Tadeusz Hołdys High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory on Śnieżka

At 1,602 metres, on the summit of Sniezka — the highest point in the Karkonosze and the entire Sudetes range — stands the Tadeusz Holdys High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory.

About the Tadeusz Holdys High-Mountain Meteorological Observatory

This is primarily a weather station rather than an astronomical observatory, operated by Poland's Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW). It has carried the name of Tadeusz Holdys since 1985, honouring him as part of the station's history.

Location & getting there

Sitting on the very summit of Sniezka, the observatory occupies one of the most striking high points in Poland, on the border with the Czech Republic within the Karkonosze mountains. Reaching it typically means a hike up from surrounding trailheads, rewarded with sweeping views across the Sudetes.

Visiting the observatory on Sniezka

Because it functions as a working meteorological station rather than a public astronomy venue, visiting arrangements differ from a typical observatory. Check the official Sniezka observatory website for current access details before planning your hike, especially given the mountain's changeable weather.

See your named star from here

At 1,602 metres, the summit of Sniezka sits well above the haze of the valleys below — a genuinely good vantage point for stargazing, even if the station itself is built for weather rather than telescopes. Name a star with Star Register, find its coordinates in our star catalogue, and see how they might look from this mountaintop.