The Trail of the Eagles' Nests - Śląskie. Informacja Tury...

Jura and the Trail of the Eagles' Nests

In the vast area of the Jura and its hills, the castles of the Eagles' Nests Route are waiting for tourists. Traveling along the trail, you can admire unique places in terms of nature, sightseeing and history. The castles on this route include: Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze, which is one of the largest castles in Europe, Castles in Mirów and Bobolice, "Bąkowiec" in Morsko, "Pilcza" in Smoleń and the Olsztyn Castle near Częstochowa. It is also worth seeing other fortified buildings and palaces, including monasteries, small churches and wayside shrines.

Jura, arch. ŚOT

Active recreation

The terrain is conducive to practicing active rest on the Eagles' Nests Trail - it is an ideal place for walking, hiking and biking. Jurassic routes meander among limestone monadnocks, they allow you to admire the views of the extensive valleys in which small towns and villages are set. Well-organized routes, well-groomed and marked, encourage all-day trips. Rustic rocks and caves are the perfect place for practicing rock climbing. In addition, lovers of horse riding and cross-country skiing will find their place here. The tourist infrastructure is very well developed along the trail.

Jura, fot. arch. ŚOT

History

The castles were to guard the border between the Kingdom of Poland and its capital, Krakow, mainly before the Czech invasion from Silesia.

Currently, most of the strongholds are in ruin. The originator of the trail marking the main attractions of the Krakow-Częstochowa Upland was in the interwar years Stanisław Leszczycki, while the design of the route similar to the present and connecting Kraków with Częstochowa was presented after World War II by the famous tourism promoter prof. Kazimierz Sosnowski (1875-1954).

On the section between Smoleń and Częstochowa, the route runs within the limits of the Silesian Voivodeship. The main attractions of this episode include natural curiosities. In the landscape of the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland you can admire the characteristic limestone forms, such as cliffs, valleys carved into the limestone or caves. The Eagles' Nests Trail runs through valuable protected areas, which include nature reserves at Góra Zborów, in the Wiercica Valley and in the Sokole Mountains.

Zamek Ogrodzieniec, Podzamcze, fot.T.Gębuś

Zamek w Mirowie, fot. M. Świderski

Zamek w Bobolicach, fot. J. Krawczyk

Morsko, Zamek Bąkowiec, fot. M. Świderski

Podzamcze, Zamek Ogrodzieniec, fot.J.Krawczyk

Smoleń, Zamek Pilcza, fot. J. Krawczyk

Stary Młyn w Żarkach, fot. arch. ŚOT

Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska, Skały Rzędkowickie fot. T. Gębuś

See more on: www.orlegniazda.pl , http://michal-swiderski.pl/wszystkie-dni-wedrowki/

Date added: 12.08.2013

Agnieszka Łach ŚOT

Objects on the trail

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa

Częstochowa

The Shrine of Our Lady of Jasna Góra is the most popular Polish Marian shrine and one of the most important in the world. In the monastery complex of the Pauline Fathers monastery, people venerate a Byzantine icon with the miraculous image of the Virgin and Child, which was brought to Częstochowa in the fifteenth century. The present buildings of the monastery are mainly from the seventeenth century and represent the Baroque style.

The Ruins of the Castle Olsztyn

Olsztyn

The ruins of the castle in Olsztyn near Częstochowa are among the best-known strongholds of the Polish Jura. A cylindrical, 35- meter tall tower catches the eye from afar. It was built of white limestone, and overbuilt with brown bricks, like a mast of the ship floating in the rough sea. Indeed, the castle witnessed many dramatic events, including the assassination of Maciek Borkowic. From the mid-seventeenth century on, it was falling into disrepair. Eventually, it became a tourist attraction, lying on the popular Eagles’ Nests Trail.

Złoty Potok

The Castle in Mirów

Mirów

Undoubtedly, it is one of the most beautiful monuments on the Trail of Eagles' Nests. A monumental castle building lies on a hill. For some its shape resembles a boat. In spite of many years of being in ruins it is still fairly impressive. The Mirowska fortress is one of the oldest fortifications of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. We know that a stone watchtower was erected in the mid-fourteenth century, during the reign of Casimir the Great.

The Castle in Bobolice

The Bobolice castle is located on a picturesque, rocky hill. It is one of the most famous fortresses lying along the Trail of the Eagles' Nests, in the center of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. The castle is situated less than a half hour walk from the twin fortress in Mirów. There are also trails for longer hikes towards the area of the Rzędkowice and Kroczycze Rocks and other attractive places in the Upland. The castle is an example of the building which after centuries of being a ruin was rebuilt in modern times.

"Bąkowiec" Castle

Skarżyce

The ruins of the knight castle "Bąkowiec" from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries are located within the area of the holiday resort "Morsko", near the village of the same name. Next to the castle there are the two most important hiking trails of the Polish Jura – the red Trail of the Eagles' Nests and the blue Trail of the Jurassic Strongholds. A trip to the ruins of the castle can be combined with a visit to the nearby Rzędkowice and the Kroczyce Rocks.

The Settlement on Mount Birów in Podzamcze

Mount Birów rises 461 m above sea level. It is one of the characteristic hills in the area of Podzamcze and Ogrodzieniec. The picturesque rocky hill with a good view on the surrounding area was already a site the Neolithic settlement. Especially, the top parts of the hill, which form a depression surrounded by limestone outcrops, have important defensive qualities. Today, we can see a reconstruction of the Slavic settlement here.

The Ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze.

Podzamcze

Ogrodzieniec Castle is the largest castle of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland and, undoubtedly, one the most beautiful castles in Poland. It is located on Mount Janowski at the heart of the Upland. Fantastic rock formations, which were used to construct the castle, make the majestic ruins even more picturesque. The castle is situated in the central part of the Polish Jura and it is easy to get there. The red marked Eagles' Nests Trail runs nearby.

The Palace in Pilica

Pilica

The palace of Pilica, also called the castle, is a building consisting of four wings and a courtyard, and it is surrounded by fortified bastions. The residence, whose origins are lost in the darkness of history, underwent many reconstructions. The palace complex including gates, a carriage house and an outbuilding is now significantly devastated. The property is surrounded by a park with specimens of trees, some of which are considered natural monuments.

The Smoleń Nature Reserve and the Ruins of the Pilcza Castle

Smoleń

The village of Smoleń lies in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, on the eastern edge of Silesia, near the village of Pilica. Smoleń is known primarily for the castle, which, although much ruined, is one of the most picturesque and attractive fortresses located on the Eagles' Nests Trail. Its tower dominating over the forest is the landmark of the local landscape. The castle is situated with the area of the nature reserve also called Smoleń.

Bydlinie Castle

Bydlin

Village Leeds was first mentioned in the year 1120. In the year 1388 Bydlin obtained city rights, which lost then in 1540.

Rabsztyn Castle

Rabsztyn

Rabsztyn limestone hill is an ideal place to build fortress. I just thought they were our ancestors, who in the mid-14th century, on the rock they visited the castle with a high round tower.

Pieskowa Skała Castle

Pieskowa Skała

With Slavkov asphalt road go towards. We pass Olkusz, in Sienicznie turn left and go to Sułoszowej. The winding road at some point begins to run the bottom of the Valley, which has a pipeline taking here the beginning takes the name of the Valley of the Pradnik. Soon the first limestone rocks, which will feature a permanent element of the landscape, and on top of one of them already from a distance you can see the Castle.

The Castle of Ojcowie (Fathers)

Ojców

At the foot of the mountains and along the castle's romantic entire Prądnik Valley in the 19th century it was fashionable to host Spa a lot of celebrities. It is worth to stay there for longer, to be able to exactly przedeptać all available paths for tourists and visit other attractions, including the local caves. We, in turn, get in a southerly direction to the Prądnik and Korzkiewskiego Castle in Korzkwi.

Korzkiew Castle

Korzkiew

The first documents from 1352 talks about the top, on which the castle was Korzkiew erected here by the coat of arms of Syrokomla coat of arms. In the 15th century it was owned by the burgher Peter Krupka, then ended up in the hands of the Ługowskich family.

Wawel Castle

Kraków

At the end of our journey, go to Krakow. Towering over the city on a hill close to the Wawel Castle and the Vistula River is without a doubt the most important castles in The Krakowsko-Czestochowa.

Weather

Katowice