How to get to Chojnik Castle?

There are several routes that lead to Chojnik Castle, each of them takes approximately an hour of walking through the forest, and since the castle is located on a rocky hill, it also involves some uphill walking. The most popular routes to the castle are from Sobieszów: the red route (easier, paved) and the black route (shorter, but rocky).

Along the black route, there is an educational trail, and you can also find the Bandit Rocks and the Bandit Cave here.

You can also reach Chojnik Castle from Jagniątków, Zachełmie, or Podgórzyn using the yellow route.

Yellow route to Chojnik Castle

Less popular than the routes from Sobieszów, but it is more peaceful. Since it is slightly longer (a little over an hour one way), you can combine the visit to the medieval castle ruins with a longer forest walk along the stream and rocks.

Parking for the yellow route to Chojnik Castle

There is a large free parking lot on the Podgórzyn - Sobieszów road, near the fish fryer. A paid parking lot is located a few hundred meters further, near the entrance to the yellow route on the meadows.

The yellow route initially leads us through flat meadows, but soon enters the forest, and that's where the climb begins along the stream and small rocks.

After reaching the border of the national park at the Żelazny Most trail junction, the road becomes wider and more comfortable, but we still continue uphill.

The most challenging part is climbing the rocky steps called "Kunegunda's Stairs" - luckily, it is not long, and soon we will reach the main castle gate.

Visiting Chojnik Castle

And what will we see at the castle, and was it worth the climb? Definitely! You can find more details here:

Chojnik Castle - Sightseeing and Attractions

Chojnik Castle is a picturesque fortress in the Karkonosze Mountains, near Jelenia Góra. Today, it is a must-visit during your stay in the Karkonosze Mountains for castle, history, and legend enthusiasts, as well as those who love mountain panoramas and walks along forest paths. ...

Legends about Chojnik Castle

Why are they called "Kunegunda's Stairs"? You will learn about the cruel daughter of the castellan here:

Chojnik Castle - Legends

The Legend of Kunegunda from Chojnik Castle: Kunegunda, the daughter of the castellan of Chojnik Castle, was known for her cruelty. ...

Finally, a story about little Albert's trip to Chojnik Castle:

We set off to conquer Chojnik Castle. We choose the beautiful and diverse yellow route, adapting it to the abilities of our children (4 years and 18 months).

We start from the Zachełmie parking lot no. 5 (follow the sign for Hotel Chojnik to the parking lot at the bend). We walk along a picturesque sandy forest road and slowly climb uphill, playing observation games - looking for white-yellow route markers. We wander to Żelazny Most, where we take a longer break to splash in the refreshing streams of Choińca. There seems to be no end to splashing and getting wet, but the trail awaits.

Singing a song about "Stokrotka" and reciting Tuwim's "Rzeczka," we begin the more challenging part of the hike. The path becomes steeper, with rocks and roots, and on one side of the trail, there is a steep slope. Climbing on the rocks and jumping off them brings great joy to ARCIU, while ALBERT has a great time rustling dry leaves in the middle of summer. MAMA tells us that Chojnik Castle, where we are heading, is very old and was built in the Middle Ages. Currently, it is well-maintained ruins. The castle burned down after being struck by lightning, and it was never rebuilt.

It is interesting to note that there was no well in Chojnik Castle, only stone cisterns where water was collected. For a while, the castle was also inhabited by bandits who attacked merchants passing through the valley. However, they were quickly dealt with.

Castles in the Middle Ages were built on high mountains to make it more difficult for unwelcome guests to reach them. Before a knight in heavy armor on a horse could reach the castle gates, its inhabitants would have already spotted him. If they didn't want to let him in, they could raise the entrance gate or find another way to get rid of him. Chojnik was never conquered.

"ALBERT, would you like to be a knight?" "NO!" "Why?" "I'm a little boy." "Wouldn't you like to climb here in heavy metal armor?" "Yes... but DAD could do it, DAD is very strong." MAMA also tells us about ghosts. Old castles often have ghosts. "Mom, are there ghosts here too?" ALBERT looks a bit scared. I explain that there are no ghosts in Chojnik Castle to be afraid of. "What if we meet one?" "It will definitely be a small and friendly ghost, not a scary one." I can see that my son is not entirely convinced.

We reach the stone stairs, part of the Kunegunda's Path. Their enormity scares ALBERT even more, but stairs are just stairs, and he climbs stairs at home all the way to the second floor! These stairs are the same, just made of stone. We repeat the rules: "What should you not do on the stairs?" "Run and jump." "And how do we climb?" "Slowly, looking down and holding Mom's hand." ALBERT reaches the top of the stone stairs on his own, earning well-deserved admiration and congratulations ;-) ARCIU conquers the stairs in a baby carrier on Daddy's back, fortunately, he is tired enough from the earlier hike not to protest against temporary confinement.

Chojnik Castle was also the destination of one of Karol Wojtyła's mountain trips, and there is an altar commemorating this event. We take a rest on the benches in the courtyard. MAMA rewards the boys for their brave hike with ghost-shaped snacks. Both of them have wide eyes and smile from ear to ear - they actually met ghosts in the old castle ;-)

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Author: Marfusza + Rodzinka 4*AR Podróże z misiem w teczce
Publish Date: 2021-07-30