Devil's Bridges near Złoty Potok

The Devil's Bridges (Diabelskie Mosty) are three limestone rocks 15–18 m high, split by deep fissures, in the forest of the Parkowe nature reserve near Złoty Potok. They were named in the 19th century by the poet Zygmunt Krasiński, and near the top of one rock there is a hollow about 8 m long that forms a rock tunnel. It is one of the most striking outcrops of the Wiercica valley, easy to reach from a car park and from the Trail of the Eagles' Nests.

History: bridges that are gone

The name is not just poetic licence. Krasiński, who liked walking in the area, had footbridges built over the fissures between the rocks – they survived until the 1960s. In 1852–1858 the reserve's land belonged to his father, General Wincenty Krasiński. Another chapter was written by the Home Army: on 9 November 1944 the unit of Captain Stanisław Wencel 'Twardy' ambushed Julian Schubert, known as 'Bloody Julek', who terrorised the people of the Częstochowa area. According to the Silesian Tourist Organisation, 13 Germans, Schubert among them, were killed in a burst of fire lasting only a dozen or so seconds.

What to see

• Fissures and the rock tunnel – best seen from the path at the foot of the rocks. Near the top is the rock shelter above the Devil's Bridges.
• Climbing walls – climbers distinguish Devil's Bridges I, II and III and have put up 25 routes graded IV+ to VI.5+ on the Kurtyka scale, all with fixed protection.
• Parkowe reserve – established in 1957, now covering 234.13 ha of beech, hornbeam and pine forest. Nearby are Twardowski's Gate, the Bear Grotto and the springs of the Wiercica: the Elżbieta and Zygmunt springs.

Did you know

Legend says that the devil, looking for Twardowski on the Moon, fell into a fissure and got stuck, and to avoid falling in again he conjured bridges over the rocks. Another tale tells of the devil's castle of Tatarzyn that sank underground. Some people see the imprint of a devil's head in the rock. In 1881 the country's first trout farm was founded within today's reserve, so it is worth ending your walk in Złoty Potok.

Tripto tips

The rocks stand by regional road 793 between Żarki and Janów, just above the springs of the Wiercica, within Siedlec village (Janów municipality). There is a car park nearby, and the Trail of the Eagles' Nests runs right past the rocks. Half an hour is enough for the rocks themselves, but combined with Twardowski's Gate and the springs, plan a 2–3 hour walk. Do not climb into the fissures or onto the rocks without gear and experience; after rain the limestone and forest paths can be slippery.