Skała Rzędowa in Bzów

The iron cross on top of Skała Rzędowa is visible from afar, because this limestone outcrop rises alone from the fields on the eastern edge of Bzów, a district of Zawiercie. According to the town, it is one of the highest points in the area at 454 m above sea level. From the top there is a wide panorama in which the hillfort on Góra Birów and the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle stand out.

A rock among fields

Skała Rzędowa is a monadnock, one of the summits of Góra Rzędowa, a hill between Bzów and Karlin. It is made of hard massive limestone that resisted erosion better than the surrounding rock. Its walls are vertical or slabby, with cracks, chimneys, pillars and corners. Some sources give the rock a height of 14 m, while the town website says the walls reach 30 m, depending on where you measure. In G. Rettinger's climbing guide the rock is described as Góra Rzędowa.

A climbers' crag

Climbing here began in the 1990s, but most routes were only bolted in 2015. In 2020 there were 34 routes graded from IV+ to VI.5+ on the Polish Kurtyka scale, plus one project. Most have fixed protection – rings and lower-off stations – and most walls face full sun.

Nearby

Close to the rock is the disused Bzów quarry, which once belonged to the Wiek cement works. According to the town it is a good place to look for ammonites and other fossils. The green Millennium Trail runs through Bzów, and the red Trail of the Eagles' Nests leads nearby to Podzamcze and Ogrodzieniec Castle.

Tripto tip

You can drive to the rock via ul. Zwierzyniecka or ul. Biały Kamień. There is parking and a shelter with benches below the outcrop, and access is free. 30–60 minutes is enough for a walk to the rock and the view. Climbing requires your own gear and experience. Remember that the rock stands among farmland – stick to the roads and paths.