Olsztyn on the Jurassic. Top attractions!

Olsztyn nearCzęstochowa, alsocalledOlsztyn Jurajski, is a very popular and beautiful Jurassic town. Since 2022, it has been a city again. It is located in the Silesian Voivodeship, 12 km southeast of Częstochowa, in the northern part of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. 

We love Olsztyn because it is very attractive and family-friendly. It offers a lot of cool activities. In addition to the ruins of the castle, there are so many forest and rock paths that you can even spend a few days descending them. And Jurassic Giewont, or Biakło Mountain, rises in Olsztyn. The sight of this outermost invariably delights at any time of the day and year. It resembles Giewont from the Tatra Mountains to an illusion!

Attractions in Olsztyn Jurassic

Jurassic Olsztyn, although small, is very interesting for tourists due to the variety of attractions accumulated here. The medieval ruins of the castle towering above the town, easy and very dangerous caves, rocks for climbing, paragliding, forest paths encouraging walks. You can get here anywhere by following marked hiking, walking, cycling, horse riding trails and the Nordic Walking route. 

Since 2007, Olsztyn has been surprising every now and then with some novelty. A historic wooden Granary moved from Borowno stood here, a 7-meter-long Guardian Angel made of linden wood by Jan Wewiór, welcoming tourists, new hiking trails and information boards were created, and in 2012 the Market Square was revitalized, which has now become much more interesting. In addition, Olsztyn is well-marked. Discover the best attractions of Olsztyn Jurajski! If you're interested in an even more detailed description of a specific experience, click the blue, linked experience name. Below the text you will find a map with marked attractions of the area!

Olsztyn Castle

Above the town, on the Jurassic limestone hill, there are the ruins of a medieval castle built in the fourteenth century by King Casimir the Great. Zamkowa Street leads to the ruins from the market square - a kind of promenade with stalls and pubs. The stronghold is open to tourists, payable in high season. Currently, a cave system has been discovered here, which in the future will be available to visitors and has a chance to become one of the largest in Poland! Once upon a time, laser shows were held at the Olsztyn Castle. A few years ago, the first, then modest, knightly tournament took place. Since then, every August, on the day of the indulgence in Olsztyn, the Knight'sTournament for the sabre of the Olsztyn Starost has been organized. In September, however, Juromania is widely celebrated.
Address: Ruins of the castle, ul. Zamkowa, paid parking

Biakło Mountain in Olsztyn

Mount Biakło is the so-called Little Giewont or Jurassic Giewont, illusively resembling the shape of Giewont from the Tatra Mountains, although the one in the Jura is only about 350 m above sea level. For this reason, it is much easier and faster to climb it. And it is worth doing it for wonderful views, including the ruins of the Olsztyn castle, Lipówka Hill or Sokole Góry. There is also a metal cross at the top of Biakło. Free parking is available on site at Kuhna Street. This place has become very popular in recent years, even in winter there are a lot of families with children coming down here on sledges, skis and other apples.
Address: Biakło, Kuhna Street, free parking

Olsztyn Nativity Scene

The famous Nativity scene in Olsztyn is located at Kuhna Street right next to the market square in Olsztyn. It is an old, colorfully painted cottage - the Creative Chamber of Jan Wewiór - a sculptor known in the area. It is worth visiting here while in Olsztyn, because inside you can see a moving nativity scene, which the artist has been doing for over a dozen years, currently it is decorated with over 800 figures, including 350 moving, dancing and working ones. The sculptor also creates countless Angels - a symbol of Olsztyn, some of them are also presented in the Creative Chamber. The host eagerly guides guests, also to the underground dungeon, where the latest exhibition related to the legend of Maciek Borkowic and the famous battle for the Olsztyn castle was created, commanded by castellan Kacper Karliński.
Address: Szopka, ul. Kuhna 1

Sokole Góry Reserve in Olsztyn

It is worth visiting the Sokole Góry reserve, located about 2 km from the centre of Olsztyn, which protects limestone hills covered with forest. It is a great place for a walk, but also for rock climbing, because there are plenty of outcasts here. The hills also hide caves attracting caverns (vertical caves located here are a threat to health and even life, and although they are fenced, be careful). On warm Sundays, the car park fills to the brim, but it is large and can accommodate a lot of tourists. There are picnic shelters on site, and the area is extensive and there are a lot of paths, so it's not too crowded. The main path on dry days is even available for wheelchairs. There are several marked hiking trails, including the main Eagle's Nest Trail, but not from the parking lot, but from the north, from the market square.
Address: Sokole Góry, Kuhna Street, free parking

Commodity Mountains in Olsztyn

The Commodity Mountains, or Commodities or Commodities, rise north of the castle in Olsztyn. These are beautiful rocks that offer equally beautiful panoramas of the area. Of the two limestone hills forming the Upper Commodity Mountains, it is called Lisica. Among the picturesque rocks, you can find the opening of the Commodity Cave, also called the Bear, because the bones of cave bears were found here. It's easy and accessible, and connects to the tighter Bell Tower Cave. It was in these caves that caravans traveling from Krakow probably hid goods, hence the name of the place.
Address: Góry Towarne, ul. Mstowska, Kusięta, free parking

Granary in Olsztyn

In 2007, at Kazimierza WielkiegoStreet in Olsztyn, at the foot of the castle, there was a historic wooden granary dating back to the 18th century. The building comes from Borowno, where it stood among the manor buildings. The rest has not survived to the present day, but the granary survived, was dismantled and faithfully reconstructed in Olsztyn. The granary is a valuable monument of old Polish folk architecture. Currently, it houses a restaurant with atmospheric décor, where you can enjoy, among others, traditional ribs with cabbage or trout.
Address: Granary, ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 2, free parking

Zielona Góra Reserve

The Zielona Góra Reserve was established in 1953 in the village of Kusięta, a little northof Olsztyn.It is a limestone hill overgrown with beech forest, through which the red Eagle's Nests Trail leads. At the top you will find rocks, which are a convenient vantage point, and a little below an interesting last in a shape similar to a mushroom or anvil, hence its name Devil's Anvil. It is a quiet and beautiful place for walks.
Address: Zielona Góra, Kusięta, free parking

Cave in Zielona Góra

In the limestone outcrop, on the slope of Zielona Góra, in its peak parts, you will find an opening for a cave about 150 meters long. Behind a rather narrow corridor, a hall opens, and behind it a unique stone forest, composed of dripping columns, the view is fantastic. These are unusual dripstones - powerful, calcite columns, formed as a result of the growth of stalagmites, i.e. infiltrates resulting from the combination of stalactites hanging from the ceiling with stalagmites growing from the bottom of the cave. This peculiar stone forest is the only one of its kind in the Jura, and rare in the whole of Poland.
Address: Zielona Góra, Kusięta, free parking

Kielniki Quarry

On the geological path leading from Spichlerz and Góra Zamkowa in Olsztyn, you will find an already closed quarry, which is an open book of geology. As a result of exploitation, part of the limestone hill was destroyed here, which exposed its interior with interesting geological specimens. You will find fossils - sponges and ammonites, as well as 2 caves - Kielniki Cave and Warehouse Cave.
Address: Kielniki Quarry, ul. Kielnicka, free parking

Juromania

Juromania is a cyclical event held in September throughout the Jury. It is a celebration of the Jury and the Trail of the Eagles' Nests, organized, among others, at the castle in Olsztyn. From year to year, the event is becoming more and more popular and is organized with more and more pomp. There are knightly tournaments, armed shows, concerts and other interesting outdoor activities.
Address: Juromania, castle ruins, Zamkowa Street, paid car park

Knight's Tournament for the sabre of the Mayor of Olsztyn

The tournament held in August at the castle has become a cyclical event inscribed in the traditions of the Olsztyn castle. Every year, the number of knightly brotherhoods presenting their skills increases. The event is a historical reconstruction combining fun and education, hence it is a typically family event.
Address: Tournament at the castle, ul. Zamkowa, paid car park

Market Square in Olsztyn

The main square of the city is an interesting place that has recently gained popularity because it has been revitalized. A great curiosity is the fact that from here you can see the wonderful ruins of the castle, which together with the limestone hill grow overhead like in an alpine town. But in addition, you can walk around the market square, the fountain and interesting sculptures that have recently been created here. There is also a nice bar with casseroles with interesting flavours on the market plate. It sits under the open sky, but in a cool wooden structure in the form of a fashionable terrace.
Address: Piłsudskiego Square

Tourist trails in Olsztyn

Jurassic Olsztyn is crossed by several trails leading through interesting corners of the Jura, such as hiking, horseback riding, cycling and the recently popular Nordic walking. The most interesting are: the red Eagle's NestTrail, the blue Jurassic Stronghold Trail, the Jurassic Landscapes Trail, the Paths of Saint Giles or geological paths, including "In the Land of White Rocks" leading to the Karst Lake in Kusieta

Karst Lake in Kusięty

A little northwest of the center of Olsztyn, between the Zielona Góra Reserve and the Commodore Mountains, there is a unique attraction behind the tracks - Karst Lake, where the geological path "In the Land of White Rocks" runs. Nearby, there is also the red Eagle's Nest Trail and the orange Trans-Jurassic Horse Trail. Karst lakes are a rarity in Poland, found only in the Lublin Upland. 

This is a natural phenomenon related to karst phenomena, i.e. those that are also responsible for the creation of caves. A small and at the same time picturesque lake in Kusięty was created in the place of a karst funnel, i.e. the collapse of the earth. Under normal conditions, water should disappear somewhere in underground cave systems, but impermeable clay has accumulated at the bottom of the funnel and it is they that make the lake remain on the surface. Next to the lake, there is also a gorge consisting of several karst funnels, forming a large depression. After the downpours, it is filled with water, which quickly disappears into the underground world of the Jurassic.
Address: Jezioro, Kusięta Nowe, free parking

Olsztyn Angel

At Żwirki i Wigury Street, at the entrance to Olsztyn from the side of Częstochowa, tourists are greeted by a 7-meter sculpture of the Guardian Angel. Its creator is Jan Wewiór - a famous sculptor from Olsztyn. The author of the Nativity scene, which can be admired next to the market square. This is how the artist created the symbol of the city - Olsztyn Angel. He sculpts a lot of these angels that you can buy at his place or on nearby stalls. Wooden angels can be natural or painted in all colors of the rainbow. Interestingly, every figure in the Nativity scene has its guardian angel. And we have our Olsztyn Angel at home, who guards our bedroom.
Address: Anioł, Żwirki i Wigury Street

Church of St. John the Baptist in Olsztyn

The parish has existed here since the 16th century, and the first church was wooden. The current Baroque temple was built in 1722-29, and is built partly of stones from the crumbling Olsztyn castle. The church is characterized by a beautiful, also Baroque interior design, the main altar with a painting depicting the scene of the Baptism of Christ in Jordan deserves attention. You may be surprised by the large number of angels decorating the walls, but there was once a Brotherhood of the Guardian Angel and thus the angelic tradition continued today by Mr. Jan Wewiór.
Address: Church, Kościelna Street, Olsztyn, free parking

Church of St. George in Zrębice

The wooden church dates back to 1789. It stands in the central part of the village, on the red Trail of the Eagles' Nests. The church in Zrębice unofficially dates back to 1596, in 1789 it was thoroughly restored, which is why this year is considered the date of the temple's creation. The patron of the parish is St. Ida, the one from infertility and mental illness. The church in Zrębice is a log structure, covered with a shingle with a turret, covered with boards. The Way of St. Giles leads this way.
Address: Church, Kościelna Street, Zrębice

Our video

See also our film about the Jura with Olsztyn in the lead role

Bike loop from Mstów to Olsztyn

We start our journey in the car park at the Municipal Office in Mstów. It is worth driving up to the Rock of Love and the Tasarka Lagoon. Just remember that the paths here are narrow and pedestrians have priority.
After the Office, we pass the monastery in Wancerzów on the right and go along the main road, then turn left into the bicycle route (Jaskrowska Street). We follow this route all the time. We cross the bridge over the Warta River and continue to the Apology Hill, where the sanctuary of the Holy Father Pio stands. Behind the sanctuary, we turn into Krańcowa Street and reach the Jurassic Bicycle Trail of Eagles' Nests. Before we get to Zielona Góra. It will not be easy to climb the mountain with a bike, but it is possible 🙂 We definitely recommend it, because for this effort there is a reward in the form of a beautiful cave with unusual infiltrations, and satisfaction. We descend the mountain and return to the trail. Already on the asphalt, we turn right into Szkolna Street and another cycling route - the Green Loop around Olsztyn. In this fragment, you can see the castle in Olsztyn beautifully. We take this route to the centre of Olsztyn - to the market square. Here we recommend a break for food (delicious zapieksy) or ice cream 🙂 And of course, when we are in Olsztyn, you can visit the castle and the castle hill. Admission to the hill is payable in high season. After a possible visit to the castle, we return to the market square and the road we came across here, i.e. to Mstowska Street (first towards Częstochowa, and then towards Brzyszów/Kusięta).

We follow the Eagle's Nests Trail near the Commodity Mountains. If you have time, we encourage you to spend a few moments here. We leave the Eagles' Nests Trail and follow the Warta Gorge trail through Kusięta to Brzyszów. There, to the right, to the Crane and in Malusy Małe, we turn left. This part of the route is very picturesque. We go down the road to the center of Mstów. On Kościelna Street, we return to the main road in Mstów and thus to the parking lot at the Municipal Office. The entire route is about 35 kilometers and can take 3 hours. There is no additional time to visit the Rock of Love, Zielona Góra, the castle in Olsztyn or the Commodity Mountains. So if you plan to see all these places, book a whole day.

Where to eat in Olsztyn

Olsztyn in the field of gastronomy is very interesting. When you don't have much time, you can taste the tasty casseroles on the market during the season. I can definitely recommend you the Forest Restaurant (ul. Kuhna 43), where the owner treats his guests with self-prepared dishes.

The Italian restaurant Friends Trattoria on Kuhna Street is also very pleasant. The food here is extremely tasty, and the charming interior encourages the owner. You will eat something warm here, but also a delicious homemade dessert. Not far from here, next to the parking lot near Biakło, a modern Jura Food Park complex was built.

And if you want to sit for a long time in a beautiful and interesting interior, overlooking the castle, I recommend the Spichlerz Restaurant (ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 2) in a historic building. We ate traditional Polish ribs with sauerkraut salad, and some even trout, which Jura is famous for (you can find the historic trout in Złoty Potok).

Accommodation in Olsztyn

In Olsztyn, I heartily recommend the Guest Rooms Pod Aniołami, run by the kindly Mrs. Kasia. We settled here during one of our Jurassic journeys. It is an unusual place where, on the one hand, you admire Lipówki, or beautiful outcasts, and on the other hand, in the garden, you can dream of the view of the hill with the Olsztyn castle. Even from the balcony, there is a magnificent panorama of the ruins of the stronghold. Each room is decorated and maybe protected by an Olsztyn angel, and the rooms are beautiful, modern and traditional at the same time, with painted wings on the walls in different colors, depending on the name of the room. We got Peace Under the White Angel, our daughters Peace Under the Turquoise Angel. They are all beautiful, and everyone has their own private bathroom and a shared kitchen with a dining room on the floors. The night passed very peacefully, and in the morning we were surprised by a delicious and varied breakfast from Mrs. Aneta Jeleń, who runs local catering and offers meals under the angels to order.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

• Bobolice Castle, distance: 21.6  km
• Eagle's Nest Trail, distance: 38.4  km
• Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 46.9  km
• Black Trout Adit in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 48.7  km
• Błędowska Desert, distance: 49.5  km
• Gródek Park in Jaworzno, distance: 58.3  km
• Pławniowice Palace, distance: 69.4  km
• Krakowskie valleys, distance: 72.1  km
• Ojców National Park, distance: 72.9  km
• Kazimierz in Kraków, distance: 91  km