On the Trail of the Eagles' Nests - Artur Smarzyk - Bog

The book "On the Trail of Eagle's Nests" tells the story of the castles and their ruins along the historical route that runs in southern Poland between Kraków and Częstochowa. Most of these castles were built in the 13th century and served to defend the state border. Their picturesque location among limestone cliffs made them difficult to access in the past. The area in which they are located is characterized by limestone cliffs, which are a great attraction for mountaineers. The many caves also make the region a popular tourist destination. The book contains descriptions of 14 historical sites: castles, fortresses and ruins. Among the best known are the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa and the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, both monuments of great importance in Polish national and state history. Others are more or less known, but always interesting. The book presents the rich history of these monuments. Most of them were built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 17th century. Some were rebuilt, others remained in ruins. Besides the history, we also get to know the interesting places in the surroundings of these monuments. There are natural sights such as caves and rocks, which are conquered by climbers from all over the world. But not only. Interesting places in selected towns and villages are also described. In addition, each object is associated with at least one story or legend, which is also the content of the book. All descriptions are accompanied by appropriate photographs documenting these places. As the author, I can assure you that I have personally visited most of the places presented, often accompanied by a small dog named York Fafik, who in a sense becomes the silent hero of these stories. The descriptions of each place are clearly organized and each is accompanied by my own map and information about the distances between the castles and the time needed to get there. I have tried to give the most important information in this book without going into depth. The aim is to make it easier to hike the red marked Eagle's Nest Trail between Kraków and Częstochowa. There are two versions of the trail. The first, 168 km long, is a hiking trail, while the second is designed for cyclists and is slightly longer. In parts, the route deviates from the hiking trail. The ruins of castles and watchtowers - "Eagle's Nests" - on rocky hills are undoubtedly one of the greatest tourist attractions not only in the Kraków-Częstochowa Jura, but in Poland as a whole. They are certainly an interesting alternative for an active vacation.