Vitriol

Deep in the Karkonosze forests, where the Kamienna River separated the Karkonosze Mountains from the Jizera Mountains, lies a mysterious place, forgotten by time. This is Vitriol – one might say the alchemical forge of the old masters, whose flames smoldered brightly, and the surrounding air quivered with the fumes of vitriol produced there.

The word VITRIOL is an alchemical acronym: Visita Interiora Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem, which means: "Explore the interior of the earth, and through distillation you will find the hidden stone." Alchemists meant the philosopher's stone, coveted for centuries.

Vitriol was founded in 1773 by Christian Preller – a man with the soul of a researcher. In retorts and alchemical vessels, sulfuric acid was born here – a powerful liquid, harboring both destruction and the art of creation. It was used to trace letters on parchment, dye the robes of dignitaries, and create gunpowder that echoed across battlefields.

However, this was no ordinary factory – this place was frequented by kings and travelers with restless souls. Frederick William III himself and his wife stopped here to admire the craftsmen's skill, Isabella Czartoryska wandered with curiosity among the smoking furnaces, and John Quincy Adams absorbed the atmosphere of this extraordinary land where science intertwined with magic.

The Vitriolenia was located near the trail leading to the Szklarka Waterfall, serving as a resting place for weary travelers. Today, Vitriolenia is just stories and legends that wander among the mossy rocks and trees, reminding us that alchemists once created elixirs in this valley, and kings and poets marveled at the wonders hidden in the heart of the mountains.