Biardy: Erratic Boulders and Traces of the Warta Glaciation

Biardy combines a specific place for learning with a landscape whose features date back to the Warta Glaciation. The lapidarium contains four erratic boulders, while the glaciation’s marginal zone also runs through the village. Geological interest thus extends from an individual stone to the forms of the landscape. If you enjoy taking a closer look at nature, you’ll find both specific features of the exhibited rocks and a broader context in the landscape here.

Four Erratic Boulders to Examine Closely

The four erratic boulders in the lapidarium consist of three granites and one gneiss. The granites are intrusive igneous rocks; gneiss is a metamorphic rock. This brings two different geological classifications together. You can therefore view the stones not only as a group of erratic boulders, but also distinguish them by rock type and visible features. This makes the site accessible to curious non-specialists, too: the classifications are grounded in concrete examples.

A distinctive detail can be seen in the smallest granite: it is crossed by a pegmatite vein with grains of varying sizes and large crystals. Here, the focus is on features within a single stone. The corners, edges and faces of the erratic boulders are also rounded. This complements the examination of the vein with a look at the stones’ outer shapes. With children, this can prompt simple observation questions: Which of the four stones is gneiss, and where can you see the large crystals? The lapidarium thus brings together naming, classification and close observation.

A Landscape Marked by the Warta Glaciation

The marginal zone of the Warta Glaciation runs through Biardy and is visible in numerous outwash, kame and moraine hills. These different terms give the surrounding area specific forms to look for, rather than leaving it as a general impression of the landscape. Together with the erratic boulders in the lapidarium, they create a geological theme on two scales: individual exhibits and a landscape shaped by glaciation. If you’re interested in nature and geology, you can therefore explore Biardy through both the place for learning and the landforms.

Rest Stop and Learning Site for Cyclists

There is a rest stop and learning site for cyclists in Biardy. It was created in 2019, using an existing shelter at the location. Its facilities include bicycle racks, wooden information boards about the exhibited rocks, waste bins and a paved surface. The site thus combines a place to rest with information about the erratic boulders. The boards cover the geological theme you can also explore in the lapidarium.

Considering Biardy as a Holiday Destination

Biardy is particularly worth considering when choosing a holiday apartment if geology is to be part of your holiday. The lapidarium brings together the study of individual erratic boulders, while the landscape broadens the view to the Warta Glaciation. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh up whether you’d rather examine the exhibited rocks closely or also include the area’s geological landforms in your interest in nature.

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