Straszykowe Rocks in Ryczów

On top of Straszykowa Góra (485 m), white limestone towers rise above the pine canopy, bearing names given by climbers: Felin, Fircyk, Skrzynia, Weselna, Dupinek, Kominowa and Skała pod Słupem. These are the Straszykowe Rocks – one of the groups of limestone outcrops in the Ryczów rock micro-region of the Polish Jura, a few kilometres from Ogrodzieniec Castle. The hill also hides several caves, including one with a huge rectangular entrance above the floor of a ravine.

The hill above Ryczów

Straszykowa Góra rises south-east of the village of Ryczów in the Ogrodzieniec district. It belongs to the Ryczów Upland micro-region, part of the Częstochowa Upland. It is covered with pine forest and small clearings, and the outcrops are made of hard rocky limestone. The eastern slopes drop into the Ruska ravine, with Ruska Góra rising on the other side; some sources treat both slopes as one massif. Ryczów itself is an old village, first recorded in 1388, stretching for about 2 km along two parallel streets.

The caves of Straszykowa Góra

The massif contains caves such as Jaskinia Ładna, Jaskinia z Kominem and the Okap w Straszykowej rock overhang, along with several smaller rock shelters. The best known is the Straszykowa Góra Cave: behind a large rectangular entrance the chamber rises gently, and on the right a small opening leads out onto a ledge above the valley floor with a fine view. This part is lit by daylight; further in, past a low section, a winding passage several tens of metres long continues. Given the size of the entrance, local people have probably known the cave for a long time. Note: according to the regional tourism portal, entering the cave requires permission from the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection.

Did you know?

• The area around Ryczów is packed with rocks – besides the Straszykowe Rocks there are Wielki Grochowiec, Czubatka, Bazelowa and Firkowa Skała, among others.
• The Eagles' Nests cycle route runs through Ryczów, and Ogrodzieniec is about 6 km away.
• On 21 February 1944 the Germans carried out a reprisal raid on Ryczów after an action by a Home Army unit; 12 villagers were killed.

Tripto tip

From Ryczów, follow the yellow trail towards Straszykowa Góra; to reach the cave, go down the ravine to a small rock with a distinctive overhang – the entrance is a few metres above the floor, just beyond it. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the summit and ravine; the ground is sandy and rocky and not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Leave climbing to people with experience and gear, and don't enter the cave without the required permission. The rocks combine easily with Ogrodzieniec Castle in a single day.