Eagle Nests Trail
Encyclopedia
The Trail of the Eagles' Nests of south-western Poland, is a marked trail
, named after a chain of 25 medieval castles which the trail passes by, between Częstochowa
and Kraków
. The Trail of the Eagles' Nests was first marked by Kazimierz Sosnowski
. Since 1980, much of the area has been designated a protected area
known as the Eagle Nests Landscape Park
.
The castles date mostly to the 14th century, and were constructed by the order of King of Poland Kazimierz the Great. They have been named the "Eagles' Nests" as most of them are located on large, tall rocks of the Polish Jura Chain
featuring many limestone cliffs, monadnocks and valleys below. They were built along the 14th century Polish border with the province of Silesia
which belonged to the Czech Kingdom of Bohemia
at that time.
The Trail of the Eagles' Nests is considered one of the best tourist trails in Poland, marked as No. 1 on the official list of most popular trails in the country. It encompasses all 25 castles and watchtowers, and is 163 km long (the bicycle trail is 188 km long). Most of the sites can also be reached by bus.
and the former Polish capital Kraków
. The castles were built to protect Krakow as well as important trading routes against the foreign invaders. Later, the castles passed on into the hands of various Polish aristocratic families.
|-
| bgcolor=#FFEFEF colspan="5" |The Eagles' Nests along the marked trail (*) including similar structures of the Polish Jura
|-
! Royal castles
!
! Knight's castles
!
! Defensive watchtowers
|-
| valign="Top" |
Episcopal castles
| width="10%" |
| valign="Top" |
| width="8%" |
| valign="Top" |
Residential-defensive towers
|}
Trail blazing
Trail blazing, or trailblazing, is the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain — though not necessarily exactly defined — distances and mark the direction of the trail...
, named after a chain of 25 medieval castles which the trail passes by, between Częstochowa
Czestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. The Trail of the Eagles' Nests was first marked by Kazimierz Sosnowski
Kazimierz Sosnowski
Kazimierz Sosnowski can refer to:* Kazimierz Sosnowski , Polish tourism activist and writer* Kazimierz Sosnowski , Polish general...
. Since 1980, much of the area has been designated a protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
known as the Eagle Nests Landscape Park
Eagle Nests Landscape Park
The Eagles' Nests Landscape Park is a protected area in south-western Poland, and one of over a hundred Polish Landscape Parks. It was established in 1980, and covers much of the area of the Trail of the Eagles' Nests, marked as No...
.
The castles date mostly to the 14th century, and were constructed by the order of King of Poland Kazimierz the Great. They have been named the "Eagles' Nests" as most of them are located on large, tall rocks of the Polish Jura Chain
Polish Jura Chain
The Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, also known as the Polish Jurassic Highland or Polish Jura , is part of the Jurassic System of south–central Poland, stretching between the cities of Kraków, Częstochowa and Wieluń...
featuring many limestone cliffs, monadnocks and valleys below. They were built along the 14th century Polish border with the province of Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
which belonged to the Czech Kingdom of Bohemia
Kingdom of Bohemia
The Kingdom of Bohemia was a country located in the region of Bohemia in Central Europe, most of whose territory is currently located in the modern-day Czech Republic. The King was Elector of Holy Roman Empire until its dissolution in 1806, whereupon it became part of the Austrian Empire, and...
at that time.
The Trail of the Eagles' Nests is considered one of the best tourist trails in Poland, marked as No. 1 on the official list of most popular trails in the country. It encompasses all 25 castles and watchtowers, and is 163 km long (the bicycle trail is 188 km long). Most of the sites can also be reached by bus.
The castles of the Eagles' Nests
The Eagles' Nests castles , many of which survived only in the form of picturesque ruins, are perched high on the tallest rocks between CzęstochowaCzestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
and the former Polish capital Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. The castles were built to protect Krakow as well as important trading routes against the foreign invaders. Later, the castles passed on into the hands of various Polish aristocratic families.
-
- {| width="80%" cellpadding="5" style="float: center; border: 1px solid #BBB; margin: 1em 0 0 1em;"
|-
| bgcolor=#FFEFEF colspan="5" |
|-
! Royal castles
!
! Knight's castles
!
! Defensive watchtowers
|-
| valign="Top" |
- Będzin CastleBedzin CastleThe Będzin Castle is a castle in Będzin in southern Poland. The stone castle dates to 14th century, and is predated by a wooden fortification that was erected in 11th century. It was an important fortification in the Kingdom of Poland and later, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.-History:The...
* - Bobolice CastleBobolice CastleThe Bobolice Castle – a royal castle built in the middle of the 14th century in the Polish Jura, in the village of Bobolice.-History:The castle in Bobolice was built by King Casimir III the Great in the middle of the 14th century, probably in place of an earlier wooden structure...
* - Brzeźnica
- Kraków - WawelWawelWawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
* - Krzepice
- Lelów
- Ojców *
- Olkusz
- Olsztyn *
- Ostrężnik
- Rabsztyn *
- Wieluń
- Żarnowiec
- Babice - "Lipowiec"
- Siewierz *
- Sławków
| width="10%" |
| valign="Top" |
- Biały Kościół
- Bobrek
- Bydlin *
- Częstochowa - Błeszno
- Danków
- Koniecpol - Chrząstów
- Koniecpol Stary
- Korzkiew *
- Koziegłowy
- Kraków - Gródek
- Tyniec - Tenczyn CastleTenczyn CastleThe Tenczyn Castle, otherwise known as the Tęczyn Castle, is a medieval castle in the village of Rudno, Poland. It was built as a seat of the powerful Tęczyński family. The castle fell into ruin during the Deluge in mid-17th century, after being pillaged and burned by Swedish-Brandenburgian forces...
- Krzykawka
- Mirów CastleMirów CastleMirów Castle is a 14th century castle, now ruined, located in the Mirów village, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland. It changed owners multiple times, and was finally abandoned in 1787....
* - Morawica
- Morsko - "Bąkowiec" *
- Pieskowa Skała *
- Pilica *
- Podzamcze - "Ogrodzieniec" *
- Rudno - "Tęczyn"
- Smoleń *
- Udórz
- Żarki
| width="8%" |
| valign="Top" |
- Częstochowa - Mirów
- Giebło
- Klucze
- Lutowiec
- Przewodziszowice
- Ryczów
- Siedlec n. Będzin
- Suliszowice
- Wiesiółka
- Złoty Potok
- Dubie
- Grabowa
- Kraków - Zwierzyniec
- Kwaśniów
|}
Picture gallery
- Note: the photos above may include structures located just outside the marked Trail of the Eagles' Nests.