Geocultural Heritage as a Basis for Themed GeoTown—The “Józefów StoneTown” Model in the Roztocze Region (SE Poland)

Abstract

In many areas, the use of stone in architecture and art represents one of the most significant links between geological and cultural heritage. These links are used for the creation of themed places that fit into the marketing strategy of such places/towns, supporting their management and promoting geotourism as a form of sustainable tourism. In this field, the inhabitants and municipal authorities of the Józefów area have not yet used their full potential. This article presents the features of geological heritage and connected cultural heritage (stonemasonry) in the area of Józefów with a view to building a geotown in the context of the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” (“Stone Forest in Roztocze”) planned geopark. These features were analysed from three points of view: research (field inventory of sites and secondary data queries), perception of heritage by two groups of tourists (queries of secondary data obtained from the Tourist Information Centre and diagnostic survey), and perception of heritage by inhabitants (diagnostic survey). The results of the research show that the multicomponent and interdisciplinary space of Józefów contains closely interrelated geological and cultural features. These can be the basis for creating a themed town, which can drive its sustainable economic development and give the town a broader supralocal dimension.

1. Introduction

As one form of cognitive tourism [1,2], geotourism focuses on geosites and/or geomorphosites of geological/geomorphological interest, where the relationship between geological processes and landforms is evident [3,4,5,6]. However, tourists also appreciate cultural sites related to geology, which allow them to enjoy their diversity and aesthetic value [7,8,9]. At the same time, these types of niche geosites contribute to enhancing the sustainable socioeconomic development of the area [10,11,12,13]. Therefore, in terms of geotourism, the relationship between geological and cultural heritage is increasingly being explored [8,14].

In addition, thematisation meets the current trends in geotourism. The concept of “thematisation of space” refers to the American term “theming”, defined as “the patterning of space, activity, or event to symbolise experiences and/or senses from a special or specific past, present, or future place, activity, or event as currently imagined” [15] and originally referred to amusement parks [16,17]. Although still insufficient research has been conducted in this area [17], the concept of thematisation of places/attractions fits into two research perspectives [18,19]. One of them is associated with the sphere of consumer spaces, e.g., theme and recreation parks [20,21], theme villages [22], and theme urban spaces [16,23], while the other one is related to the thematisation of parts of each space or man-made object [24]. The effects of thematisation processes are spaces characterised by the presence of objects connected by a common thread and created to perform specialised functions both in historical periods and at present. This interpretation of the concept assigns the thematisation of space a much broader sense; for example, a dinosaur paw print may become its main element [25]. Therefore, thematisation consists of creating place/city spaces characterised by a set of specific features and values that influence their distinctiveness and tourist attractiveness [26]. The issues addressed in this study fit into four interrelated concepts: imitation of other theme cities/towns, authenticity of the place, visual differences, and space marketing [22]. With time, the concept of “thematisation of space” has become part of a marketing strategy aimed at the transformation of an area into a tourist attraction by combining a themed set of senses and visitors’ experiences with local products and services. It is therefore a tool for the management of the socioeconomic development of the area [27]. Moreover, regardless of the terms “themes” [20,21,22], “thematisation” [28], “themed” [29], and “theming” [30] used, thematisation is crucial for various types of tourism [31] as it involves enhancement of the tourist attractiveness of various spaces [17]. The area/town thematisation is therefore part of one of the three levels of such space creation, i.e., the intended theme/motif when the main theme and narrative are used in the creation [32,33,34], including the geohistorical evolution of regions [35] referred to by most objects/attractions [35,36,37]. Thematic coherence can be ensured in an area through the use of symbols and motif sets [38]. They include four main types: the features of the area and culture, the brand, the interests and lifestyle, and the mood and associations [39]. Especially the first one fits well into the assumptions of education through tourism [40]. The main theme can provide tourists with memorable experiences [17] influencing the final memory stage, i.e., the so-called “echo of the tourist product” [41]. Therefore, the themed village/town embodies the triad—the 3Es (entertainment, excitement, and education; [42]) of tourism—which involves building the tourism product of a themed village [43]. Other concepts are also linked to this model, including the 3Gs (geohistory, geoconservation, and geointerpretation; [44]), which are important for modern geotourism.

Thematisation can make a “place”, in this case Józefów, known on a wider scale for thematising its space with reference to its geocultural heritage. The links between the natural landscape features and the architecture, history, and culture of an area in the context of tourism products are pointed out by Lengkeek et al. [28]. Examples of such connections are events and festivals, e.g., Gold Days in the Golden Mountains [45] or the annual mussel festival [46]. In a narrow sense, the thematisation model focuses on the theme of a place/area that becomes the basis for the creation of tourism products, e.g., themed trails and paths [47] or a product area [41], and serves marketing purposes [48,49]. In broad terms, it is a model of neoendogenous community development for the acquisition, creation, and development of local identity and attachment to the place [50]. The subject of this study is a model of thematisation in a narrow sense—the creation of a geotown in the context of a product area, i.e., the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” planned geopark.

Themed villages/towns began to be organised in Europe in the first half of the 1990s [30]. The creation of the first such sites took place in Lower Austria in connection with village renewal programmes and the improvement of their economic situation [51]. With time, many were organised in Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, the USA, Canada, Australia, China, and South Korea [26,52]. In Poland, the first themed villages started to function at the beginning of the 21st century [26]. The largest numbers were established in the Lower Silesian voivodeship (approximately 83 in 2017; [53]). Their themes were firstly plants (willow (Wierzbinek), oak (oak village—Julianów), spruce (spruce village—Zagórze), and calla (calla village—Kaleń) in the Rawka Land), birds (Adamkowo and Ruda Milicka), fruits (walnut (Krummnussbaum), nut (Podzamek Golubski), poppy (Armschlag), and strawberry (Dzięciołówka, Pierstnica)), and mushrooms (Krzywogoniec). Over time, the themes referred to other distinguishing features, e.g., location (at the end of the world—Iwięcino—and in the forest—Czarna Wieś Kościelna), labyrinths and springs (Paproty), disappearing professions (blacksmithing—Ybbsitz), healthy lifestyles (Dąbrowa), fairy tales and fun (Podgórki and Dobrocin), fairy tale characters (hobbits—Sierakowo Sławieńskie), fantasy (Karwno), and even UFOs (Wylatowo) [51,54,55,56].

Also of note are themed towns with geoheritage as their motto, e.g., dinosaurs (Bałtów; [26]), river valleys (the Teme Valley in Martley, Worcestershire, UK; [57]), sandstones and sands (Czaple; [53]), erratics (Pruszków; [58]), and the legacy of mining activities (“Mining Village”—part of the underground Montania lignite mine in the Tuchola Forest buffer zone; [52]). Local rocks, e.g., granite in the village of Monsanto and shale in the village of Piódão (Schist Village) in the Arouca Geopark in Portugal [59,60], granite and Cretaceous limestone in the village of Maymand in Iran [43], and basalt in the village of Xujiashan in Ningbo County and Zhejiang Province in the southeast of China [61], are used in the construction of many themed villages. Evaluations of the performance of some villages in relation to their themes show that they have experienced an increase in sustainable economic activity [62].

In themed localities, in addition to the great potential for the preparation of simple geoproducts based on geoheritage, the design of accommodation and gastronomy facilities is important from the point of view of geotourism development. An example is the “Casa do Forno” in the Naturtejo Geopark [63]. In themed localities, the geotourism offer is significantly diversified by events related to their geological peculiarities, for example, the “Trilobite canoeing” on the Tejo River in Portas de Ródão Natural Monument in the Naturtejo Geopark [64] or the “TriloPaint” in Penha Garcia Ichnological Park [65]. It is also important to use geological identifiers of themed localities, most often logos, such as trilobite in the “Casa do Forno” in the Naturtejo Geopark [63] or ammonite in the Réserve Géologique de Haute-Province. It is popular, for example, to decorate sites with motifs of local ceramics [66]. Themed localities also provide better opportunities to apply hands-on activity strategies [67,68]. Thus, themed towns fit well with the concept of geoparks as they combine selected aspects of the natural environment with cultural ones. They therefore cause geoparks to be able to create a strong economic product that can help local communities improve their economic level [69].

Currently, there are 195 UNESCO Global Geoparks serving as large-scale area products in 48 countries. Most of them were created in Europe (101, with the largest numbers in Spain with 16 and Italy with 11) and Asia (including 41 in China). There are two geoparks in Poland: the cross-border Muskauer Faltenbogen/Łuk Mużakowa and the Holy Cross Mountains [70]. The uneven distribution of geoparks in the world results from, on the one hand, the characteristic traits of their heritage and the initiatives of groups of researchers in the fields of nature conservation and tourism and, on the other hand, the involvement of local governments in geopark establishment [71]. The process of geopark creation, which started in the 1990s, refers to their concept formulated in 1991 and the discussion regarding the UNESCO Geoparks Programme held in 1997 [72,73]. The establishment of geoparks was also supported by the UNESCO Executive Board document of 2001. This process also reflected the growing interest in geoprotection supported by the recommendations issued by the European Union (EU) in 2004 and then by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) [74,75]. In line with this trend, the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) initiated the Global Geosites Programme. In parallel with the development of this programme, the concepts of geodiversity and geoconservation related to inanimate objects were defined [75]. These involve the preservation of geodiversity with its important features and inherited values. They belong to geoheritage, comprising the components of natural geodiversity that have high value for scientific research, education, and culture as well as socioeconomically important sites. The external signs of geodiversity in a given area are geosites, which are the basis for the creation of geoparks [43,73,76]. Therefore, the geological features and historical and cultural values of geoparks [77] are intended to support regional socioeconomic activity and sustainable development [60,63,64,65,66,69]. The latter argument has become highly important in the process of geopark creation since 2003. Taking into account regulations and tradition, it was assumed that a geopark should have a sufficiently large area and include many important geosites [78]. All these recommendations are met by the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” planned themed geopark with its 154 geosites. One of them is the unique and spatially complex site of Józefów located in the central part of this area.

The aim of this article is to present the geocultural heritage of Józefów as a basis for the creation of a themed town as part of the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” planned geopark. This goal was supported by the following research tasks: (1) an inventory of the geological and cultural heritage of Józefów related to local Miocene rocks, (2) a query of data regarding tourists’ interest in the town, and (3) a diagnostic survey on the perception of the town’s geocultural heritage by tourists and inhabitants in order to assess the possibility of Józefów becoming a themed town.

2. Features of the Study Area

Administratively, the Józefów area belongs to the town and commune of Józefów in the Lubelskie voivodeship. Moreover, the analysed area is located in the central part of the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” planned geopark (Figure 1).

2.1. Geological Features and Landforms

The Józefów area is built up by Late Cretaceous, Miocene, and Quaternary formations (Figure 2). Late Cretaceous gaizes (Campanian) are exposed in the southeastern part of the area. They are covered by Miocene organodetrital limestones overlain by calcareous sandstones and are exposed in the Józefów quarries [80]. They are best known for use in stonemasonry [81]. From an educational point of view, the shells of the scallop Chlamys and sometimes the gastropod Haliotis volhynica are important elements in organodetrital limestones [82].

The usefulness of Miocene organodetrital limestones in stonework is determined by the amount and type of binder, affecting their physical characteristics, including bulk density, porosity (from 6 to 40%), absorbability, and strength. The HCl-insoluble parts of these limestones account for 4–16%, while the CaCO₃ content ranges from 84 to 96% [82]. Exploitation of these limestones is facilitated by a dense network of interbed and thrust fractures, which determines their natural blockiness [83].

Miocene calcareous sandstones have a compact texture and varying degrees of material order [84]. Their chemical composition exhibits a wide variation in CaCO₃ (38–64%), SiO₂ (30–50%), and CaO (20–30%) contents. Due to their lowest water absorption and highest strength among the Roztocze Miocene rocks, they are exploited for building and household purposes [82].

Within Quaternary sediments, the most common are the variously grained deluvial sands, which fill the dry denudation valleys with a layer of several metres. Additionally, dune-forming sands are the most common, especially in the eastern part of the analysed area [80].

Figure 2. Geological location of the Józefów town area, according to Kurkowski [80]. (a) Boundaries of the Roztocze region, according to Solon et al. [85]; (b) schematic cross section (A–B) through the Roztocze region as a flower structure, according to Jankowski and Margielewski [86] and Cieśliński et al. [87].

Figure 2. Geological location of the Józefów town area, according to Kurkowski [80]. (a) Boundaries of the Roztocze region, according to Solon et al. [85]; (b) schematic cross section (A–B) through the Roztocze region as a flower structure, according to Jankowski and Margielewski [86] and Cieśliński et al. [87].

In relation to the flower structure features of the Roztocze region (Figure 2b), the Late Cretaceous and Miocene rocks are deformed by faults outlining different-sized block structures. These structures are unevenly uplifted and form the elevated blocks of the Roztocze edge, forming the Józefów and Pardysówka hills. On the other hand, the Józefów Hollow is an example of a small tectonic trough composed of Lower Maastrichtian gaizes [80,88,89].

The main landforms relate to the geological features of the analysed area. In its northeastern part, west of Józefów, the edge separating the Roztocze region from the Biłgoraj Plain is the most distinct. There is a belt of Józefów and Pardysówka hills (about 350 m above sea level) built of Miocene organodetrital limestones and sandstones. The centre of Józefów is located in a depression (about 210 m above sea level) of tectonic origin, called the Józefów Hollow [80,90]. The town area is traversed by the Niepryszka River valley. In its riverbed, in the breakthrough section through the edge of the Roztocze region, there are small rocky rapids, known as “szypoty” or “szumy” [91].

2.2. Józefów’s Cultural Heritage Related to Geological Heritage

The contemporary geoheritage of Józefów is closely related to the stonemasonry activities of its inhabitants. The town (then called Józefów Ordynacki) was granted a foundation document in 1725 within the boundaries of the Zamoyski Estate. However, the first mention of stone quarrying there from the “mountain on Nieprysz” dates from 1644. In 1726–1728, treasury buildings (including the town hall and the house of the stonemason in charge of quarry exploitation) belonging to the Zamoyski Estate were built from Miocene organodetrital limestone. These rocks were also used to build a bell tower (1860) and a church (1883–1886) in Józefów. Over time, limestone was also used to make tombstones (including matzevot), roadside figures and altar mensa, furnishings for manor houses, balcony balusters, and fences. In addition to limestone, Miocene calcareous sandstone was used to produce querns, millstones, and brewery stones. Before World War II, there were 16 stone mills in Józefów [81,92].

After the end of the Second World War, with the implementation of the land reform on 6 September 1944, the form of land ownership within the boundaries of the analysed town changed [93]. The quarry in Józefów became the property of private owners, who mined Miocene detrital limestone within the boundaries of their plots from then on. This situation has continued to the present day. Stonemasons still work here too, crafting mainly sculptures, moveable objects, and public objects.

2.3. Selected Socioeconomic Features

The Józefów area covers 5.0 km². In 2018, there were 2492 inhabitants, and women were the majority (1297). There were 1619 working-age people, and 480 people were working [94].

In 2018, the largest number of people (223) in Józefów were associated with finance and insurance, real estate, professional, scientific, and technical activities, administrative and support services, public administration and defence, education, health care and social work, arts, entertainment and recreation, and other service activities. Twice as many people (116) were associated with quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas, steam, hot water, air conditioning supply, water and energy supply, and the building industry [94].

In 2022, there were 18 accommodation and gastronomy operators (excluding agriculture-related activities) with 445 beds, including agrotourism facilities. These included 11 guest rooms (151 places), 4 shelters (145 places), 2 resorts/holiday centres (96 places), and 1 guest house (50 places) [95].

The food base is very modest, with nine facilities, among which bars predominate (5 facilities), and the others are restaurants, inns, and pubs. Almost all facilities are year-round, and one operates only in the summer season (field inventory [96]).

The supporting base consists mainly of tourist trails. Seven of them (“Szlak Ziemi Józefowskiej”, “Szlak Krawędziowy”, “Szlak Centralny”, “Szlak Łącznikowy Józefów–Potok–Senderki”, and “Szlak Walk Partyzanckich”) are intended for walking tours. Bicycle routes (“Trasa Rowerowa Ziemi Józefowskiej”, “Śladami Ordynacji Zamojskiej”, “Nad zalew do Majdanu Sopockiego”, and “Parkiem Krajobrazowym Puszczy Solskiej”) and the Józefów Bicycle Rental Centre at the recreational pond [97] make it possible to explore the area as well. Three Nordic walking routes have been organised in the area [98].

2.4. Józefów’s Geocultural Heritage in the Town’s Current Tourism Product

In terms of products, Józefów has two museums—the Adam Grochowicz Museum of Stonemasonry and the Geotourism Pavilion—and the themed trail “Szlak Geoturystyczny Roztocza Środkowego”, whose route includes the “Babia Dolina” active quarry of Miocene organic limestone (with a lookout tower made of local limestone), the Geotourism Pavilion with a lapidarium, and a stonemasonry workshop in Majdan Nepryski. The trail is described in the form of a tourist-geological map [99] available in the Geotourism Pavilion. Cyclical events also refer to the town’s geocultural heritage. The Festival of Ecological Culture and the open-air painting and sculpture workshops as well as cycling events, e.g., “Józefowska Majówka Rowerowa” and “EKOrajd”, refer to the “Babia Dolina” quarry in Józefów. Moreover, almost every bicycle rally starts in the town square, where the Geotourism Pavilion and the most numerous collection of sculptures made of local limestone are located. Some of the routes of the “Trasą rowerową Ziemi Józefowskiej na Roztoczu” event also lead through the stone masonry workshop in Majdan Nepryski [97,100].

According to the literature, only the “Babia Dolina” quarry in Józefów was recognised by tourists [101]. On the other hand, the exposure of Miocene rocks in Józefów by the “Witalność z natury” brand was relatively often referred to in marketing messages. However, the informal and unlabelled route “Na kamiennym szlaku Roztocza” was the most frequently mentioned trail. There was only a single mention of a product object—the Geotourism Pavilion in Józefów [102].

3. Materials and Methods

The following methods were used to achieve the aim of this study: (1) a field inventory of geotourism sites in the town, (2) a query of secondary data on tourist movement in the town, and (3) a diagnostic survey (using an environmental survey technique) with survey questionnaires addressed to tourists in 2021 and Józefów inhabitants in 2022 (Figure 3).

The results of the field inventory carried out between 2017 and 2022 using an appropriate inventory card enabled the collation of geotourism site features that can be the starting point for work on the concept of a themed town.

The results of the secondary data queries helped to outline the background for considering the themed town model. These were collected for the years 2017–2022 from the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Józefów, the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society (PTSS) in Zamość (hiking/bus tours and other activities), the Marshal’s Office of the Lublin Voivodeship (bicycles), and various websites. They made it possible to estimate the volume of tourist movement in Józefów and identify the towns’ tourist offer and the activities carried out to expand it.

Using a diagnostic survey method, tourists’ opinions on the geotourism attractiveness of the analysed area were collected between May and August 2021. The survey tool was an author’s survey questionnaire, which consisted of three thematic blocks and a metric. The first block covered issues related to geocultural heritage, the second comprised an assessment of the tourist attractiveness of the town, and the third elicited a general opinion on themed towns. The survey was conducted using an environmental technique at the lookout tower and the “Babia Dolina” quarry. The samples were selected randomly. In total, 120 correctly completed survey questionnaires were accepted for analysis.

The group of tourists, mostly families with children, consisted of 76 women and 44 men. There was a predominance of working-age people (from 18 to 65 years old), including those aged between 26 and 40 years, mainly with secondary education (42 respondents) and higher education (38). The respondents mostly came from Poland, mainly from the Lubelskie voivodeship (48.3%). Smaller groups consisted of respondents from the following voivodeships: Podkarpackie (22.5%); Świętokrzyskie (9.2%); Mazowieckie (6.7%); and Śląskie, Dolnośląskie, Wielkopolskie, Małopolskie, and Podlaskie (altogether 13.3%). For most of the respondents (64.16%), it was their first visit to Józefów, and 44 people usually visited the studied area for the second or third time. Information about the attractions in Józefów was obtained by the respondents from the Internet (48.3%), brochures or guidebooks (36.7%), and friends (18.3%).

The opinion of the inhabitants of Józefów on the geotouristic attractiveness of the analysed area was obtained by means of a diagnostic survey in April 2022. The survey was conducted using an environmental technique at the town square. The samples were selected randomly. A total of 20 correctly completed survey questionnaires were obtained. There were 11 women and 9 men among the respondents. Half of the respondents were aged 26–40 years, and nine were aged 41–65 years. In terms of education, the respondents were quite diverse: six people indicated higher vocational education, five respondents declared secondary vocational education, four people indicated secondary general education, and four had higher education (master’s degree).

4. Results

4.1. Features of Józefów’s Geocultural Heritage

The inventory covered a total of 35 individual or groups of geotourism sites (Figure 4), which were divided into two spheres. The first sphere included those whose features are directly related to geological formation and landform features, while the second sphere included those whose features are the result of human activity in historical times and today.

4.1.1. Sites Related to Geological Structure and Relief Features

Miocene organodetrital limestones, calcareous sandstones (Figure 5a,b and Figure 6a), and claystones are the basis for building Józefów’s offer as a themed town. They can be observed in the “Babia Dolina” active quarry—one of two private quarries in the town area (no. 006 in Figure 4). The thick beds of organodetrital limestone (0.5 to 1.5 m) consist of crushed skeletons of Corallinaceae algae and bryozoans, serpulid tubes, echinoderms, and bivalves. Whole scallop and oyster shells are also found [82,103]. The beds are arranged more or less parallel to the primary accumulation surface of this series. The limestone beds are separated by thin layers (10–20 cm) of calcareous sandstones and claystones. In addition to the beds and layers of these rocks, deformed by faults and small tectonic trenches, the exposure shows one of the three documented submarine landslides. The quarry consists of irregular blocks of organodetrital limestone and rolled-up calcareous and clayey balls [83,104]. In this quarry, tourists can observe the quarrying work from a safe distance.

In addition, karst pipes (Figure 6b) can be observed at the top of the rock complex, mainly at the hypsometric level of 250–260 m a.s.l. The formations show a clear relationship with the course of tectonic joints at the top of the Miocene thick-bedded detrital limestones interlayered with thin layers of clay. The pits are up to 4.0 m deep and vary in width from 20 cm in the detrital limestone beds to 40 cm in the clay layers [105,106].

It is worth adding that the geotouristic value of the quarry in Józefów, on a scale of 1 to 10 (not based on specific formal criteria), was assessed at an average level, scoring a total of 23 points, including scientific value—8, educational value—8, and tourism value—7 [107]. The geotouristic value of this quarry was assessed as definitely having the highest scores, according to the author’s criteria [108], in comparison with 10 analysed geosites in the central part of Roztocze, reaching the highest scores of 87% and 83% of the maximum rating.

The second geosite is the inland dunes (Figure 7a). They form a single sequence composed of small parabolic dunes. The site exposes two lithofacial complexes: discontinuous silty–sandy rhythemitic in the lower part and diagonally stratified sands in the upper part. The deposition of the rhythemite occurred as a result of the alternate accumulation of dust transported in suspension and sand by saltation. The sand deposition occurred as a result of parabolic dune movement. The sands are quarried as a raw material for the building ceramics industry (lime–sand bricks and cellular concrete). In addition, they are used for mortar and cement–lime smoothing as well as in the road engineering industry for road construction and preservation and as a filler for asphalt masses [109]. Besides the usability value of sand, dunes add variety to the scenic value of the landscape.

Objects illustrating the natural features of the landform are the Józefów and Pardysówka single hills, the rocky rapids in the bed of the Niepryszka River, and the spring of this river.

The Józefów and Pardysówka hills, with heights ranging from 274 to 290 m a.s.l., have been significantly damaged by surface mining activities. A small remaining hill with a height of 252 m a.s.l. [90] is located to the north of the “Babia Dolina” quarry. It is built of Miocene organic limestone overlying Campanian gaizes. It is a natural viewpoint over Józefów, the central part of the Roztocze region, and the Biłgoraj Plain.

The rocky rapids in the bed of the Niepryszka River (Figure 7b) are located in its gorge section through the Roztocze region edge. They are low (several tens of centimetres) rock steps eroded by flowing water in Miocene organodetrital limestones interbedded with sandstones. On the surface of some of the steps, it is possible to see small microforms, i.e., evorsion pits, called marmites [91].

The Niepryszka River spring is located in the initial part of the valley, which cuts down to a depth of about 7 m. In the spring niche, several or a dozen subslope fissure-layer water outflows are observed. The water-bearing layer is formed by fractured Maastrichtian gaizes. The yield of the spring varies from 6.4 to 60 dm³∙s⁻¹. The average water temperature is 9.0 °C, total mineralisation is 568 mg∙dm³, and pH is 8.08. The ionic composition is dominated by HCO₃ and Ca ions [110].

4.1.2. Features of Józefów’s Cultural Heritage Related to Stonework

Objects crafted from Miocene detrital limestone in historic times as well as those being manufactured today are the result of mining and stonemasonry activity.

Miocene Detrital Limestone Objects Crafted in Historic Times

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Miocene rocks were obtained from Józefów quarries to meet the needs of the constantly expanding settlement network. Detrital limestone was used to make foundations, walls, structural elements, cornices, lintels, and portals of buildings as well as sculptural decorations inside the buildings. These objects include, for example, the bell tower (1860) and the church (1883–1886) [92]. The limestone parts of the architectural details in the buildings are currently barely visible as they have been covered with plaster. On the other hand, not far from Józefów, in Hamernia village, tourists can observe the chiselled organodetritic limestone used to build the walls of a paper mill built in the mid-18th century.

Millstones, quernstones, and brewing stones were made from sandstones characterised by high hardness [92]. However, some objects made of sandstone have been preserved in their entirety, and these are exhibited at the Geotourism Pavilion in the town square.

Objects documenting the traditions of artistic stonemasonry dating back to the mid-18th century have been much better preserved in the town’s landscape. The sacred objects (

Table 1. Overview of objects documenting the traditions of artistic stonemasonry.

No.	Site Name	Features/Location of the Object	Number of Sites and/or Elements	Location of Sites in Figure 4
1	Tombstones	By the church	4	021
2	Chapel	Virgin Mary with child	1	014
3	Roadside cross	By the street	1	014

Source: field inventory.

) include sculptures of St. Joseph (1762), St. Dominic and St. Scholastica (second half of the 18th century), St. Luke (1800), St. John Nepomucen (18th/19th century), and a statue of Our Lady with a crown (1906). They are located on Miners Street and the so-called Treasure Road (on a property owned by a family of local stonemasons). Many gravestone monuments, including sarcophagi (from the second half of the 19th century [92]) are located in the Roman Catholic cemetery. The oldest gravestones are also located near the parish church in Józefów.

In addition, numerous statues and roadside crosses depicting Jesus (Figure 8) and various saints are visible in the town’s landscape.

In terms of the number of other objects made of organodertital limestone, by far the most numerous are the matzevot in the former Jewish cemetery—approximately 260 (Figure 9). Their state of preservation varies, but it is possible to read the symbolism, including palms, trees, candlesticks, or hands holding a jug, on most of these objects. The oldest matzevot dates from the 18th century [110].

Miocene Detrital Limestone Objects Manufactured from the End of the 20th Century to the Beginning of the 21st Century

The objects, manufactured in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, can be assigned to four groups: (1) architectural elements and buildings, (2) moveable objects and small architecture, (3) objects of tourist facilities, and 4) other objects.

The first group (architectural elements and buildings) includes 23 objects. Among them are residential constructions, building facades, and fences (

Table 2. Overview of architectural elements and buildings.

No.	Site Name	Features/Location of the Object	Number of Sites and/or Elements	Location of Sites in Figure 4
1	Facades	Private buildings	8	013, 016, 018, 023, 024, 026, 029, 031
2	Fences (including gates)	Private properties	12	004, 012 (2 fences), 013, 014, 015, 016, 017, 023, 024, 027
3	Building buttresses	Private buildings	1	017
4	Construction elements of the shelter over the well	Town square	1	011
5	Gazebo	By a private property	1	014

Source: field inventory.

). House facades made of Miocene detrital limestone extend from the cladding of their foundations to the height of the first floor, and sometimes entire houses are clad with it. The fences, ranging in height from 150 to 170 cm, are similar in form, with the walls and pillars made of organodetrital limestone, while the other parts of the fence are made of wood or metal (Figure 10).

There are also limestone gazebos in the town, both at private and public buildings. One example is the well in the Józefów town square. Its canopy is based on four limestone columns with a geometric trapezoidal form, which are 155 cm wide at the bases and 50 cm wide at the ceiling (Figure 11).

In Józefów, 40 moveable objects and small secular architecture objects were inventoried (

Table 3. Overview of moveable objects and small-scale secular architecture.

No.	Site Name	Features/Location of the Object	Number of Sites and/or Elements	Location of Sites in Figure 4
1	Sculptures	Pelican, Aquarius, and Neptune—by the recreational pond	3	001
		Fish—in the town square	2	011
		Bull, bear, man, woman, column, limestone block, grieving man, warrior—in the town square	8	011
		Jesus—in the town square	1	030
		Various—by a private property	3	013
		St. Stanislaus	1	015
		Queen Jadwiga	1	019
		Jesus with the lambs	1	020
		Mary (mother of Jesus) praying, memorial of the wooden altar in the church, John Paul II, cross, St. Dominic	5	021
		Inverted mask	1	025
		Elephants—by the school complex	2	028
2	Flowerpots	In the town square	4	011
		By a private building	2	017
3	Monuments	Memorial Monument—in the town square	1	008
		By the church	1	022
		Monument to the Battle of Józefów—by the quarry	1	007
4	Small wall surrounding the fountain	In the town square	1	008
5	Sundial		1	010
6	Copy of the pillory from the 18th century		1	009

Source: field inventory.

). Among the most interesting are the sculptures (28) located in various places in the town. Most of them are found in the town square and at the recreation pond. These include an effigy of a woman, a bust of a man, and sculptures of a fish and a bull (Figure 12). Among them are sculptures of animals found in the surrounding woods; they were created as part of open-air sculpture workshops. The sculptures range in size from 2 to 4 m. They are set on approximately 20–30 cm high pedestals made of local limestone.

Also in the square are the sundial, the Monument to the Heroes of the Battles of 1865 and 1939–1944, flowerbeds, and a copy of the pillory from the 18th century (where public floggings were given to crooks or various evildoers) (Figure 13).

Welcome signs, also made of Miocene detrital limestone, have been placed at the entrance routes to Józefów. Some of them are engraved with the town’s coat of arms.

Tourist facilities include sheds, gazebos (

Table 4. Overview of tourism facilities.

No.	Site Name	Features/Location of the Object	Number of Sites and/or Elements	Location of Sites in Figure 4
1	Benches and tables	By the recreational pond	2 sets	001
2	Litter bins		5 sets
3	Sheds/gazebos		4	002
4	Bar building		1	003
5	Toilet building		1
6	Benches	By the Geotourism Pavilion	2	011
7	Bus stop building	In the town square	2	032
8	Lookout tower	At the quarry	1	006
9	Geotourism Pavilion with lapidarium	In the town square	1	011

Source: field inventory.

and Figure 11), sets of benches with tables at the recreational pond, litter bins, and flowerbeds in the square and a lookout tower at the quarry (Figure 14).

At the “Babia Dolina” quarry, there is a lookout tower constructed from local limestone. It offers a panoramic view of the central part of the Roztocze region, the Biłgoraj Plain, the town, and the quarry. The tower, although only built in 2012, has become one of the Józefów area’s symbols and the most frequently visited object (Figure 15).

The Geotourism Pavilion, located in the town square, presents the abiotic nature values of the Roztocze region. Both inside and outside the building, there is a lapidarium of Miocene limestone, calcareous sandstone, and other rocks characteristic of the middle part of the region. In addition, millstones and brewery stones as well as sculptures and small architectural features made of local limestone are exposed at the Pavilion (Table 4; Figure 16). Currently, the building also houses a Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

4.2. Tourists’ Interest in the Józefów Area

According to secondary data, the number of tourists exhibited a steady upward trend between 2017 and 2019—from around 4700 to 5800. Since 2019, the number of tourists has increased significantly to more than 29,000, as shown by the monitoring data from the Józefów–Pardysówka bike ride (

Table 5. Number of tourists visiting the Józefów area between 2017 and 2022.

Years	Data Sources				Total Number of Tourists
	Central Statistical Office—Overnight Stays	TIC (May–October), Including the Geotourism Pavilion, Tower and Quarry, Cycle Rallies	PTSS in Zamość—Walking Rallies/Bus Tours	Office of the Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship—Cycling
2017	1628	3380	754	No data	5762
2018	1068	3535	50	No data	4653
2019	1218	3634	326	No data	5178
2020	774	3274	302	25,084	29,434
2021	961	3317	48	31,327	35,653
2022	421	3280	310	30,797	34,808

).

According to the data from TIC in Józefów, tourists came mainly from four voivodeships—Lubelskie, Śląskie, Mazowieckie, and Małopolskie. In 2018–2019 and 2021–2022, tourists from the Lubelskie voivodeship predominated, whereas tourists from the Śląskie and Mazowieckie voivodeships dominated in 2020 and 2017, respectively (

Table 6. Summary of the number of tourists visiting the Józefów area in 2017–2022 based on data from TIC in Józefów.

Voivodeships	Years
	2017		2018		2019		2020		2021		2022
	(May–October)						(May–November)		(July–October)		(May–October)
	Tourists
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Mazowieckie	665	19.67	525	14.93	452	12.43	653	19.94	502	15.13	368	11.21
Lubelskie	570	16.86	819	23.16	982	27.02	565	17.22	705	21.25	715	21.79
Małopolskie	491	14.52	488	13.80	387	10.64	388	11.85	372	11.21	477	14.54
Śląskie	401	11.86	394	11.14	564	15.52	721	22.02	648	19.53	654	19.93
Łódzkie	204	6.03	257	7.27	165	4.54	207	6.32	212	6.39	221	6.73
Dolnośląskie	193	5.71	242	6.84	270	7.42	168	5.13	214	6.45	204	6.21
Wielkopolskie	193	5.71	222	6.28	176	4.84	112	3.42	103	3.10	120	3.65
Podkarpackie	187	5.53	274	7.75	298	8.20	295	9.01	210	6.33	212	6.46
Pomorskie	170	5.02	66	1.86	68	1.87	66	2.01	132	3.97	98	2.98
Other voivodeships	232	7.02	196	5.63	200	5.61	99	3.02	219	6.60	211	6.43
No data	0	0.00	52	1.46	72	1.98	0	0.00	0	0.00	0	0.00
Total	3306	97.74	3483	100.00	3562	99.94	3274	99.91	3317	99.95	3280	99.95

).

The Józefów TIC data for 2017–2019 showed that, among foreign tourists, Germans and Czechs were quite numerous (44.6 and 28.4% of all foreign tourists in 2017, respectively) as well as Ukrainians (39.2% in 2018) and Austrians (17.3% in 2019). Less numerous were tourists from the United Kingdom, France, and the United States.

Tourists obtained information about attractions mainly from the Internet—63.2% of all visitors to Józefów. A TV spot about Green Velo was also an important source of information—14.8%. Next in importance were “leaflets/folders” and “tourist fairs”—about 7% of all IT visitors in Józefów each. The least important source was “family/friends/recommendation” (Józefów TIC data).

The main reason why tourists chose the Józefów area was the good cycling infrastructure. This criterion, in total, accounted for more than 59% of all motives for travel between 2017 and 2022. The second reason turned out to be the “trend to visit the east of Poland”—a total of almost 14%—and the third reason was “another stay”—almost 13%. An interesting motive for travel emerged in 2022—“a place little frequented by tourists”—at more than 9% (Józefów TIC data).

In terms of the type of tourism in Józefów, qualified tourism—cycling (54.3% of all tourists visiting the town) and leisure (33.0%)—prevailed between 2017 and 2022.

The data obtained from the IT centre showed that, in general, tourists had a positive opinion of the cycling infrastructure, the aesthetics of the town, and the attractively arranged town centre. Negative evaluations concerned the insufficient number of accommodation facilities, a narrow cultural and entertainment offer, and the lack of restaurants with regional specialties.

4.3. Assessment of Józefów’s Geocultural Heritage by Tourists

The questions in the first thematic block of the questionnaire concerned issues related to Józefów’s geocultural heritage.

The main motives for visiting the area were its close proximity to the place of residence (37.5%) and its high tourist attractiveness (28.3%). Less frequently, Józefów was indicated as a place friendly to families with children (10.8%) and the need for contact with history (10.0%). It turned out that only a few respondents indicated the need for contact with nature (3.3%).

When asked, “What is … geotourism”, the respondents gave similar answers. They indicated that geotourism was related to soil, rocks, and the Earth as a planet (69.4%). Some (13.1%) thought that geotourism was concerned with finding and recognising rocks in the field. There were also some incorrect answers (17.5%) indicating that it is the science of vegetation and waters. And as many as 33.3% (40) of respondents gave the answer “don’t know”.

Although the majority of respondents answered in the affirmative (56.0%) to the question “Are you interested in geotourism sites?”, no one explained why they were interested.

The question “Have you visited any sites related to geological resources in Józefów?” was answered in the negative by as many as 64 people (53.3% of all respondents) and in the positive by 56 people (46.7%). Among the sites visited by tourists, only a few mentioned the quarry and the lookout tower.

When asked “Do you know about the stonemasonry traditions of the town?”, the majority of the respondents (77.5%) answered in the negative.

The answers to the semiopen question “Which of the geotouristic assets in Józefów do you find the most interesting?” showed that the respondents considered the geotouristic sites to be the most recognisable ones. The greatest number of the survey participants considered the lookout tower above the quarry (20.4%) and the quarry (11.6%) in Józefów as such objects. The Adam Grochowicz Museum of Stonemasonry (7.0%), the sculptures in Józefów (5.5%), the Jewish cemetery (3.7%), the stonemasonry workshop in Majdan Nepryski (2.1%), and the Geotourism Pavilion (1.8%) were indicated much less frequently. An exceptionally high number of people indicated other sites located in the vicinity of Józefów. These were the rocky rapids in the “Szum” reserve (15.2%) and the dam on the Szum River (12.2%) (Figure 17).

The next closed question “Please rate the most recognisable places/objects related to the geological heritage of Józefów” had the function of checking the truthfulness of respondents’ answers to the previous one. When asked to rate the listed sites on a scale from “very attractive” to “definitely not attractive”, the respondents answered very similarly to the previous question. The lookout tower (21.7%) and the “Babia Dolina” quarry in Józefów (11.7%) were rated as very attractive. The Geotourism Pavilion in Józefów was rated as moderately attractive (11.2%). The Adam Grochowicz Museum of Stonemasonry in Józefów was rated as low attractive (7.8%). The Jewish cemetery (5.5%) and the stonemasonry workshop in Majdan Nepryski (2.6%) were considered unattractive. Interestingly, respondents considered the trail “Central Roztocze Geotourism Trail” as attractive (17.0%), which was not included in the previous question, nor did the name of this trail appear in the open responses.

In response to the question “How do you envisage the offer for children and young people using the geological resources of Józefów?”, the respondents suggested, for example, guided tours of the quarry, workshops on the craft of limestone quarrying, identifying rocks, workshops on making limestone figurines, and imparting knowledge through play.

The questions in the second thematic block of the questionnaire concerned the assessment of the town’s tourist attractiveness.

When asked about their overall impression of their stay in Józefów, the tourists expressed rather positive opinions. On a scale of −5 to +5, most people gave a rating of +3 (24.2%) or +5 (20%). Slightly fewer people rated the visit at +4 (15%) or +2 (13.3%). No one indicated a response below −2.

The answers to the question “In your opinion, is Józefów attractive to tourists?” showed that the respondents found the town “attractive” (68.0% of all respondents) and very attractive (23.0%). A large group of the respondents considered nature to be the most important factor influencing its attractiveness (question 11) (45.8%). Less important were the history (18.3%), the tourist infrastructure of the area (15.8%), and the long distance from urban centres (13.7%). The least important value for the respondents was the possibility of active recreation (6.6%).

In response to the question concerning the actions that should be taken by the Józefów self-government to make the tourist offer more attractive, it was suggested that one common mobile application should be created to promote the entire Roztocze region with a description of all the attractions, detailed maps, and an address book of accommodation and gastronomy facilities. Such an application would, according to the tourists, promote the lesser-known Roztocze towns, such as Józefów, and would relieve the tourist pressure on towns with large numbers of tourists.

In the answers to the question “What … should be changed in order to make the offer of Józefów more attractive for families with children?”, the necessity of improving the infrastructure (places for barbecue/fireplace and places for a picnic) was indicated. According to the tourists, Józefów lacks facilities and equipment that attract children’s attention. Another suggestion concerned better signposting of tourist attractions and more/better promotion thereof on the Internet.

The questions in the third thematic block of the questionnaire concerned the general opinion about themed towns.

When asked whether they had ever visited a themed town or village, the vast majority (80.0% of respondents) said they had not. However, others had visited such places. The responses included “Kraina Rumianku” in the village of Hołowno, “Magiczne Ogrody” in the village of Trzcianki, and “JuraPark Bałtów”.

The respondents considered the themed town to be a good place for leisure activities for parents with children (50.8%) and a perfect place for a weekend holiday (34.2%).

4.4. Assessment of Józefów’s Geocultural Heritage by the Inhabitants

In response to the closed question “In your opinion, what is geotourism?”, only four of the 20 inhabitants who were interviewed answered that it is “tourism based on geological objects/values”. Two statements indicated “science related to geography, geology”. Three respondents associated geotourism with “nothing”. There were also some single statements indicating that it is, for example, tourism based on abiotic nature; tourism related to nature; or tourism combined with nature education, values related to geological structure, and rocks.

The answers to the closed question “What influences the tourist attractiveness of Józefów the most (please rate from 1 to 5)?” show that the inhabitants linked the attractiveness of the area to the natural resources (

Table 7. Structure of responses to the closed question “What influences the tourist attractiveness of Józefów the most (please rate from 1 to 5)?”.

Features	Total Points Scored	Average Score (1–5 Points)	Average Score from Averages (1–5 Points)
Natural resources	97	4.9	3.8
Stonemasonry	90	4.5
Active recreation opportunities	90	4.5
Large number of bicycle routes	81	4.1
History	72	3.6
Cultural heritage	68	3.4
Long distance from large urban centres	63	3.2
Good gastronomy facilities	61	3.1
Good accommodation	59	3.0

Source: results of surveys.

). In the second place, the inhabitants mentioned stonemasonry and the possibility of active recreation (average ratings of 4.5 each). By far, the gastronomy (3.1) and accommodation facilities (3.0) were considered the weakest points of the analysed area.

The results of the answers to the closed question “Which of the geotouristic assets in Józefów do you find the most interesting?” allowed them to be ranked according to the ratings obtained (

Table 8. Structure of responses to the closed question: “Which of the geotouristic assets in Józefów do you find the most interesting?”.

Features	Total Points Scored	Average Score (1–5 Points)	Average Score from Averages (1–5 Points)
Stonemasonry workshop in Majdan Nepryski	29	4.8	4.0
Lookout tower over the “Babia Dolina” quarry	67	4.8
Józefów quarry	69	4.6
Sculptures made from local limestone	27	4.5
Spring of the Niepryszka River	40	4.4
Rocky rapids in the bed of the Niepryszka River	20	4.0
Recreational pond with a beach	40	4.0
Matzevot on the Jewish cemetery	34	3.8
Geotourism Pavilion	18	3.6
Józefów fishpond	22	3.1
Parish cemetery with tombstones of local limestone	22	3.1
Adam Grochowicz Museum of Stonemasonry	13	2.6

Source: results of surveys.

). The highest rating was given to the objects related to local rocks—the stonemasonry workshop in Majdan Nepryski and the lookout tower over the quarry in Józefów (4.8 each). On the other hand, the lowest scores were awarded to the facilities displaying rocks characteristic of the analysed area and tools used for their work—the Geotourism Pavilion (3.6) and the Adam Grochowicz Museum of Stonemasonry (2.6).

The answers to the closed question “How do you imagine the offer of the Józefów town (using its geological resources) for tourists?” showed that the offer is sufficient but should take more account of the quarry and related stonework (4 responses each). There were also suggestions to prepare a cognitive trail taking into account the quarry (2) and to better promote the geotourism resources (1). Quite a few people had no idea about the geotourism offer (4 responses).

As for the suggestions for activities to be undertaken by the Józefów local government in order to make the tourist offer in its area more attractive, the inhabitants suggested better promotion of the town, especially in social media (7 answers) and increasing the number of accommodation and gastronomy facilities (5). There were also suggestions to better promote the geological heritage of the area (1) and to prepare a themed path related to geology (1).

5. Discussion and Interpretation

The results of the research indicate that the Józefów space is multicomponent and interdisciplinary as natural elements related to geology and landform are closely interrelated with elements of cultural heritage. Therefore, there should be tourism products in this area, as pointed out by Lengkeek et al. [28].

The results helped identify the theme of the analysed town. This forms the basis for the preparation of the product area—the themed “Józefów GeoTown”. Such a product usually consists of four criteria: heritage, infrastructure, added value, and organisation and management [41]. In light of the results obtained, the first criterion can be considered complete. In relation to its centre, the peripheral location of the geological heritage sites and objects is characteristic of Józefów. However, the majority of the inventoried cultural sites/objects are situated in two locations: in the town square in the centre and around the recreational pond. This location of sites suggests that the centre of the “Józefów GeoTown” themed area product should be located in the town square. This is even more advisable as tourists have pointed out the “attractively arranged town centre”.

With regard to the second product criterion—infrastructure (everything that influences the development of tourism; complements the existing attractions; and increases the tourist attractiveness of the place, including the tourist and paratourist base)—the strengths and weaknesses of Józefów were indicated by the tourists and the inhabitants. The good cycling infrastructure (tourists’ opinions) was identified as a strength. On the other hand, the following weaknesses were identified: too few accommodation (tourists’ and inhabitants’ opinions) and gastronomy (inhabitants’ opinions) facilities, lack of restaurants with regional specialties, lack of facilities and equipment for children, and poor signposting of tourist attractions (tourists’ opinions).

Regarding the third criterion—added value (everything that is associated with the area and makes tourists feel satisfied—idea, name, image, stereotypes)—taking into account the types of tourism indicated by the tourists in Józefów (cycling and leisure tourism, which altogether accounted for more than 87% of all tourists visiting the town, according to the IT data), two associations related to the town emerge: the cycling routes and the recreational pond. In addition, both the inhabitants and tourists indicated the lookout tower and the “Babia Dolina” quarry or nature resources as the most interesting objects in Józefów. The inhabitants mentioned stonemasonry in the second place. Thus, a symbol or logo [63,65] associated with geology and stonemasonry should appear in the marketing communication of the area. Thus, it is necessary to agree with many authors (e.g., [7,8,9]) that tourists appreciate cultural objects related to geology. The results obtained fit into the thematisation model as a basis for creating a tourism product (e.g., [47]).

In terms of the fourth criterion—the organisation and management of the area (the operation of all structures that affect the functioning of the whole product area)—certain weaknesses were pointed out by the tourists and the inhabitants. They included the insufficient promotion of the town and its attractions on the Internet, including weak advertising of the geological heritage. Promotional activities (name, logo, and advertising slogan) are therefore important, as also pointed out by Idziak [48] and Kłoczko-Gajewska [49], as they allow tourists to identify the area more easily and then feel the experiences and emotions associated with it.

In light of the research results, the core of the “Józefów GeoTown” themed area product should be the geological heritage and associated stonework. The geological highlight should be the Miocene organodetrital limestone (Figure 5c and Figure 6a) with a scallop fossil.

The centre of the “Józefów GeoTown” themed area product could be located in the town square in the Geotourism Pavilion (Figure 3 and Figure 16) or at the “Babia Dolina” quarry (Figure 5a and Figure 15). The existing infrastructure—the Geotourism Pavilion and the Adam Grochowicz Museum of Stonemasonry—should be used in the centre.

It is also possible to apply a hands-on activity strategy [67] by organising a “Little Stonemason–Sculptor” workshop with the possibility of making small sculptures from local limestone. Collections of tools used during the quarrying and cutting of limestone and artefacts made of organodetrital limestone with details of sacred and secular art can form the basis of such workshops. Currently, workshops on painting, sculpture, and plein-air art are organised at a considerable distance from the town centre at the Józefów school complex. As a result, they are attended mainly by schoolchildren and, to a lesser extent, by tourists. Their formula should be strengthened by moving these events to the town square or to the quarry and enriching them with a presentation of workshops and tools as well as meetings with sculptors and stonemasons. They should also be given the status of a cyclical festival, e.g., under the motto “Stonemason—A Dying Profession”. This is especially important as the traditions of stonemasonry are still kept alive in the town.

A good enrichment of the offer could be the organisation of an art workshop where simple geoproducts can be designed and made by the participants. This could be a garment (e.g., made of tissue paper) in the form of a scallop, in which workshop participants will be able to make a journey in geological time. Tourists may also be offered to make their own souvenirs of their stay in Józefów, e.g., imprints of scallops in salt paste or in dough to be coloured and preserved/baked. A souvenir could also be self-baked cookies—“magdalenki józefowskie”—shaped like a scallop shell or napkins with a scallop motif. The application of the hands-on activity strategy in geotourism favours the realisation of its educational function as it involves the active participation of tourists in learning about and discovering the geological heritage, understanding its specificity, and appreciating its value.

The various locations of places and objects of geocultural heritage in Józefów give the possibility of broadening the tourist offer by connecting them with a linear infrastructure—an educational path. The first point on its route, in front of the Geotourism Pavilion, could be activities for the youngest tourists entitled “Talking Stones” on the model of the Steinfamilien in the Geopark Gea Norvegica [68]. When a selected Miocene rock (organodetrital limestone, sandstone, and shellstone) is touched, it tells its story, features, and potential uses by humans. On this route, information panels should be prepared at selected sculptures where there is now no information about their authors or symbolism; where there is such information, thematic competitions may be organised. In the quarry, themed workshops on “Identifying Fossils” may be initiated. A recognisable mascot—a geoguide [111]—may also be designed, especially for children.

A tourist train connecting the “Józefów GeoTown” centre (town square and quarry) with complementary places (e.g., recreational pond) would be an attraction in itself if turned into a vehicle resembling, for example, that from the Flintstones movie. During a ride on such a train, tourists should learn about the history of stonemasonry in the town and the various objects created from local limestone passed along the way.

The “Józefów GeoTown” offer could be complemented by children’s animation activities using sculptures (pelican, aquatic, and Neptune) made of local limestone at the recreational pond. Geokayaking [63] on scallop-shell-shaped boats could also be organised.

The results show that Józefów has many residential buildings, objects of small secular and sacred architecture, objects of tourist facilities, and others made of local Miocene limestone and sandstone. This tradition should be continued and cherished. For example, it would be possible to replace all the benches and bins in the town with ones made of local limestone. It would also be worth planning to change and standardise the shop signs around the town square to original or imitation signs carved in limestone. The survey results indicate that there are no playgrounds, gazebos, or picnic areas. It is worth designing these to relate to the theme—the core of the product area. Information boards made of limestone could be placed next to the attractions and other facilities, or large pieces of limestone could be used with information for tourists carved on them. Such changes in space will strengthen the “Józefów GeoTown” image. It is also necessary to take into account the suggestions made by Geraldes and Ferreira [63] regarding the use of the “Józefów GeoTown” theme in the design of accommodations and gastronomy facilities.

In the process of remembering a product, the so-called product echo, i.e., consumption and memories, is important [41]. Tourism products are most often remembered through taste, smell, and appearance. Therefore, menus of local restaurants can be enriched with geofoods [63], giving new names to well-known dishes, e.g., pastries (“magdalenki józefowskie”) shaped like Miocene scallops or “rhodoid” dumplings in reference to rhodoid limestone.

The offer of the themed town could be complemented by a mobile application, as pointed out by the questioned tourists. Such an application should promote not only “Józefów StoneTown” but the entire Roztocze region. The basic function could be an information guide with detailed maps and descriptions of all attractions and an address book of accommodation and gastronomy facilities. In addition, a game based on the geocaching principle could be designed to “catch”, for example, different species of Miocene shells.

The results obtained indicate that the themed “Józefów StoneTown” may fit well into the assumptions of the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” planned geopark, not only in the naming dimension but, above all, through the direct link between geological and cultural heritage elements. This may result in the planned geopark, as suggested by Fassoulas and Zouros [69], giving local communities the opportunity to improve their economic level.

6. Conclusions

The Józefów area, i.e., a town located in the central part of the “Kamienny Las na Roztoczu” planned geopark, is an example of a complex geocultural site unique in the Roztocze region. The results of the inventory of its heritage are promising for the organisation of a themed town that will be consistent with the characteristic traits of the planned geopark area.

There are still a few themed towns/villages in Poland whose theme is geodiversity and the interrelationship of geological and cultural heritage. In addition to the promotion of this heritage and its educational and touristic function, the preparation of such an offer can be, on the one hand, part of sustainable socioeconomic development activities and, on the other hand, a driving force for the economic development of small and still little-known areas, towns, and places.

However, the survey results show that the heritage is not yet known to tourists, except for the lookout tower and the “Babia Dolina” quarry. Similarly, the results of surveys among Józefów inhabitants show that they do not yet appreciate the potential of their heritage. Therefore, it seems that the interpretation of heritage by thematising the Józefów space is highly important. The basis for the creation of the themed “Józefów StoneTown” is the interesting geology, e.g., the “Babia Dolina” quarry, and the stonemasonry traditions and products that distinguish the town from others. However, there is a need to expand and improve the tourist infrastructure, especially accommodation and catering facilities. It is also necessary to prepare legal regulations and principles of institutional and financial support in order to define the functioning of the themed town.

The creation of the themed “Józefów StoneTown” can give the town a broader supralocal dimension. This requires going beyond the current forms of activity, applying them on a small scale and with relatively low expenditure.

The themed “Józefów StoneTown” will make it possible to create new educational and recreational places and to raise awareness that the geocultural heritage of the Józefów area is unique. Such an offer will also sensitise the inhabitants and tourists to the fact that by spending time in the themed space of the town, they will deepen their knowledge of its history carved in organodetrital limestone.

The study has some limitations. It presents documentation of the Józefów geocultural heritage collected using traditional methods. With the rapid development of new data collection techniques, further research based on the new methods should be undertaken. They may provide new opportunities for the interpretation of the analysed heritage and popularisation of knowledge not only in the real area of the town but also in the virtual space. The creation of the themed “Józefów StoneTown” necessitates cooperation between scientific institutions and the local government, which has the legal capacity to create such a tourist product. Therefore, collaboration is indispensable for the development of a common stance in this regard. The legal form of ownership of land where numerous heritage objects are located may be a challenge. The ongoing exploitation of rocks may lead to irreversible loss of geological phenomena, and processes visible in the outcrops should also be taken into account.

Therefore, future research will be focused on continuous documentation of geological phenomena and processes in the “Babia Dolina” quarry. Additionally, a comprehensive assessment/valorisation of this interesting and complex geocultural heritage will be carried out.