Ojc贸w National Park - what is worth seeing?
Ojc贸w National Park is the smallest national park in Poland. It covers only 21 km虏. It is in the Lesser Poland region, about 15 km north of Krak贸w. The park is famous for beautiful views, many caves, and interesting limestone rocks. What should you see here, which trails are worth walking, and what places are best to visit?
1. Pr膮dnik Valley - the main trail in Ojc贸w National Park
Pr膮dnik Valley in Ojc贸w is the main route through Ojc贸w National Park. It is an easy asphalt road, comfortable for families with strollers and for children on small bikes. Cars are not allowed here, except for local access. The valley is surrounded by steep limestone rocks with unusual shapes. Many of them have names and local legends! Here you will find the famous Krak贸w Gate, Deotyma's Needle, the Glove rock, and the so-called Spring of Love.
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Ojc贸w, Pr膮dnik Valley - Ojcowski National Park
2. King 艁okietek's Cave - a legendary cave in Ojc贸w
From Pr膮dnik Valley, walk through the Krak贸w Gate and the narrow "Ciasne Ska艂ki" ravine to reach one of the must-see places in Ojc贸w National Park: King 艁okietek's Cave. According to legend, Duke W艂adys艂aw 艁okietek hid here before he became the first Polish king crowned in Krak贸w.
艁okietka Cave
The 艁okietka Cave is famous for the legend of King W艂adys艂aw 艁okietek hiding inside. Getting to the 艁okietka Cave: We can ...
3. Green educational trail with viewpoints over the valley
This is a beautiful, very scenic, and educational trail in Ojc贸w National Park, near Pr膮dnik Valley. The route goes along the tops of the rocks around the valley. There are several viewpoints along the trail, including the most famous one with a view of the "Glove" rock.
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Ojc贸w - Green Educational Trail
4. Dark Cave and the story of Neanderthals in Pr膮dnik Valley
On the green trail you will also find the second cave in Ojc贸w National Park that is open to visitors. Dark Cave is much less popular than King 艁okietek's Cave, but here you can learn a fascinating story about Neanderthals and see the famous Glove rock from close up.
Ciemna Cave in Ojcow
Ciemna Cave is the second longest cave in Ojcow National Park (209 meters). It is famous for its valuable archaeological finds (Neanderthal tooth), and an additional attraction is the reconstructed Neanderthal camp next to the cave. ...
5. S膮spowska Valley - a quiet place with beaver wetlands
The third route we recommend in Ojc贸w National Park is the valley of the S膮sp贸wka stream. Here you will not find asphalt roads or big tourist crowds. The main attractions are rocks hidden in the forest and many signs of beavers living in this quiet, peaceful place.
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S膮spowska Valley
6. Nature Museum in Ojc贸w National Park
Did you know that Ojc贸w National Park has its own nature museum? Here you can learn about the rocks, caves, plants, and animals of Pr膮dnik Valley:
Nature Exhibition in Ojcow National Park
The Nature Museum of Ojcow National Park, known as the nature exhibition, is located in the historic building of Hotel 艁okietek at the foot of the Castle in Ojcow. In several rooms, you will learn about the most important topics related to the natural heritage of Ojcow National Park. ...
7. Kazimierz Castle in Ojc贸w
The castle was built on a limestone rock and looks beautiful from the bottom of the valley. It was one of the defensive castles on the Trail of the Eagles' Nests. Its role was to protect Krak贸w and merchants travelling on the trade route to Silesia. Sadly, only ruins have survived to this day. The main highlight is the entrance gate surrounded by limestone rocks. The castle also has a viewpoint and a small exhibition.
Ojcow Castle
Ojcow Castle - how to get there? The ruins of the castle are located on Castle Hill in Ojcow, at the entrance to Ojcow National Park. ...
8. Chapel "On the Water" in Ojc贸w
At the foot of the castle in Ojc贸w, you will find a small, delicate-looking chapel. It is also one of the symbols of the old Ojc贸w spa village. Do you know why it was built "on the water"?
The Chapel "On the Water" in Ojc贸w
The Chapel "On the Water" of St. Joseph the Worker in Ojc贸w is one of the symbols of Ojc贸w National Park and one of the best-known historic spa buildings in the area. For over 100 years, visitors have admired its delicate wooden shape in the Swiss-Ojc贸w style. Was it really built "on the water" because the Russian tsar banned religious buildings in the Ojc贸w spa? ...
9. Grodzisko and the hermitage of Blessed Salomea
Before you travel from Ojc贸w to Pieskowa Ska艂a, famous for its beautifully restored castle and the unusual Hercules' Club rock, it is worth stopping at a quiet and beautifully located place: the hermitage of Blessed Salomea in Grodzisko. Did you know that you can find a "Jurassic elephant" here?
The Poor Clare hermitage and Blessed Salomea in Grodzisko
The Hermitage of Blessed Salomea in Grodzisko, near the town of Ska艂a, is one of the most interesting places in Ojc贸w National Park. It is a quiet place with an unusual history. Many visitors to the Pr膮dnik Valley still do not know it well, so it is worth discovering. ...
10. Pieskowa Ska艂a Castle and Hercules' Club
Pieskowa Ska艂a Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Poland. It is located in the scenic Pr膮dnik River valley, also inside Ojc贸w National Park. Right next to the castle stands one of the most famous sights in the park: Hercules' Club. It is an impressive rock formation about 25 meters high.
Pieskowa Skala Castle
Pieskowa Skala Castle - Directions and Parking There are two parking lots near the castle: 1) Paid unguarded parking under ...
Ojc贸w National Park - map of trails and attractions
On the map you can see the exact locations of the trails and places described in this article. You can find even more interesting routes and attractions in the routes, places, and nature sections at the top of the page.
Ojc贸w: how to get there and where to park
Ojc贸w National Park is about 15 km from Krak贸w. Because it is so close to a large city, it is a popular day trip for both Krak贸w residents and tourists visiting Krak贸w.
- The easiest way by car is to drive to the parking area in the village of Ojc贸w. However, this parking area is small and often full. If there is no space, you need to drive a little higher to Z艂ota G贸ra.
- In summer, there is a weekend recreational public bus from Krak贸w, line LR0. It is the best way to reach the center of Ojc贸w without worrying about parking!
- On weekends and in high season, it may be easier to park in nearby places, for example in Czajowice, and walk to the park on the blue or black trail. You can also park in S膮sp贸w and reach Pr膮dnik Valley through S膮spowska Valley, or park in Bia艂y Ko艣ci贸艂 Murownia and walk to the Krak贸w Gate along the so-called serpentine road, which is suitable for strollers. You can also go down to Pr膮dnik Valley by paths from Smardzowice or by the so-called Wooden Road from Ska艂a. Regular MPK public buses go to both Ska艂a and Smardzowice.
Trail of the Eagles' Nests - coloring pages for children
How Jurassic rocks were formed - interactive app for children
Did you know that when you walk among limestone rocks, you are walking on the bottom of an ancient sea? But how did a sea appear near Krak贸w? See our interactive app Krak贸w-Cz臋stochowa Upland.
See also:
The most beautiful castles of the Eagles' Nests trail
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