The Eagles' Nests Cycling Trail

The Eagles' Nests Trail is one of Poland's most popular cycling routes, running through the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland between Częstochowa and Kraków. The route follows medieval fortifications built on limestone outcrops, taking its name from the chain of castles that once guarded Poland's southern borders. The trail passes through both Silesian and Lesser Poland voivodeships, connecting Polish history with the region's distinctive limestone landscapes.

The trail covers the diverse terrain of the Jurassic region. Cyclists navigate rolling hills dotted with limestone cliffs, cross peaceful valleys, and encounter various attractions including historic wooden churches and the source of the Warta River. The route combines natural features with cultural sites throughout its length.

Essential Route Information

• Difficulty level: Moderately challenging to demanding
• Elevation profile: Continuously rolling terrain with over 2,000 meters total elevation gain
• Surface types: Predominantly asphalt roads with sections of forest paths, gravel tracks, and occasional sandy stretches
• Route type: Mix of quiet country roads, dedicated cycling paths, and limited traffic-free sections
• Recommended direction: North to south (Częstochowa to Kraków)
• Recommended bike: Mountain bike, gravel bike, or touring bike with wider tires
• Certification: Officially marked tourist trail with standardized signage

Route Marking & Navigation

The trail follows excellent waymarking with R-1 type signs featuring a bicycle symbol on white background with red stripe. These appear on dedicated signposts and painted markers on trees or fence posts. Modern white information boards display distances to upcoming towns and nearby attractions, while detailed trail maps help orient cyclists at key junctions.

Navigation is generally straightforward due to recent signage improvements. However, older faded markings still exist in some sections and should be ignored in favor of newer standardized signs. The route follows a complex path through various municipalities, so GPS navigation is recommended, especially during rapid descents where turns are easy to miss.

Best Direction & Season

The north-to-south direction from Częstochowa to Kraków follows the historical progression, starting at Jasna Góra and ending in Poland's former royal capital. This direction also provides better access to public transportation for the return journey.

• Optimal months: May through September for best weather and castle opening hours
• Peak season: July-August with extended attraction hours but increased crowds
• Shoulder seasons: Spring and early autumn offer pleasant conditions with fewer tourists

Key Attractions Along the Route

The trail features ten medieval castles, each representing part of the region's defensive history. Beyond these fortifications, the route includes various attractions that showcase this historic landscape.

Medieval Castles: Olsztyn Castle stands as one of the most historically significant fortresses along the trail, constructed in the 13th century as a crucial defensive and administrative stronghold. Throughout the centuries, this imposing fortress belonged to distinguished figures including kings and archbishops such as Wenceslas II, Władysław Jagiełło, and Sigismund Augustus. The medieval stronghold served not only defensive purposes but also functioned as a royal prison, most notably housing the conspirator Maćko Borkowic, who plotted against the king. Legend tells that this young nobleman's crimes so enraged the monarch that he was imprisoned in underground dungeons where he suffered for 40 days before dying in agony. According to local folklore, his spirit never departed the castle, and visitors still report hearing moans and the clinking of chains echoing from beneath the castle tower. Ostrężnik Castle remains one of the most mysterious fortresses along the route, with virtually no historical records surviving in the chronicles about its existence. Today the ruins lie overgrown with forest, while the rock foundation houses the 90-meter Ostrężnicka Cave, adding an element of natural wonder to this enigmatic medieval site. Mirów Castle represents authentic medieval architecture, built during the reign of Casimir the Great around the mid-14th century on the site of an earlier wooden-earth stronghold. Initially serving as a stone watchtower subordinate to nearby Bobolice Castle, it formed part of the defensive system now known as the Eagles' Nests Trail. The noble Lis family of Koziegłowy first developed it into a proper fortress, followed by major expansion under the Myszkowski family who acquired the fortress in 1489. They elevated the residential section by two floors, added a representative tower, and provided Renaissance-style finishing touches. The castle suffered severe damage during the Swedish Deluge when significant portions of the walls were destroyed. Despite restoration attempts by subsequent owners, it gradually fell into ruin and was finally abandoned in 1787, with local residents using it as a source of building stone. Bobolice Castle was constructed in the mid-14th century on Casimir the Great's initiative to guard Poland's southern borders against invasions from Silesia, then part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Like Mirów, Bobolice could not withstand the Swedish attack and was burned in 1657. By 1683, its condition had deteriorated so badly that King Jan III Sobieski, marching with his armies toward Vienna, preferred to spend the night in a tent rather than risk lodging in the severely damaged building. In 1999, the Lasecki family purchased the ruins and undertook a controversial reconstruction using traditional materials, particularly limestone, and specially developed masonry mortar. The official reopening occurred on September 3, 2011. This reconstruction, approximating the 16th-century fortress appearance without any surviving plans or drawings, has generated ongoing controversy, with critics dismissing it as a poor replica or even "Disneyland." Interestingly, the reconstructed castle served as a filming location for the television series "The Crown of Kings." Bąkowiec Castle in Morsko once formed part of the Eagles' Nests system of medieval fortresses guarding the Polish Kingdom's borders. While its history remains poorly documented, construction likely dates to the 14th-15th centuries. From the 17th century, when Swedish forces invaded these lands, the castle began falling into ruin. Today the ruins occupy the grounds of the "Morsko Plus" recreational center, which also features a ski slope with lift, tennis courts, playground, hotel, and restaurant. Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze stands as the most recognizable and frequently visited fortress on the Eagles' Nests Trail, notable for being both the largest castle and positioned on the highest peak in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. The ruins have served as film sets multiple times, including productions of "Janosik" and Andrzej Wajda's "The Revenge." Like other Jurassic castles, Ogrodzieniec carries its own legends. Local folklore claims that on moonlit nights, an enormous black dog appears on the castle walls, dragging a massive chain behind it. According to those familiar with the legend, this apparition represents the soul of the wealthy and cruel Kraków castellan Stanisław Warszycki, one of Ogrodzieniec Castle's former lords. Pilcza Castle in Smoleń originated in the 14th century as a masonry fortress rebuilt on the site of an earlier wooden stronghold, initiated by Otto of Pilcza. The inheritance later passed to Elżbieta Pilecka, who became the wife of King Władysław Jagiełło. The structure consists of an upper castle with a cylindrical tower and two lower castles connected by walls and a Gothic pointed-arch gate. In the 16th century, ownership transferred to the Padniewski family, though the fortress gradually lost significance and suffered serious damage during the Swedish Deluge in 1655. Austrian forces later devastated it further, using its stones for other constructions. Roman Hubicki attempted partial reconstruction in the 19th century, and following restoration work from 2012-2015, the castle reopened to visitors with an accessible tower featuring a viewing platform. Bydlin Castle emerged in the late 14th century as a masonry fortress with a tower and defensive walls. During the 16th century, it was converted into an Arian church and later transformed into a Catholic church dedicated to the Holy Cross. Destroyed by Swedish forces in 1655, it never regained its former glory and gradually fell into ruin. Today, fragments of thick walls and the main building's foundations survive, while trenches from a 1914 Polish Legions battle remain visible at the hill's base. Rabsztyn Castle was built between the 13th-14th centuries as a masonry fortress protecting trade routes, with its name deriving from the German "Rabenstein" meaning Raven's Rock. In the 16th century, it passed to the Boner family, who transformed it into a Renaissance residence with a palace and gate. Swedish forces plundered and burned the castle in 1657 during the Deluge. From the 18th century onward, it deteriorated as local residents partially dismantled it for building materials, and treasure hunters dynamited its tower in 1901. Between 2000-2015, Olkusz municipality and local associations conducted intensive conservation and reconstruction work, rebuilding the gate, walls, bridges, tower, and viewing terrace while securing the cellars and opening the castle to visitors. Tenczyn Castle in Rudno was erected in the 14th century by the Tęczyński family as a powerful knightly fortress. For centuries, it served as one of Lesser Poland's most important political and cultural centers, hosting many Polish kings. The castle underwent Renaissance expansion in the 17th century but suffered severe damage during the Swedish Deluge. Following an 18th-century fire, it was never rebuilt and gradually fell into ruin. Recent conservation and protective work in the 21st century has made it accessible to tourists as a valuable Eagles' Nests Trail monument.

The castles share a tragic legend connecting Mirów and Bobolice, telling of two brothers named Mir and Bobol who once ruled these fortresses. An unfortunate romance between Mir and Bobol's wife ended in fratricide and the beautiful princess being walled up alive. According to the legend, she continues to appear as a white lady, gazing toward Mirów from the walls of Bobolice Castle.

Natural & Cultural Highlights:

• Warta River Source - Historic spring in Kromołów with chapel dedicated to flood protection
• Wiercica Valley - Scenic gorge featuring American Pond and traditional trout farming
• Góra Zborów - Limestone peak with viewing platform and accessible cave system
• Wooden Churches - Traditional architecture examples in Racławice and Paczółtowice
• Carmelite Monastery in Czerna - Peaceful 17th-century complex with pilgrimage routes

Accommodation Options

The trail offers diverse lodging options concentrated around major attractions and historic town centers. Most accommodations cater specifically to cycling tourists with secure bike storage and local route information.

• Agritourism farms - Family-run operations providing authentic rural experiences
• Camping facilities - Available in Olsztyn, Podlesice, Podzamcze, and Rabsztyn
• Guesthouses and B&Bs - Comfortable options in most larger villages
• Hotels - Premium accommodations near major castles and in Częstochowa/Kraków
• Wild camping - Unofficially tolerated on private land with landowner permission

Access & Transportation

Getting There

Both Częstochowa and Kraków maintain excellent rail connections throughout Poland. The trail begins directly at Częstochowa PKP station, while Kraków's endpoint sits approximately 4.5 kilometers from the main railway station via city cycling infrastructure.

Getting Back

Regular TLK and IC trains connect Kraków to Częstochowa in 1.5-2 hours, with regional services available via Katowice. Additional rail access points include Zawiercie, Olkusz, and Krzeszowice stations, all within easy reach of the trail for route modifications.

Practical Considerations

The terrain requires preparation. While not mountainous, the frequent elevation changes create significant total vertical gain that challenges experienced cyclists. Technical sections comprise less than 1% of the total route but include steep, rocky approaches to Morsko Castle and sandy forest tracks between Golczowice and Jaroszowiec.

Most challenging climbs:

• Złożeniec ascent before Smoleń Castle
• Forest climb beyond Wodąca Valley
• Paczółtowice hill section

Route infrastructure remains limited with few dedicated cyclist rest areas or facilities. Medieval town squares near castles provide the best opportunities for resupply and rest stops. Shelter from weather can be found at bus stops during sudden storms, while bike shops operate in all major towns along the route.

Traffic exposure occurs primarily:

• Mirowska Street exit from Częstochowa
• Balicka Street approach to Kraków
• Brief section through Podzamcze on regional road
• Olkusz city crossing requiring careful navigation

Final Tips

Plan at least three days to visit the trail's historical and natural sites. While strong cyclists can complete the route in one day, this allows little time to explore the castles and villages along the way. Castle entrance fees total approximately 150 PLN for all paid attractions.

The trail connects with nearby routes like the Vistula Cycling Route and regional paths around Kraków for extended touring opportunities. It serves as a good introduction to Polish cycle touring, combining manageable logistics with cultural sites.