Trail of the Eagles' Nests

The Trail of the Eagles' Nests links Kraków with Częstochowa along a 163.9 km red-marked route through the limestone outliers of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. On the way it passes 12 major strongholds — from Korzkiew and Ojców via Pieskowa Skała, Rabsztyn, Ogrodzieniec, Bobolice and Mirów to Olsztyn near Częstochowa. The castles have been built from quarried limestone since the 14th century, perched on rocks rising up to 30 metres, so the ruins seem to grow straight out of the white crags.

How the trail got its name — and its shape

The name comes from castles 'nesting' on inaccessible rocks, where — so tradition goes — eagles once bred. The idea for the trail was published in 1927 by the journal Ziemia. The first version, laid out in 1930 as a loop from Kraków, all but vanished from the maps for lack of trail maintenance. The present route was laid out in 1950, funded by the Ministry of Transport, after a design by Kazimierz Sosnowski from 1948.

Which nests to see first

For a day or a weekend, pick two or three: Ogrodzieniec in Podzamcze (the largest ruin on the trail), the Renaissance castle of Pieskowa Skała above the Prądnik valley in Ojców National Park, and the twin castles of Bobolice and Mirów, joined by a ridge with a view of both at once. You can also ride the same route by bike — the Jurajski Rowerowy Szlak Orlich Gniazd cycling trail runs in parallel.

Practical notes

The highest point of the route is Góra Janowskiego (504 m a.s.l.) near Morsko. The trail splits into short stretches between villages, so it is easy to fit a section into a single day. In summer the rocks are hot and almost shadeless — carry plenty of water. After rain, the limestone ascents get slippery.