23.01.2025

Ojcowski National Park is a place known or at least familiar to most people. Established in 1956, the national park is located in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Kraków County, and is the smallest national park in Poland. The park area contains many interesting monuments, and its natural vegetation delights tourists. Although its area is only 21.46 km², there is definitely plenty to explore there.

Remarkable landscapes and rock formations

Ojcowski National Park is famous for its breathtaking landscapes, picturesque limestone rock formations, wonderful hiking trails, gorges, and caves. The rock formations are some of the main attractions of this area. The best-known rock formations include the Kraków Gate and Hercules' Club. These unique rocks were formed by erosive water activity, creating an incredibly picturesque landscape that has become an ideal place for hiking. Tourism in Ojcowski National Park takes place along several trails that pass through the most attractive areas of the park. It is worth knowing that there are many hiking trails passing through Ojcowski National Park. However, the most interesting and popular ones we can mention are the following routes:

Red Trail – The Eagles' Nests Main Trail

The Eagles' Nests Trail is a 163-kilometer route that starts in Kraków and ends in Częstochowa. This trail also passes through Ojcowski National Park. It runs for about 10 km and includes the most interesting attractions of the region such as:

  • Ojcowski Castle – Picturesque ruins of a 16th-century castle.
  • Kraków Gate – A unique natural rock gate, which is one of the symbols of Ojcowski National Park.
  • Chapel “On the Water” – An incredibly atmospheric wooden chapel built on supports above a charming stream.
  • Hercules' Club – One of the most popular rock formations resembling a club. It is located near the Castle in Pieskowa Skała.
  • Pieskowa Skała Castle – A beautifully preserved Renaissance castle that is one of the most valuable monuments on the Eagles' Nests Trail.

Yellow Trail – Łokietek Cave and Dark Cave

The yellow trail passing through Ojcowski National Park is a 5-kilometer route that includes caves. The trail leads through two of the most important caves in the park: Łokietek Cave and Dark Cave. Walking along this trail, you can also admire the picturesque areas of the Prądnik Valley.

Blue Trail – Sąspów Valley Trail

The trail through the Sąspów Valley is an exceptionally peaceful and charming route that is less crowded by tourists. It is therefore an ideal place for those who enjoy calming walks. Sąspów Valley is a wonderful place full of wildlife where you can observe birds and admire the beauty of nature. The trail also passes through the Castle in Ojców, which offers beautiful views of the surroundings. The length of the Sąspów Valley Trail is about 7 km.

Fascinating caves

Ojcowski National Park also offers attractions in the form of fascinating caves. There are about 700 caves in the park; however, many of them are very small and not open to tourists. The caves that are definitely the most popular and that we can visit are:

  • Dark Cave – one of the largest caves in Ojcowski National Park. It is considered one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Poland since traces of Neanderthal man from about 120,000 years ago were found here. Numerous species of bats live inside the cave. The cave is accessible to tourists, but it is worth checking on the Ojcowski National Park website whether it is open at a given time. There are periods when the cave is closed due to the protection of bats living there.
  • Łokietek Cave – one of the best-known caves in Ojcowski National Park, surrounded by legends that King Władysław Łokietek hid there from the armies of Czech King Wenceslaus II. The cave is partially illuminated and can be visited with a guide.
  • Robbers' Cave – a small cave also surrounded by legends. During raids, the cave was a shelter for local people.

Historic castles and rich history

Within Ojcowski National Park, you can also find numerous monuments with rich history. One of the most important monuments is the Castle in Pieskowa Skała, which was built in the Renaissance style in the 14th century during the reign of King Casimir the Great. The castle was part of the defensive system of the Eagles' Nests. When visiting Ojcowski National Park, you should not miss the ruins of the Castle in Ojców, which are a very important element of the region's history.