Lower Silesia

A sandstone rock formation about 8 meters high, bearing the name "Devil's Rock" or "Devil's Mace". According to legend, the devil wanted to demolish the Krzeszów monastery using the rock. As he flew over the area, a rooster crowed, the devil lost his power and dropped the boulder. The place is marked and developed for tourism.

Geographic coordinates: 50.708790, 16.106244

Location on Google maps

Information sources: https://przyrodniczo.pl/pomniki-przyrody/diabelskamaczuga/
(accessed February 20, 2023); information board; field search

A rock located in a forest area, between Jaroszow and Moravia called "Devil's Cradle" or "Devil's Stone". It consists of two parts - a pedestal about 20 meters long and a smaller rock block located on it, which gives the impression of moving. On its surface, an open weathering cauldron is visible near the edge. I was unable to obtain the legend associated with the boulder.
Near the rock formation are the remains of a stone foundation of undetermined chronology.

Geographic coordinates: 50.979892, 16.394480

Location on Google maps

Information sources: https://agatowcy.com.pl/2022/04/21/jaroszowskiewzgorza-wzgorzastrzegomskie/ (accessed March 15, 2023);
field search

A granite boulder known as the "Marienstein Rock" or "Mary's Stone", located in the wooded area of the overflow terrace of the "Podgródka" stream. According to local legend, on its surface are supposed to be traces of the hooves of a donkey, with which Mary, Joseph and Jesus fled from Herod's revenge. Natural depressions created by erosion are interpreted in this way. The surface of the boulder also bears traces made by human hand: graffiti from the 18th and 19th centuries, a cross-shaped engraving, and oval holes arranged in a row from attempts to break it. Next to the boulder, meanwhile, are traces of its digging.

Geographic coordinates: 50.721025, 17.061147

Location on Google maps

Sources of information: https://sloworegionu.pl/strzelin/12090-gral-z-diablem-o-
-wlasna-dusze.html (accessed April 20, 2023);
http://www.straznicyczasu.pl/viewtopic.php?f=119&t=15202&sid=bae894e983a92423b941ff7d-3198cecf (accessed April 20, 2023); information board set up on Park Hill in Strzelin; field queries

A rock outcrop on Park Hill (formerly Mary Hill, "Marienberg") in Strzelin. On the surface of one of the boulders ("Mary's Stone" "Marienstein") are visible depressions called in local tradition "footprints of little Jesus or the Virgin Mary." Other legends speak of an image of Mary's face imprinted in the boulder or the imprints of the hooves of the donkey on which Mary, Joseph and Jesus were supposed to flee from Herod. According to modern accounts dating back to the 17th century. Mary's Hill has been the site of numerous apparitions and pilgrimages since the Middle Ages. The figure of the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared here, also seen, among other things, as she climbs to the top. The oldest mention of a boulder with the imprinted footprints of a child about 8 years old dates back to 1685. According to local tradition, there was supposed to be a sanctuary (chapel) on the hill, which was destroyed in the first half of the 15th century during the Hussite wars, while the hill itself was a place of numerous pilgrimages. The Church of the Mother of Christ and St. John the Apostle and Evangelist was erected at its foot. According to one of the concepts, in the 18th century the Augustinian church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross, belonging to the Augustinians, became a place of pilgrimage in Strzelin, with a copy of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa in it. It was they who were able to spread the local legend of the miraculous
stone on the back of counter-reformation activities. However, the cult of the miraculous stone is older and predates the arrival of the Augustinians in Strzelno. The stone is about 5 m long, 4 m wide and 0.7 m high. In addition to natural erosion marks and depressions interpreted as footprints
it is covered with modern graffiti, including the date 1677. The two "foot" shaped marks are most likely natural depressions on the surface of the boulder caused by erosion, slightly shaped by human hand so that there is no doubt about their miraculous origin. The dimensions of the first one are 13 cm long and 5 cm wide, the second one is 15 cm long and 7 cm wide.
The site is developed for tourism and marked.

Geographic coordinates: 50.776434, 17.0693847

Location on Google maps

Sources of information: Adamska, Bandurska 2017, 11; compilation of historical sources regarding the miraculous stone and the Marian Hill in Strzelin; Duszyński T., Łukasik-Duszyńska M., Kamień Maryjny na
Wzgórzu Parkowym, Legends of the Strzelin Land, online publication https://legendystrzelina.wordpress.
com/kamien-maryjny-nawgorzzu-parkowym/ (accessed April 20, 2023); information board set up at the stone; field queries

A rocky outcrop at the top of Mount Bardzka, now also known as "Calvary". On the rock is the Mountain Chapel dating from 1617-1619, which is a shrine to Our Lady of Weeping. By the wall of the chapel, on the surface of the rock is visible a forging in the shape of a human foot called "Our Lady's Foot." According to tradition, an apparition of the Virgin Mary took place in this place in the early 15th century. Crying and sobbing could be heard on Bardzka Mountain. When people came to the summit to find their source they saw the Mother of God sitting on a stone weeping over the misfortunes that the Silesian land was to suffer. Her footprint was imprinted on the stone. A chapel altar with a statue of the Weeping Mother of God was set up at the site of the apparition. The carving on the stone is currently protected by an iron grating. The length of the footprint is 22 cm, and the width is 4-6 cm.

Beginning in the 16th century, Bardzka Mountain has been the site of numerous penitential pilgrimages. The faithful forged fragments of the rock on which the Virgin Mary appeared and took them with them. The carrying of boulders up the mountain was also of a penitential nature. Halfway to the summit is the "well of Our Lady," formerly a spring whose water is said to have miraculous healing powers to help with eye diseases and headaches.

Bardo is one of the oldest Marian sanctuaries in Poland. Around the year 1200, the first Marian apparition is said to have occurred here, during which Our Lady personally gave her image in the form of a wooden statue, later famous for its many miracles and the object of veneration and numerous pilgrimages. Today it is displayed in the main altar of the pilgrimage church in Bardo.

At the foot of Bardzka Mountain is another object shrouded in legends, called "Brigid's Stone." It is a granite erratic boulder measuring about 200 × 150 cm and 70 cm high, with an isosceles cross carved on its upper surface. In the 13th century it was supposed to mark the boundaries of the Cistercian estate. According to legend, a girl named Brigid was said to have tragically died here.

Geographic coordinates: 50.495499, 16.749071

Location on Google maps

Sources of information: Groger, Sikorski 1993, 94-97; Rzeszowski 1996, 277-278; Sikorski 2020, 116-117; field queries

"The Foot of Our Lady" in Bardo Slaskie.

"Brigid's Stone" in Bardo Slaskie.

A boulder about 1.5 m long, 1.4 m wide and 0.7 m high, located in a grove, on a small elevation near the border of the village of Wądroże Wielkie. Next to it are other stones, probably the site of a former quarry. According to tradition, the hollows visible on the surface of the stone
are the footprints of St. Hedwig. During the Tartar invasion after the defeats of the Polish knights and the loss of
son, Jadwiga and her daughter-in-law Anna went on a journey to the Trzebnica castle. "Weary from the journey, especially Jadwiga, who with her habit of wandering barefoot hurt her feet badly on the stone-lined road, they stopped for a short rest, by the road between Wądroż Wielki and Mierzyce (...) at the foot of a small hill. On its summit lay a large boulder, and before continuing on her way Jadwiga climbed the boulder, as she wanted to take another look in the direction of the site of the bloody battle." The stone softened under her suffering, while the marks of her pained feet were imprinted in its surface. The stone was held in special reverence. It was believed that the water collecting in the hollows had miraculous healing powers to help with eye diseases. The hollows are natural in nature, formed by erosion.

Sources of information: http://www.pomnikiprzyrody.
en/?p=1542 (accessed April 15, 2023); information board set up at the stone; field search

Geographic coordinates: 51.108529, 16.327396

Location on Google maps

An erratic boulder (granite) with dimensions: length 100 cm, width 60 cm, height 60 cm. It is located by the road from Swierzow to Piekary. In its upper part there is a clear depression measuring 20 × 7 cm and 12 cm deep. According to legend: "Once upon a time St. Hedwig visited the poor from the surrounding villages, near Trzebnica. Handing out bread and alms, she walked barefoot as usual. Since the road was very rocky, she had to stop frequently to rest. After a while, her feet became covered with wounds, and the pain caused her to cry bitterly. Suddenly a miracle happened - everywhere she stood, the stones under her feet began to soften, making her walk as if on soft moss, or fine mulch. But after she passed, the stones hardened again, and on one of them a deep mark of her foot and the imprint of the leg of her faithful dog is still visible today. Since then, the stone has been revered, and tradition dictated that it should not be moved from that spot, or else whoever did so would be punished. However, at the end of the twentieth century, there were people who broke this order and moved the stone to another place, for which they met with punishment - one died not long after, and another committed suicide. Therefore, let this be a warning to others who would like to move the stone to another place" (information board). It is possible that the stone is a prehistoric or medieval quern,
possibly a tarsier. The site is cleaned up and marked for tourism. Next to the stone stands an information board with the legend cited.

Information sources: http://www.pomniki-przyrody.pl/?tag=swierzow (accessed April 23, 2023);
information board set up at the boulder; field search

Geographic coordinates: 51.335996, 16.953331

Location on Google maps

The erratic boulder is 1.7 meters long, 0.4 meters wide and 0.3 meters high. According to tradition, the hollow visible on its surface is the imprint of St. Hedwig's foot. Next to it are two smaller stones. In the space between them, cobblestones are visible. Thus, it is likely that they represent the structure of a prehistoric tomb.

According to legend, centuries ago St. Hedwig walked from Trzebnica to Prusice on foot. She was wandering barefoot and the stones crippled her feet, then a miracle happened and the stones began to soften under her steps, and when she passed them they hardened again and became sharp. The imprint of the Duchess' footprint was left visible on one of them. This stone became an object of veneration. Once, one of the landlords to whom the field belonged decided to remove it and smash it. As soon as the stonemasons set to work the host died, the work was stopped and the boulder was left intact.

The hollow visible on the surface of the stone is of natural origin, however, in the place of the "fingers" there are traces of shoeing to give the right shape. Next to it are two smaller natural depressions formed by erosion. Currently, the stone is located on Linden Avenue, with an information board next to it.

Geographic coordinates: 51.374793, 16.960750

Location on Google maps

Sources of information: Legend of the Stone of St.
Jadwiga in Prusice, https://prusice.pl/93/legenda-okamieniu-sw-jadwigi-wprusicach.
html (accessed April 20, 2023); information board set up at the stone; field queries