Eagle’s Nests

Trail of the Eagle’s Nests

The Kraków-Częstochowa Upland has long been one of the places on the map of Poland for us that we travel on a bicycle as often as we can. It is located on the border of Silesia and Lesser Poland, precisely between Krakow and Częstochowa, a land of rocky hills, forested rises, caves, limestone outliers and gorges, unique in terms of sightseeing, nature, and history. We invite you to take part in our bike tour leading through the picturesque Trail of the Eagle’s Nests. During 3 days we will overcome a route of almost 205 kilometers, leading among ruins and castles which still remember the Piast times, among others, we will visit such gems as the castle in Olsztyn, Ogrodzieniec, Pieskowa Skala or Ojców. During this trip, we will discover valleys near Kraków. We will pass through the Będkowska Valley. The expedition is addressed to all enthusiasts of exploring our homeland from the perspective of two wheels. The beauty of the Jurassic landscape, historic buildings, picturesque routes, and great company – this is our plan for getting to know the Jura on a bicycle.

The Kraków-Częstochowa Upland is considered one of the most beautiful parts of Poland. It extends in an arc over a length of 160 kilometers, and its width ranges from a few kilometers at its northern ends to nearly 40 in the southern section. The northern border with the Wieluń Upland is the gorge of the Warta River near Częstochowa, the southern Vistula Valley (Oswiecim Basin, Krakowska Gate).

It is in the valleys of numerous streams and rivers feeding the queen of Polish rivers from the north that the amazing beauty of the Podkrakowskie Valley was formed. These Jurassic gorges situated among limestone outliers and rock gates have long attracted crowds of amateurs of active leisure. On the last day of our trip, we will visit such valleys as Będkowska, Bolechowicka, Kluczwoda or Prądnik.  Castles located in hard-to-reach Jura locations, known as the Eagle’s Nests, are among the oldest in Poland. Castles and watchtowers built on the tops of hills served to defend border areas in the early days of the Polish state. Most of these Jurassic strongholds are located along the route marked out in 1950 of the Trail of the Eagle’s Nests.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Arrival to Krakow and organizational meeting

Meeting in one of the Krakow hotels in the evening with our guide, discussing the route, adjusting bikes to people who will rent them. Integration. If you need a transfer from the airport please contact us.

Day 2 | Częstochowa – Zawiercie | 83 km | 990 m ascent | 930 m descent

In the morning after breakfast, we drive from Kraków to Częstochowa, wherefrom Jasna Góra in Częstochowa we will start in the south-east direction.  The route will lead through picturesque hilly areas among meadows and fields, partly also through forests. The main attraction of the first day of the trip will be Olsztyn with the ruins of a medieval castle. This will be our first contact with strongholds and we will immediately start with a heavy caliber. Further attractions will include Bobolice Castle or Mount Zborów and the ruins of the Morsko Castle. We will stay in Zawiercie for the night.

Day 03 | Zawiercie – Ojców | 71 km | 1 010 m ascent | 970 m descent

On the second day, our trip will include some of the most famous Jurassic strongholds. The first of them will include the ruins of the castle in Ogrodzieniec located on the highest hill of the central Jura – Janowski Mountain (516 m a.s.l.). The next strongholds are Smoleń, Castle in Bydlin and Rabsztyn. At the height of Olkusz, we make a turn from the trail to head in the direction of Ojców, and on the way, we will visit the gem of Jura known as the Castle in Pieskowa Skała. In this way, we will find ourselves in the Ojców National Park. We will spend the night near Ojców, where there is also a stronghold, but we will visit it the next day.

Day 04 | Ojcow – Krakow | 50 km | 700 m ascent | 930 m descent

This will be our last day on the bike. We will initially follow the picturesque Pradnik Valley to turn towards the Krakow Valleys. We will drive down the Będkowska Valley, rest by the rocks of the Bolechowicka Valley and overcome a piece of the Kluczwoda Valley. Through the village of Biały Kościół we will return to the Prądnik Valley, which we drive back to Krakow to complete our adventure on the Krakow market square.

WoW of the tour

“Jasna Góra” in Częstochowa | Olsztyn Castle | Bobolice Castle | Zborów Mountain | Morsko Castle | Ogrodzieniec Castle | Smoleń Castle | Rabsztyn Castle | Pieskowa Skała Castle | Chapel “on the Water” in Ojców | Ojców | Krakowska Gate | Będkowska Valley | Bolechowicka Gorge | Kluczwoda Valley | Prądnik Valley

Tour details

Tourist trip for intermediate bikers. The group is accompanied by a bus that carries luggage. We recommend riding an MTB bike with 2.0” wide tires. You can also go on a trekking bike with a maximally wide tire with tread. Where does this result from? It stems from the fact that the trail runs along very diverse terrain. We will come across the asphalt, gravel, forest paths, roots, stones, and sand. This is the character of Jura and this is due to its geological structure. Can you ride another bike there? You can but at your own responsibility. The route leads through upland areas, so expect hilly terrain. Level III difficulty. What does this mean? Click this link.

How to prepare for a tour?

Ride, ride, ride. To get the most out of this trip you must be prepared for it. Before the expedition, be sure to cover similar distances to those planned and ride through hills; if there aren’t any near you, cover longer routes. The basis is also a functional bike, meaning mandatory MAINTENANCE of the bike before the tour.