The Eagles' Nests Trail. The most beautiful castles in the Jura and other attractions of the trail.

The red-marked Eagle's Nest Trail is the most important, and at the same time the most popular tourist trail in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, running from Częstochowa to Kraków or vice versa. This main route of the region leads to the most interesting corners and objects of the Jury. Particularly noteworthy here are the eagle nests, i.e. gothic fortified castles,perched on rock massifs.

Castles on the Eagle's Nest Trail

Walking the Jurassic Eagle's Nest Trail, you will get to know most of the Jurassic strongholds and watchtowers. From the north, these are:

• The monastery on Jasna Góra- at the beginning it dates back to the end of the fourteenth century, the treasure here is a miraculous picture of MB with a Child from the first half of the fifteenth century, from the sixteenth century the hill was fortified and during the flood it resisted the Swedes
• Castle in Olsztyn - it was erected in the fourteenth century by King Casimir the Great, and apart from the Swedes, in the sixteenth century it was attacked by Archduke Maximilian Habsburg. Today, the ruins are available for a fee, and an interesting museum is being prepared for opening in their area
• Ostrężnik Castle - these are only faint traces of the former Gothic castle from the 14th century
• Castle in Mirow - the brotherly castle of Bobolic, today belonging to the Lasecki family, the medieval stronghold of Kazimierz Wielki has been rebuilt for years and is soon to be available for sightseeing
• Bobolice Castle- one of the few entire fortified buildings in the Jura. This gothic castle was rebuilt by Senator Lasecki and today it is a gem in the Jura, available for paid sightseeing
• Bąkowiec Castle in Morsko - the ruins of a gothic castle perfectly integrated into the rocks, you can admire them from the outside
• The castle in Siewierz - magnificent ruins are a trace of the Gothic castle of the Silesian princes, and later the beautiful residence of the bishops of Krakow. Today it is made available in the season by the municipality of Siewierz
• Castle on Mount Birów- reconstructed in 2008 and made available for visiting castles from the 10th-13th century, you can buy a joint ticket with the Ogrodzieniec castle. You have to walk to the castle
• Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze - the most magnificent stronghold in the Jura, or rather extensive ruins, available for tourists for a fee. They come from the 14th century, but the Boners later built a mansion here compared to Wawel
• Pilcza Castle in Smolen - secured and made available for visiting the ruins of a 14th-century castle, on the border of the Silesian and Lesser Poland Voivodeships
• Castle in Bydlin - small ruins of the castle, because in fact there is not much of the stronghold left, it is Małopolska
• Rabsztyn Castle - nicely secured and available for a fee the ruins of a 14th-century castle, with a viewpoint on the tower and a cafe in the cellars of the former palace
• Castle Pieskowa Skała - a Renaissance gem in the Ojców National Park, available for tourists for a fee. It boasts a beautiful courtyard with cloisters and a scenic bastion with a cafe
• Castle of the Fathers - erected by Casimir the Great and named after his father Łokietek, who protected himself in these areas from the Czech king Wenceslas II
• Korzkiew Castle- very nice, rebuilt private castle, offering restaurant and accommodation
• Wawel Royal Castle - the legendary hill of Polish kings

Why so many castles in the Jura?

In the Middle Ages, these were the border areas of the Kingdom of Poland, which is why strongholds and watchtowers were erected along the borders. Their founder was, to a large extent, King Casimir the Great. He exhibited Olsztyn, Bobolice, Mirów, Będzin, as well as Ojców and Pieskowa Skała. Mighty families and clergy, in turn, were built by Siewierz, Ogrodzieniec, Morsko, Bydlin, Rabsztyn, Korzkiew, Smoleń and Tenczyn. The end of the glory and military importance of these castles came during the Swedish Deluge, in the middle of the 17th century.

Where did the name of the eagle's nest come from?

It was from these Jurassic strongholds that the name of the trail came, because the medieval defensive castles sat on the Jurassic on high rocks like eagles' nests. These former, border strongholds are built in places that are very difficult to reach. They were perfectly integrated into massive limestone outcrops, so they formed an inseparable whole with the Jurassic hills. Thanks to this, for centuries they were difficult to conquer and unattainable, like habitats of wild birds. They were an important defense link of the country. This name was created in 1857 by the poet and hiker - Wiktoryn Zieliński.

Map of the Eagle's Nest Trail

Below on the map, we presented the route of the Trail with marked castles in blue. We have also added other interesting attractions on the route, marked in yellow.

Length of the Eagle's Nest Trail

The length of the Trail leading through a very picturesque area is quite large. It is over 163 km long! It is best to walk it and divide the march into several days, sleeping in facilities located along the route of red signs. This is the best way to feel the character and atmosphere of this place. This challenge is still ahead of us, because we have gone through many parts of the Trail, but never in their entirety.

The Eagle's Nest Trail also has its own separate route as a bicycle route. It is the Eagle's Nest Bicycle Trail with a length of about 190 km. For lovers of two wheels, this is a fantastic thing, although it should be remembered that there are ups and downs in the Jura and there are quite tiring sections.

Eagle's Nest Trail -  route

The trail begins (or ends) at the Old Market Square in Częstochowa and runs southeast to Krakow, where it ends at the Krowodrza Górka housing estate. Its course through the towns is as follows:

Kraków - Wawel - Giebułtów - Prądnik Korzkiewski - Ojców i Opn - Rabsztyn - Olkusz - Bydlin - Dolina Wodącej - Smoleń - Pilica - Podzamcze - Okiennik Wielki - Skarżyce - Morsko - Kroczyce - Góra Zborów - Bobolice - Mirów - Ostrężnik - Park Reserve - Złoty Potok - Zrębice - Sokole Góry Reserve - Olsztyn - Kusięta - Zielona Góra Reserve - Jasna Góra - Częstochowa Stary Rynek

Other attractions on the Eagle's Nest Trail

On the route of the Trail, you will meet not only fortified buildings, but also other attractions worth visiting and getting to know, such as caves or rocks. Here are the most interesting ones.

Caves:

• Dark Cave in Ojców - open for sightseeing during the tourist season
• Deep Cave in Podlesice - open to the public during the tourist season
• Unavailable caves in the Sokole Góry reserve, e.g. Pod Sokolą Górą

Ostańce:

• Mountain ofChoirs in Podlesice- a beautiful viewpoint and walking area
• Kroczyckie and Podlesickie Rocks- climbing center in the northern Jura
• The Great Shutter - a rock symbol of the northern Jurassic - a very beautiful and interesting last with a large opening. It is a remnant of an old cave
• Twardowski Gate in Złoty Potok - a last man lost in the forest in the Park Reserve, shrouded in legend. It has the form of a gate with a large opening, hence the name
• The club of Hercules in the Ojców National Park - stands under the castle of Pieszkowa Skała and is a symbol of the entire Jurassic. It is even known to children because they learn about it in school
• Krakow Gate in Ojców - a magnificent rock gate rises in the picturesque Prądnik Valley

Recreation:

• Ski lift and sports and recreation complex in Morsk
• Ogrodzieniec Miniature Park - you will see replicas of most Jurassic strongholds in one place, next to which there is an Amusement Park, Physical Experience Park and the House of Legends and Fears.

European unique - Błędowska Desert!

A little outside the Eagle's Nests Trail, but very close you will also meet an unusual curiosity - the Błędowska Desert, offering large areas of exposed sand. Until 100 years ago, the phenomenon of fatamorgans and sandstorms was observed here. It is the largest cluster of discovered sands in Europe. There are several convenient vantage points, one of the coolest is the Rose of the Windsin the Keys.

Eagle's Nests Trail - only on foot in some places

We have already wandered along this trail many times, on various parts of it, both in the northern part of the Jurassic and in the southern part, so we know that it is impossible to cross the Eagles' Nests Trail by car in its entirety. It is worth going on foot, by bike or even on horseback. The Eagle's Nest Trail was invented in the 1920s. Of the twentieth century, but infact it was only in the years 1948-50 that Kazimierz Sosnowski - the father of modern Polish tourism - set it out. Later, it was only modified to lead the way through the most interesting fragments of the Jury.

Unfortunately, one of the last changes was not positive, but forced by private property. It is a fragment of the Eagles' Nests Trail leading to the formerly extremely picturesque Mirowska Gate, between the castles in Mirow and Bobolice. Now this section is to be paid, and the trail was led next to the asphalt road. This is a big loss, because it is a very scenic and pleasant fragment. 

I highly recommend hiking the entire Eagle's Nest Trail, because Jura is a wonderful tourist region, one of my favorites in Poland, which we have at our fingertips.

Gold POT Certificate for the Trail

In 2010, the Eagle's Nest Trail received the certificate of the Polish Tourist Organization for the best tourist product of the year, and in 2012 the Trail received the Gold Certificate of the Polish Tourist Organization and thus became the Best Tourist Product of Poland. This is a great distinction that few Polish attractions can boast of!

The trail of the Eagles' Nests amazes tourists, on the one hand with its simplicity and naturalness, and on the other hand with new attractions. There are places extremely popular and full of tourists, as well as corners where you rarely meet a living spirit. That's why the Eagle's Nest Trail is so magical.

A film about the castles of the Eagle's Nest Trail

I invite you to watch our video with the most beautiful, our opinion, strongholds from this region.

Practical information

All year round 24/7
red marked trail In many places the
trail is inaccessible to wheelchairs
Mostly accessible to dogs
The official website of the trail: https://orlegniazda.pl/

Trail of Eagles' Nests -
ZGJ Wolności 42, Ogrodzieniec
tel. 32/673-33-64