Trail of the Eagles' Nests

The red-marked Trail of the Eagles' Nests links Kraków with Częstochowa over 163.9 km, winding between the limestone outcrops of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, also known as the Polish Jura. Along the way it passes medieval castles and watchtowers, built mainly in the 14th century on rocks up to 30 m high — hence the name: strongholds clinging to the rocks like eagles' nests. It is one of Poland's best-known trails, but most people walk it in sections, choosing two or three castles a day.

Where the eagles' nests came from

Most of the strongholds date from the 14th century, some probably built on the initiative of King Casimir the Great. They stood along the border between Lesser Poland and Silesia, which then belonged to the Kingdom of Bohemia, and guarded Kraków and the trade routes. Over time the castles passed to noble families and bishops, and many fell into ruin during the Swedish invasion of the 17th century. Some survive today as rebuilt castles, others as ruins that seem to grow straight out of the white rock.

Castles along the trail

Traditionally, walking from Kraków towards Częstochowa, the trail takes in:

• the castle in Korzkiew and the ruins of the royal castle in Ojców,
• the Renaissance castle of Pieskowa Skała in Sułoszowa, in Ojców National Park,
• the ruins in Rabsztyn, Bydlin, Smoleń and Pilica,
• the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze — among the largest in the Jura,
• the ruins of Bąkowiec in Morsko,
• the castle in Bobolice and the ruins in Mirów, linked by a rocky ridge,
• the ruins of the royal castle in Olsztyn near Częstochowa.

Some guides also include Tenczyn in Rudno, Lipowiec in Babice, the castle in Siewierz and even Wawel. Counting all the castles and watchtowers in the region, the total comes to about 25 sites.

History of the trail

The idea of a route across the highest hills of the Jura was put forward in 1927 by the geographer Stanisław Leszczycki in the magazine "Ziemia". The first red trail of 1930 was a loop out of Kraków across the Ojców Plateau and the Tenczyn Hills — never repainted, it simply vanished over time. The travel writer Kazimierz Sosnowski published a plan for a new route in 1948, and the trail was marked in 1950 with funds from the Ministry of Transport. Its course has since been adjusted many times to lead through the most scenic areas. Since 1980 much of the area has been protected as the Eagles' Nests Landscape Park.

On foot and by bike

The trail is divided into short sections between villages, so it is easy to fit into a single day or a weekend. The Jura Eagles' Nests Cycle Trail (about 188 km) runs alongside, and most castles can also be reached by bus or car. The highest point of the hiking route is Góra Janowskiego (504 m) near Morsko.

Tripto tip

For a first visit, choose the Bobolice–Mirów section: a short rocky ridge runs between the two castles, and from it you can see both strongholds at once. Another good option is Ogrodzieniec combined with nearby Morsko. In summer the limestone heats up and there is little shade — take extra water, and watch out for slippery climbs after rain. Check opening hours and ticket prices for each castle separately, as they have different operators.