Aleksandrowice Valley

The Aleksandrowice Valley is a roughly 3-km Jurassic valley in Aleksandrowice (Zabierzów municipality), just beyond Kraków's western boundary. It lies on the Tenczyn Ridge within Tenczyn Landscape Park. For a short walk you get a pond with a willow-covered islet, oak-hornbeam woodland and the limestone rock Krzywy Sąd with a viewpoint on top.

How the valley formed

The Aleksandrówka stream carved the valley from the end of the Tertiary, cutting first into soft Miocene deposits and then into hard Upper Jurassic limestone. That explains the steep slopes and exposed white rocks in places. The valley floor is broad and partly built up, with a road from Aleksandrowice to Kleszczów running along it. The slopes of Zachruście hill hide three caves and three rock shelters. Higher up, the valley turns into the wooded Kleszczów Gorge.

Krzywy Sąd and the climbing rocks

The best known feature is Krzywy Sąd ("Crooked Judgement"), a rock 15–18 m high. Until 2007 it was hidden by scrub; once cleared, it became visible from the valley floor. It is made of reef limestone formed about 140 million years ago on the sea bed from the skeletons of cyanobacteria and sponges. Legend says Count Mateusz of Morawica castle accused an innocent squire, and the court sentenced him to be thrown from this rock.

The flat top, with a cross and metal railings, is a viewpoint. The vertical face carries 8 climbing routes graded from IV– to VI.2+, and the Elephant's Head rock stands right next to it. After 2000 the Magiel, Kredens and Przystawka rocks were also opened to climbers.

Nature

The slopes are covered by oak-hornbeam forest with small-leaved lime, oaks, maples and pine. Look out for martagon lily, lily of the valley and broad-leaved helleborine. At the mouth of the valley lie two ponds, and mallards nest on the willow island. Several protected trees, including fine pedunculate oaks, grow on the valley floor.

Routes

• PTTK "Aleksandrowice Valley" walking trail: 2.2 km, about 50 minutes, starting and ending at the ponds.
• Nature trail Aleksandrowice – Podskale – Krzywy Sąd – Aleksandrowice Valley (about 2.5 km) with information boards, running along the crest of the right-hand slope.
• A trail from Morawica via Aleksandrowice and Pękacz to the Zbrza gorge and Zabierzów Forest.

Tripto tips

An hour is enough for the loop with Krzywy Sąd; with children and a stop at the ponds, allow ninety minutes. There is a car park by the nature trail. The path is unsurfaced with some climbs, so wear comfortable shoes. Keep to the railings on the summit and do not stand below the face while people are climbing. Combine the visit with the ruins of Tenczyn Castle in Rudno and the Kraków Valleys.