Rzędowa Rock in Bzów

A lone limestone block rising from fields on the eastern edge of Bzów, a district of Zawiercie, is one of the most recognisable summits of the central Jura. Rzędowa Rock is a residual hillock of Rzędowa Hill and stands at 454 m above sea level, with exposed walls about 14 metres high. The summit is crowned with an iron cross visible from the surrounding roads.

Rock structure and panorama

The rock consists of hard limestone that resists the destructive work of water and wind, which is why it towers so clearly over the open, agricultural landscape. The vertical and sloping walls show fissures, chimneys, pillars and ledges, partly shaped by karst processes. From the top stretches a wide panorama dominated by the treeless Birów hill with its stronghold and the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle.

A climbing history

Climbers have been using the walls of Rzędowa since the 1990s. Routes of 8–15 metres have been established here, including challenges of around grade VI in the Kurtyka scale. The northern side can be ascended to the summit without gear, though care is required.

In practice

A car park and a shelter with benches wait below the rock, and the area is accessible around the clock free of charge. The red-marked Jura Eagle Nests cycling trail runs along Zwierzyniecka Street, so Rzędowa fits neatly into a cycling itinerary. It is worth adding a walk to the nearby disused Bzów quarry and the stronghold on Birów hill to turn a short stop into a full-day trip.