Trans-Jura Horse Trail

Eight days in the saddle from Olszanica on the edge of Kraków to Częstochowa, with nights in riding stables and views of the ruined Eagles' Nests castles – that is how the mountain riding committee of PTTK, the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society, describes the Trans-Jura Horse Trail. The route was laid out in 2007 along the lines of the Trail of the Eagles' Nests and is waymarked in orange. Its length varies by source – from 204 km to 277 km (the regional Śląskie Travel portal, including link routes).

Stages of the trail

PTTK divides the trail into one-day stages, each ending at a base with accommodation for rider and horse:

1. Olszanica – Nielepice – starting at the riding centre in Olszanica, then the Rudawa valley, the Kmita Rock, the Zabierzów Forest (about 500 ha) and the Wodny Dół gorge; finishing at the Hucul horse stud in Nielepice.
2. Nielepice – Zawada (about 8 hours) via Rudawa, Radwanowice, the Racławka valley and Paczółtowice.
3. Zawada – Małobądz (about 11.5 hours) – past the ruins of the 14th-century castle at Rabsztyn, over the Pomorzany rocks to the Błędów Desert, where a signpost in the middle of the sand points to the stable.
4. Małobądz – Karlin (about 8 h 15 min) – fording the Biała Przemsza river and passing the ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze.
5. Karlin – Mirów (about 6 h 45 min) via Żerkowice and Zdów to Bobolice and Mirów – two castles that legend says were linked by a two-kilometre tunnel.
6. Mirów – Złoty Potok (about 5 h 45 min) via Łutowiec, past the Ostrężnik and Parkowe nature reserves; in Złoty Potok there is the Raczyński palace of 1863 and a 25-hectare park.
7. Złoty Potok – Biskupice (about 5 hours).
8. Biskupice – Częstochowa-Mirów (about 6 hours, 25 km) past the castle ruins in Olsztyn to the TKKF "Pegaz" riding centre.

Further north

The trail has been extended from Częstochowa towards Wieluń by a section called the Wieluń Jura Trail – via Mstów, Kruszyna, the Warta gorge near Działoszyn and Załęcze. PTTK awards a free badge to riders who complete the whole trails; you collect stamps at the riding centres along the way.

Who is it for

The trail suits riders with their own horse, or those who hire a horse and guide at one of the stables. Some stretches require leading horses across busy roads – PTTK warns, for example, about crossing the main road at Zederman on the third stage. Your horse should therefore be calm in traffic.

Tripto tip

You do not have to ride the whole route – a good one-day choice is Mirów – Złoty Potok, with two castles at the start and nature reserves along the way. Book overnight stays and stabling directly with the stables well in advance. Before you set off, download the current route description from the PTTK website, as PTTK describes alternative routes on some sections.