Bryjarka, Szczawnica-Zdrój

Bryjarka - an unexplored mountain peak in Beskid Sądecki towering over Szczawnica. The name comes from the fields near the peak; the name Światkówka was also used, which came from the name of the fields. Eugeniusz Janota says that originally the peak was called Skałka.

Bryjarka rises about 230 m above the bottom of the Grajcarek valley. It is the end of the lateral ridge of the Radziejowa Range, running from Dzwonkówka through Przysłop, Kotelnica, Cieluszki, Bereśnik, Gucka and Bryjarka to the south. This ridge separates the Sopotnicki Creek valley from the Skotnicki Creek valley and its tributary - the Czarny Potok. The southern slope descending towards Szczawnica is steep, and in its upper part there are debris flows built of magma rocks that are rare in the Carpathians - light-gray Pieniny andesites. These rocks have long aroused the interest of scientists, they were described as early as 1832. Between the wars, they were exploited in the now defunct quarry. On the andesite gołoborza there are biologically interesting communities of acidophilous mosses and lichens.

The steep southern slope was formerly pastureland and alder and hazel scrub; it has been planned for forestation since 1953.

The peak of Bryjarka has long been the destination of walks of the inhabitants and visitors to the health resorts of Szczawnica. In 1897 and 1901 walking paths were led to the top and benches were installed. In 1860 a wooden cross was erected, in 1867 it was replaced by a large larch cross. When this cross broke during a storm in 1902, Józef Górecki's company from Kraków made and installed an iron cross. From the top, where the metal cross is illuminated at night, there is a view of Szczawnica, Male Pieniny and Pieniny Proper. Panoramas from Bryjarka were painted among others by Jan Nepomucen Glowacki.