Shelter under the White Tower

The Shelter under the White Tower (Schronisko pod Białą Basztą) is a shelter-type cave in Zborów Hill in the Częstochowa Upland. It lies within the Góra Zborów nature reserve, in the village of Kroczyce.

What it looks like

The opening is on the north-western slope of the highest part of Zborów Hill, at the base of the White Tower (Biała Baszta) rock. It is 2.5 m wide and 3 m high, and faces north-east. The shelter formed in Late Jurassic rocky limestones, and erosional scours can be seen on its walls.

Beyond the opening is a chamber measuring 4 by 2 m. From its south-western end a narrow crack blocked by boulders leads off, along with a small fissure that opens onto the surface of the rocks. There are no dripstone formations on the walls, and the floor is made of limestone rubble mixed with clay and silt. The shelter is fully lit and has no microclimate of its own.

Around the shelter

The opening was completely overgrown with trees and shrubs, which were cut down as part of active protection of xerothermic habitats. This is a site to view from outside and to look into the lit chamber, not a cave with a tourist route. In the neighbourhood, in the Kroczyce Rocks, are more rock formations.

Practical information

• Location: the north-western slope of Zborów Hill, at the base of the White Tower, Kroczyce municipality.
• The area lies in a nature reserve, so its protection rules apply. Check the reserve's regulations before your visit.