Łuk Mużakowa
Since 2004, the Łuk Mużakowa, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is famous for its unique colorful lakes, beautiful park, and the castle in Bad Muskau. It is located in the Lubusz Voivodeship, on the border between Poland and Germany.
Table of contents:
- Mużakowa Park UNESCO
- Geotourism Trail – “Former Babina Mine”
- Schloss Muskau – Mużaków Castle
- When to visit Mużaków Park?
- Łuk Mużakowa – Parking spaces
Mużakowa Park UNESCO
Since 2004, the Łuk Mużakowa has been listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is a place appreciated by geologists, locals, travelers, and also by readers of National Geographic Traveller in 2016, who declared it one of the “wonders of Poland.” The Łuk Mużakowa Landscape Park stretches across the Polish-German border, through the towns of Łęknica and Bad Muskau. On the Polish side, we can admire the Geotourism Trail – “Former Babina Mine,” while on the German side, there is the park along with the Muskau Castle. Łuk Mużakowa was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago when a huge glacier passed through Poland. The terminal moraine, which shaped the landscape into a semi-arc 40 kilometers long, stopped in this area. It is said to be the only terminal moraine visible from space!
Geotourism Trail – “Former Babina Mine”
In the western part of the Lubusz Voivodeship, there is the Geotourism Trail – “Former Babina Mine.” The route runs along the site of the once active old Babina mine, now leading to the extraordinary colorful lakes, starting from Łęknica to Nowe Czaple. The lakes owe their unique shades, ranging from turquoise to green, and even to fiery red, to the chemical compounds found in the water. To answer the question you might have in mind: swimming in the lakes is strictly forbidden! The largest of the lakes is shaped like Africa and is named accordingly. If you see foam on the water’s edge, I would advise against approaching it! (It simply smells like rotten eggs, to put it mildly – no one warned me :D) The trail also features an observation tower, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape!
Visiting the Geotourism Trail is free of charge!
Route from Łęknica towards Nowe Czaple:
Schloss Muskau – Mużaków Castle
On the German side, from the town of Bad Muskau, there is a beautiful park, with the main attraction being the 16th-century castle. The building was completely destroyed during World War II, restored, and made available for visitors in 2004. Inside, there is a gallery and access to the observation tower, from which you can admire the entire park. Entrance to the park is free!
Castle opening hours: from April 1st to October 31st, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Ticket prices depending on the castle tour program:
- Regular tickets: from 4€ to 10€
- Concessional tickets: from 2€ to 5€
- Family tickets: from 9€ to 22.50€
You can check the prices and additional information on the German website of Muskauer Park.
When to visit Mużaków Park?
Personally, I believe that every season has its charm, and if you have the opportunity, check out all four seasons. I recommend visiting Łuk Mużakowa in spring or summer. It is the time of blooming plants, and the colorful lakes, under the full sun, reveal their full range of colors! In the evenings or on cloudy days, you won’t see the full spectrum of water colors, but I still recommend going for a walk!
Łuk Mużakowa – Parking spaces
Parking for Mużakowa Park and Muskau Castle:
- Hutnicza 19, 68-208 Łęknica, Poland – paid 20 PLN for the whole day, parking right at the entrance to the park
Parking for the Geotourism Trail from the Łęknica side:
- 51.535292, 14.751910 – parking coordinates, you need to drive UNDER highway No. 12
If my article helped you plan your route and gather the necessary information, I would be grateful for your support in making my dreams come true by buying me a coffee!
