Building and Decorative Stones in the Sacral and Secular Architecture of the Sandomierz Upland and Its Geotourism and Geoeducational Potential

The main goal of this study is to inventory and describe the geological characteristics of local and regional types of rocks that were applied in secular and sacral architecture of the Sandomierz Upland. Field reconnaissance of leading historical stone masonry centres in the regarded area and evaluation of their resources in the investigated objects in relation to architectural style were carried out. Special attention was paid to the current state of preservation of geosites as well as suitability for the implementation of geotourism and the geoeducational process. In the course of investigations and final evaluation, it was stated that in walls, floors, main altars, portals, epitaphs, fonts, stoups and other elements of architecture, especially of the churches, Devonian black limestone from Dębnik, Devonian Bolechowice and Jurassic Morawica limestone, Kunów Jurassic sandstone, Upper Cretaceous limestone from Janików, and Miocene limestone prevail. Despite the high geotourism and geoeducational potential associated with the geological history and structure of the Holy Cross Mountains region, the use of building and decorative stones in secular and sacred objects within the regarded area, apart from the Kunów town, Janików village and Świślina river valley, is very weakly promoted. There are information boards or geotourism guides, leaflets and thematic trails devoted to this precious regional geological heritage.