The most beautiful castles of the Eagles' Nests trail

The "Eagles' Nests" trail is one of the most popular tourist routes in Poland! The route is over 160 km long, connecting Krakow with Czestochowa, and takes you through the most beautiful parts of the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland and 11 castles and their ruins.

Where does the name Eagles' Nests trail come from?

The castles were built on the tops of limestone rocks, where they still dominate the valleys - just like eagles build their nests in such places, hence the castles were called "Eagles' Nests".

The history of the "Eagles' Nests" dates back to the Middle Ages, more precisely to the reign of King Casimir the Great, when many fortresses and defensive castles were built in these areas to protect the borders of the Kingdom of Poland and trade routes - in the 15th century, the border of Poland ran through the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland. Interestingly, the funds for the construction of the castles came from the exploitation of rich salt deposits in the Wieliczka and Bochnia regions.

Today, many castles and ruins are tourist attractions, attracting visitors with their history and extraordinary architecture. Discover with us the most beautiful fortresses of the Eagles' Nests trail!

1. Ogrodzieniec Castle

This is one of the largest and most impressive castles on the Eagles' Nests Trail. Its ruins are picturesquely located on the highest elevation of the Upland - Janowski Mountain 504 m above sea level. The castle was used as a filming location for the iconic "Janosik", "Revenge", and in April 2019, some scenes for the series "The Witcher" were also shot here. No wonder it attracts about 200 thousand tourists every year! Children particularly enjoy the evening shows of castle ghosts and Sunday knight tournaments held at the castle.

Ogrodzieniec Castle

Ogrodzieniec Castle - sightseeingThe castle is actually located in the town of Podzamcze, 2 km beyond Ogrodzieniec. It is one of the ...

2. Mirów and Bobolice Castles

These are two impressive castles located a short distance from each other - about 1 km. The Bobolice Castle, which has been restored, made a particularly strong impression on us - so we are not dealing with a ruin, as is the case with other fortresses of the Eagles' Nests Trail. Mirow Castle has appeared in many films, including Mr. Car's "Prague Secrets", the music video for "Brave Merida", and in "Friend of a Merry Devil".

Bobolice Castle

Located on a steep, rocky hill, the castle in Bobolice was just a ruin a few decades ago - today it is undoubtedly one of the most attractive castles of the Krakow-Częstochowa Upland ...

Mirow Castle - sightseeing, history and trivia

Mirow Castle was built around the 14th century next to the village of Mirow during the reign of King Casimir the Great. ...

3. Pilcza Castle in Smolen

A characteristic point of the castle is the round castle tower, visible from afar, offering a beautiful view of the surrounding area. The panorama from the castle tower in Smolen is one of the most beautiful among the viewpoints of the Eagles' Nests!

Pilcza Castle, Smoleń

Visiting Pilcza Castle in Smoleń. My children love castles, especially those in nature and ruins. Pilcza Castle in ...

4. Castle in Olsztyn near Czestochowa

The picturesque ruins of the castle located 15 kilometers from Czestochowa in the small town of Olsztyn are one of the most famous and recognizable among the "Eagles' Nests". Our gaze is immediately drawn to the cylindrical, high tower and the rock formations surrounding the castle. Around the castle, there is a vast meadow with a beautiful view of the surrounding area - the town of Olsztyn located below and the surrounding rock reserve.

Ruins of Olsztyn Castle near Czestochowa

The picturesque ruins of a castle located 15 kilometers from Czestochowa in the small town of Olsztyn are one of the most famous and recognizable castles among the "Eagle's Nests". ...

5. Rabsztyn Castle

The ruins of Rabsztyn Castle are located less than 3 km from Olkusz. Its name comes from the German "Rabenstein", which means "Raven Rock". No document has survived to this day concerning the beginnings of the Rabsztyn castle. So we do not know who its founder was and when exactly it was built. The ruins of the castle have gained more tourist attraction after a recent reconstruction - a viewing tower was added, among other things.

Rabsztyn Castle

Rabsztyn Castle - how to get there? Rabsztyn Castle is located near Olkusz, about 40 km from Krakow (take the road to O ...

6. Castle on Pieskowa Skala

Located at the large limestone monadnock - Hercules' Mace, the Castle on Pieskowa Skala is one of the most famous castles in Poland! It is located in the Ojcow National Park. There is a museum in the castle, but its old furnishings or equipment have not survived, and the collection comes from the Royal Castle on Wawel.

Pieskowa Skala Castle

Pieskowa Skala Castle - Directions and Parking There are two parking lots near the castle: 1) Paid unguarded parking under ...

7. Castle in Ojcow

The main decoration of the castle is above all the entrance gate surrounded by limestone rocks. In the past, to reach it, one had to cross a drawbridge suspended over a moat. In the walls of the gate, traces of the gate locking system and stone pillars supporting the drawbridge have survived to this day. There is a small exhibition inside the gate building with a model showing the former appearance of the castle.

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. ...

Eagles' Nests trail castles - coloring book for children

Discover the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland - an extraordinary land of mysterious caves, fortified castle sites, and pointed rock monadnocks. We invite you on an extraordinary, interactive journey where you will learn why the castles were called "Eagles' Nests" and where King Casimir the Great got the funds to build such grand, brick fortresses: