Eagles' Nests Cycle Trail

Red markers showing a bicycle on a white background lead across the whole Kraków-Częstochowa Jura – from Kraków to Częstochowa, along a chain of medieval strongholds known as the Eagles' Nests. The Eagles' Nests Cycle Trail is almost 190 km long (189.61 km to be exact) and passes the ruins of Tenczyn, Rabsztyn, Smoleń, Ogrodzieniec, Bobolice, Mirów and Olsztyn. It is a demanding route: short, steep climbs, sand and stones mean kilometres count differently here than on the flat.

History: Casimir the Great's castles and a late-20th-century trail

Most of the Jura castles flourished under King Casimir the Great (1333–1370), when they formed the south-western defensive line of the Kingdom of Poland. They were built on limestone rocks, from which they still tower over the surroundings. The hiking Eagles' Nests Trail had existed for a long time; in 1998 it was decided to mark a cycling counterpart – sources differ on whether the route was laid out in 1998 or 1999. Like the hiking trail, it is marked in red, with R-1 type signs.

Route

From the Kraków end the trail starts in Bronowice Małe and runs via Mydlniki, Szczyglice and Brzoskwinia to Tenczyn Castle in Rudno (first recorded in 1319). It continues through Krzeszowice, the monastery at Czerna in the Eliaszówka valley, Racławice and Olkusz to Rabsztyn, then via Golczowice and Cieślin to the ruins at Bydlin and Smoleń. In the middle section it passes Ogrodzieniec Castle – the largest stronghold in the Jura – along with Morsko, the Podlesice rocks, Góra Zborów and the Kroczyce rocks. Next come Bobolice and Mirów (less than half an hour's walk apart), the watchtower at Przewodziszowice, Ostrężnik, Olsztyn with its 35-metre cylindrical tower and the Towarne hills before Częstochowa.

What to see

• castle ruins: Tenczyn, Rabsztyn, Bydlin, Smoleń, Ogrodzieniec, Morsko, Bobolice, Mirów, Ostrężnik and Olsztyn,
• 14th-century watchtowers at Ryczów, Łutowiec, Przewodziszowice and Suliszowice,
• nature reserves: Dolina Eliaszówki, Smoleń, Góra Zborów, Ostrężnik and Zielona Góra,
• worthwhile detours to the Mnikowska valley, the Błędów Desert or Złoty Potok.

Good to know

In the 86-km Małopolska section, 44% of the route runs on roads separated from car traffic and the same share through forest; the highest point is 464 m, the lowest 207 m. Sandy stretches have been hardened, and rest areas with information boards and kilometre posts line the way. Bobolice is an example of a castle rebuilt in modern times after centuries as a ruin.

Tripto tip

Allow 2–3 days for the whole trail; accommodation, shops and restaurants are close to the route, so there is no need to carry much luggage. Gravel, cross, touring or mountain bikes with wide tyres work best. The trail is easy to reach by train: Częstochowa and Kraków are major hubs, Krzeszowice lies right on the route, Olkusz about 500 m from it and Zawiercie under 7 km away. Less experienced riders are advised to try the sections from Żarki to the Amerykan pond in Złoty Potok and to the castles of Mirów and Bobolice, mostly free of cars. GPX tracks are available from the regional tourism portals and the Rowerowa Małopolska app.