so we’d definitely recommend a visit when passing through.
Points of interest in Poland
Points of interest in Poland
