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Rowokół - The Mysterious Hill Above the Baltic Sea

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Rowokół, a hill rising 114.8 meters above sea level, stands proudly in the heart of the Słowiński National Park, just six kilometers from the Baltic Sea coast. Hidden in the dense beech-fir forest, it gives the impression of a place where time flows more slowly, and nature hides unexplained mysteries. In the past, this hill, perfectly visible from the sea, was a key navigation point, marked on the oldest sea maps of the Baltic. When bonfires were lit on the top at night, their glow showed the way for sailors heading towards the shore.

Hiking the path to the summit, one discovers an extraordinary landscape. The viewing platform reveals a panorama of the Gardno and Łebsko lakes and the distant horizon of the Baltic Sea, as well as the surrounding forests and fields. This place has always attracted people, both pilgrims and adventurers. On the slope of the hill, there is an early medieval fortified settlement from the 9th-11th centuries, and at the very top, there are remains of the former sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which once gathered the faithful until the 16th century.

Numerous legends are associated with Rowokół. There are tales of sunken bells, burning money, and the Bandemer treasure, as well as traces of mysterious moats surrounding the hill. It was believed that unknown forces were hidden in this place, which aroused fear and respect. Until recently, there were plans to build a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas on the summit, which caused controversy among native faith communities, for whom Rowokół has always been a sacred place.

The name Rowokół can be found on old maps - on Swedish maps from 1695 as "Reefcoll" and on Dutch maps from 1660, where it appears as "Refkul" or "Ravkuul". In 1949, the name Rowokół was officially introduced, permanently replacing the former German name "Revekol Berg".

Rowokół remains a place where nature, history, and legend merge into one, and everyone who comes here feels how the ancient forces of nature still pulsate beneath the surface of the earth.