Summary:

The objective of his paper is to represent, based on the example of one of the Cracow mounds, those land objects within a spatial structure and Poland’s cultural landscape. Those large engineering earthen structures are artificially raised geometric bodies. The large and high moulds located on ground elevations constitute architectural dominants and are beauty spots, whereas the smaller ones are classified as small structural forms. For the purpose of this paper, the Józef Piłsudski Mound was chosen as an example. It is situated on the Sowiniec Hill in the ‘Wolski Wood’ Park (in Polish ‘Las Wolski’) in Cracow. This object was selected owing to the fact that, recently, Poland celebrated the 90th anniversary of regaining its independence and Mar-shall Józef Piłsudski rendered considerable service to the independence fight and had strong ties with Cracow. This Mound having three names: The Independence Mound, The Piłsudski Mound, and The Grave of Graves is one of the Cracow four largest earthen monuments. It is also the youngest mould since it was built during the inter-war period in the twentieth century. The Mound is an architectural object. Thus, prior to beginning with the building works, a detailed design was developed. One of the considerations was the durability of the Mound, so, in order to ensure the solidity and stability of the structure, the emphasis was put on obeying the standards and rules of engineering while raising the mound. The detailed work plan comprised forming the body, constructing a system of internal and external drainage, prepar-ing the base and the delivery of building materials consisting of sand with gravel and loam admixture. Furthermore, the broad front of works was established, as was the works base for volunteers participating in raising the Mound (there were almost 10 thousand people working at the site every day) [The Cracow Mounds 2005]. Abundant documentary evidence from the period of raising the Mound has been maintained in public and private archival sources. Photographs and post-cards from this time allow the tracing of the process of great spatial and land-scape transformations around the Sowiniec Hill. The construction of this object on a relatively small area lasted three years. Upon its completion, in the open land-scape of glade with a wall of wood in the background, a highlighted landscape situation was formed. Based on the chronologically compiled photographic evidence, it is possi-ble to compare the contemporary view of the object and its surroundings and their view from 70 years ago. It is also possible to track and visually assess the results of the destructive activities of man and natural forces upon the Piłsudski Mound during its existence, as well as to evaluate changes in the space and landscape oc-curring in each phase of the renovation works. The Józef Piłsudski Mound is in one of the glades in the ‘Wolski Wood’ Park. The Park has an area of 442 ha and is part of the Bielańsko-Tyniecki Land-scape Park. It constitutes a larger part of the natural woodland vegetation rem-nant. It is a place to rest and a district in Cracow, which is the most frequently vis-ited by Cracow inhabitants and visitors. The Mound and the Marshall’s Monument at the same time, located in the region of outstanding natural values and landscape amenities, enjoys the greatest popularity for it also has a great educational significance; it is the most valuable symbol of the Poland’s independ-ence. There are numerous forest paths leading to it. Everybody, who enters the glade and encounters this huge monument, experiences strong aesthetic feelings, especially as this monument appears differently depending on the season, time of the day, and the weather conditions. For the purpose of showing the Józef Piłsud-ski Mound against the landscape, a series of photographs was made and served to show visual effects resulting from the changeability of landscape, i.e. of the land-scape’s appearance.