Eagles' Nests Landscape Park

The Eagles' Nests Landscape Park (Park Krajobrazowy Orlich Gniazd, OR-leekh GNYAHZ-d) is a Jurassic landscape of limestone rock towers and medieval castle ruins in southern Poland, between Mstów near Częstochowa and the Biała Przemsza valley. It lies on the border of the Silesia and Lesser Poland regions, and the famous Eagles' Nests Trail runs through it. If you are looking for things to do on the Kraków-Częstochowa Jura, this is a good base for full-day hikes, bike rides and drives.

What the park is

The park was formed from two earlier parks, created by resolutions of 1980 and 1982. It covers parts of 19 municipalities: 15 in Silesia and 4 in Lesser Poland. The highest point is Góra Janowskiego (516 m above sea level). It is managed by two landscape-park authorities, one for Silesia and one for Lesser Poland. Sources disagree on the park's area, so we do not quote a figure.

The name comes from medieval castles built high on steep limestone crags so that enemies could not reach them. The best-known ruins include Ogrodzieniec in Podzamcze, Mirów, Bobolice, Morsko, Smoleń, Ostrężnik and Olsztyn.

Rocks, caves and nature

The limestone formed from Jurassic sea sediments about 180 million years ago. There are three rock ridges: Smoleń-Niegowonice, Zborów-Ogrodzieniec and Mirów-Olsztyn, where limestone takes the form of needles, towers, walls and gates. The park has about 500 caves, with the biggest concentration around Olsztyn and the Sokole Góry reserve. The deepest is Studnisko (75 m), and the longest is Wierna, with more than a kilometer of passages.

Around twelve nature reserves protect the nature here, including Góra Zborów, Ostrężnik, Smoleń, Zielona Góra and Sokole Góry. Sources give different counts (11 to 13). You can find orchids, including the lady's slipper, and endemic plants such as Polish warzucha and Kraków bedstraw. About 20 bat species, beavers and birds of prey live here.

What to see

• Ogrodzieniec Castle ruins in Podzamcze, one of the trail's most popular fortresses.
• Okiennik Wielki, a limestone rock with a characteristic opening, and other limestone outcrops.
• The castles of Mirów, Bobolice, Morsko and Olsztyn, plus the ruins at Smoleń and Ostrężnik.
• Raczyński Palace in Złoty Potok and the Padniewski Palace in Pilica.
• The Pauline monastery in Leśniów and the wooden church in Zrębice.

The Eagles' Nests Trail

The hiking trail was marked in 1950 and runs about 164 km from Kraków to Częstochowa. The cycling variant is about 190 km, 104 km of it in Silesia, passing Olsztyn, Złoty Potok, Żarki, Mirów, Bobolice, Podzamcze, Smoleń and Olkusz on the way to Kraków. It usually takes three to four days by bike or four to eight on foot.

How long to plan

For one place, such as Ogrodzieniec and the nearby rocks, plan half a day. To see the park on two or three routes you need 2-3 days. Castles and other sites have their own hours and tickets.

Where it is and how to get here

The park lies between Częstochowa and Olkusz. Katowice and Kraków are the nearest big cities, usually an hour to an hour and a half by car. A car is the easiest option, for example to Podzamcze, Zawiercie or Olsztyn. Public transport to some sites is limited, so check timetables for Zawiercie, Olsztyn and Olkusz. We did not verify parking from an official source. The currency is the Polish zloty (PLN).

Practical information (as of October 2026)

The landscape park has no gates and is accessible all year, and walking in the open terrain is free. Fees apply to specific sites such as castles, so check their official pages. For park information, contact the Silesian Landscape Parks Authority: biurozpk@zpk.com.pl, phone +48 32 267 44 82, zpk.com.pl. The park also has a mobile app.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes. It is one of the most photogenic regions of southern Poland, with limestone towers, forests and ruined castles, and it is easy to combine with Kraków or Katowice.

Nearby

Combine the park with the Eagles' Nests Trail, the Jurassic cycle route, Okiennik Wielki, Jaskinia Głęboka, the Ostrężnik reserve and the castle in Olsztyn.