The road was originally built as a strategic military route during the pre-WWII period.
The sharp hairpin turn has a curve radius of nearly 180 degrees.
The site sits at an elevation of approximately 775 meters above sea level.
Despite its name, the modern safety infrastructure has made the location a standard tourist lookout rather than a hazardous driving route.
The granite outcrops near the curve are part of the Karkonosze granite massif, which formed during the Carboniferous period.
Dead Man's Curve, or Zakręt Śmierci, is a distinctive 180-degree hairpin turn located on the road connecting Szklarska Poręba and Świeradów-Zdrój. The site features a lookout point offering panoramic views of the Karkonosze mountain range, including the Szrenica and Śnieżne Kotły massifs. The road was constructed between 1935 and 1937, historically utilized by the German military for strategic mountain maneuvers. Its sharp curvature and steep drop-offs earned it a dangerous reputation for early 20th-century motorists. Today, the curve is bypassed by a modern road, leaving the original section accessible primarily as a scenic vantage point. The site is part of the Sudetes mountain region near the Czech border.
The metal railing at the apex of the curve, facing south toward the Karkonosze mountains.
Park in the designated gravel area near the bend to avoid obstructing the narrow road.
Bring binoculars to identify specific peaks in the Karkonosze range, as they are often obscured by haze.
Wear windproof clothing, as the exposed cliff side remains breezy even on calm days.
Do not attempt to climb the steep rock faces surrounding the curve, as they are loose and unstable.
