GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites Year XII, vol. 26, no. 3, 2019, p.1033-1045 ISSN 2065-1198, E-ISSN 2065-0817 DOI 10.30892/gtg.26327-415 http://gtg.webhost.uoradea.ro/ STONE IN AN URBAN SPACE – ITS POTENTIAL TO PROMOTE GEOTOURISM Maria GÓRSKA-ZABIELSKA * Jan Kochanowski University, Institute of Geography, Chair of Geotourism and Environmental Geology, Świętokrzyska St 15, 25-401 Kielce, Poland, e-mail: maria.gorska-zabielska@ujk.edu.pl Ryszard ZABIELSKI Polish Geological Institute National Research Institute, Rakowiecka St 4, 00-975 Warszawa, Poland, e-mail: ryszard.zabielski@pgi.gov.pl Citation: Górska-Zabielska M. & Zabielski R. (2019). STONE IN AN URBAN SPACE – ITS POTENTIAL TO PROMOTE GEOTOURISM. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 26(3), 1033– 1045. https://doi.org/10.30892/gtg.26327-415 Abstract: The geological heritage of Pruszków, although with an easy access, remains beyond the knowledge and consciousness of its inhabitants. Besides the short description of the area’s geodiversity, the article presents ten large erratic boulders and other stone elements occurring in the town. It is indicated that they have high scientific, educational, cultural-historical, and – not less important – aesthetic values. The promotion of these values can stimulate the development of urban geotourism. Geoconservation activities can contribute to the creating the image of the town, in which the principles of sustainable development are taken into account. Key words: geological heritage, geodiversity, georesources, erratic boulders, stone objects, geotourism, Pruszków, Mazovia region * * * * * * INTRODUCTION Stone elements in towns and the role they play have already been described many times, considering various aspects. These peculiar georesources are valuable examples of geological heritage (=geosites) occurring in towns (Rubinowski & Wójcik, 1978; Migoń, 2012; Dowling, 2013; Del Monte et al., 2013; Lollino et al., 2015; Pica et al., 2015; Zagożdżon & Zagożdżon, 2016; Chylińska & Kołodziejczyk, 2018; Brocx & Semeniuk, 2019; Pereira & Van den Eynde, 2019; da Silva, 2019). Palacio-Prieto (2015) defines urban geosites as the places representing geological or geomorphological values, formed as a result of geological processes or created by man but closely connected with geology. According to him these can be, among others, buildings for the construction of which rocks were used. Rocks may also be geosites (Migoń, 2012), including erratic boulders (Reynard, 2008) incorporated into an architectonically developed urban space (e.g. Duraj et al., 2017; Keiter, 2017; Grimmberger, 2017; Köppe et al., 2018; Górska- * Corresponding author