Hut above the Snow Pits

This hut stands directly above the massive glaciers on the northern and eastern slopes of the High Plain between the Violík and Vysoké kolo hills on the Polish side of the Giant Mountains. On the northern slope is 550 meters long Malá Sněžná jáma, Velká Sněžná jáma on the eastern slope is 800 m long. Both are about 300 meters deep and offer stunning views of the valley with glacial lakes.

Thanks to the extraordinary natural scenery, the hut became a popular destination in the beginning of tourism in the Giant Mountains. In good weather, it offers a distant view, especially of the Silesian side of the mountains. Due to the location on an uncovered mountain ridge, it is necessary to take into account the frequent strong winds and sudden changes in weather.

A small shelter for two people was built in these places in 1837. In 1860 there was already a stone hut with a restaurant and accommodation for 21 people. In 1897 there was already a four-storey luxury hotel. For II.sv. During the war, the hotel was used for recreational purposes by the German Luftwaffe, and later the Germans added a radar to it. The current appearance of Bouda u Sněžných jam comes from 1960–1978, when the last building modifications took place. It is interesting that after Silesia fell to Poland in 1945, the Poles began to call it Wawel, due to the similarity of the silhouette with Krakow's castle.

The building is not open to the public, it only serves as a signal transmitter for Polish television and mobile operators. Only in case of emergency and in extreme weather It is possible to ask employees for shelter. However, extensive construction work is currently underway, so we may see a surprise in the form of reopening in the future.