Trail of the Jurassic Strongholds

The Trail of the Jurassic Strongholds is a blue hiking trail across the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, from Mstów to Rudawa. It runs through the Silesian and Lesser Poland voivodeships, and its length is given as about 152 km, and in another description of the route as 153.3 km.

What it is for

The trail links strongholds from the 14th century that are not covered by the neighbouring Trail of the Eagles' Nests. Along the route there are castle ruins, among them Ogrodzieniec Castle and Pieskowa Skała, as well as the remains of hillforts, for example in Ryczów.

Nature and monuments

The trail leads through Ojców National Park and the Ostrężnik, Góra Zborów and Smoleń reserves. It passes Baroque churches, the neo-Gothic basilica in Zawiercie, 18th-century manor houses and the Będkowska Valley. The route was described by the Kraków branch of the PTTK in 2012.

Practical information

• Start: Mstów, end: Rudawa; blue waymarks.
• The Silesian section is only part of the route, so choose a stage using a map and a PTTK guide.