Run up Ślęża 2026

Get ready for one of the oldest, most demanding, and absolutely legendary mountain runs in Poland! Run up Ślęża (held in Sobótka near Wrocław) is an institution of an event that has been drawing the elite of mountain runners and crowds of ambitious amateurs for decades. Ślęża, rising alone from the flat Silesian Lowland, has been a place of pagan worship for centuries, and for runners it is a true, austere altar where your form gets tested.

The course is a classic Anglo-Saxon-style race or a pure Alpine up-hill (depending on the specific edition and the chosen course variant). The distance is usually around 5 kilometers, but don’t let those numbers fool you! You have to cover about 500 meters of vertical gain. You start from the charming market square in Sobótka, where asphalt quickly gives way to treacherous, rocky trails of the Ślęża Landscape Park.

Once you reach the very top (718 m a.s.l.), cross the finish line by the mountain shelter, and proudly hang the medal around your neck, the Ślęża massif and Sobótka offer brilliant options for well-deserved, mystical recovery:

Ślęża summit and pagan sculptures: After catching your breath, take a look around. The summit hides a 19th-century church, the Roman Zmorski mountain shelter, and mysterious ancient cult sculptures marked with the characteristic slanted cross (like the famous "Bear" or "Figure with a fish"). The atmosphere of this place, especially when the summit is wrapped in fog, is absolutely magical 🐻🗿.

Vineyards at the foot of Ślęża: The Ślęża massif is known for its excellent microclimate and a dynamically developing wine culture. After the murderous effort, there is no better reward than a visit to one of the local vineyards (e.g., Winnica Świdnicka or Celtica). A glass of chilled local wine and a stroll among the vines is recovery at the highest level 🍇🍷.

Tąpadła Pass and a post-race picnic: If after the run you want to relax with your closest people, head to Tąpadła Pass (separating Ślęża from Radunia). It’s a charming green meadow, perfect for spreading out a blanket, lighting a campfire, and eating those well-earned calories in the shade of big trees 🌳🔥.

Ślęża Museum in Sobótka: Located in the historic building of the former St. Spirit Hospital in Sobótka. If you’re interested in the history and archaeology of this incredible region, you’ll see unique exhibits connected with ancient beliefs and life at the foot of the holy mountain 🏛️.

Run up Ślęża is not an ordinary start. It’s a running pilgrimage, a test of character, and a unique opportunity to feel, in your own legs, the rawness of mountain running right under Wrocław’s windows. The satisfaction at the summit, with a view over the entire panorama of Lower Silesia, wipes every meter of pain from your memory … ✨ Conquer the Olympus of Silesia on the run! 🏁🏔️