Moto Adventure – Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska

• Moto Adventure

Between Częstochowa and Kraków there is a land with a varied landscape – from rocks to desert – and a rich history. There is no shortage of attractions for those who stop by for a while, or for those who will stay the whole weekend.

King Kazimierz castles

In „Pod Zamkiem” in Bobolice there is an accommodation and a starting point at the same time. From there, we take the road no. 792 Żarki – Kroczyce and turn left. On the left hand we pass one of the higher elevations of the Jura – Góra Zborów. Situated at its feet, Podlesice is one of the most famous starting points for climbing enthusiasts. Many generations of Polish climbers grew up on the local rocks, including me (I have an almost 20-year-old mountain episode in my life). The Jurassic group of Mountain Rescue Service also has a base here.

Having passed Kroczyce, we reach Pradły on road 78 and head towards Pilica. There is a 17th-century bastion fortification surrounding the palace. The intricacies of owning this facility make it difficult to get to and explore.

Near Pilica, towards Wolbrom, there is a beautifully situated medieval castle in Smoleń. This is one of those strongholds that King Kazimierz, later called the Great, set up to ensure border security after the unification of Poland after almost two hundred years of division into districts. One of the most sensitive, closest to the capital city of Krakow, was the one with the Luxembourg dynasty, already ruling the Czechs, claiming the rights to Silesia. The Krakowsko-Częstochowska Jura was therefore covered with a network of watchtower castles, set on rock inselbergs. Many of them have survived, although usually in ruins. Currently, some of them, finding various patrons and sponsors, are to a greater or lesser extent restored and are more and more pleasing to the eye.

In Smoleń, leaving our motorbikes in the parking lot next to the castle, we climb up to the castle. Currently, it is being restored, because its condition has already started to pose a threat to safety. A large-scale renovation is to bring it back to tourists. It is worth seeing, even if you do not manage to climb the high tower, the view from which is simply breathtaking.

Harasimiuk There are also no major problems with accommodation for motorcyclists. Our large group found a base in a cheap and clean Accommodation Base? At the Castle? in Bobolice. From there we go to highway 792 Żarki? Kroczyce and turn left. On the left hand we pass one of the higher elevations of the Jura? Zborów Mountain. Situated at its feet, Podlesice is one of the most famous starting points for climbing enthusiasts. Many generations of Polish climbers grew up on the local rocks, including me (I have an almost 20-year-old mountain episode in my life). The Jurassic group of Mountain Rescue Service also has a base here.

Having passed Kroczyce, we reach Pradły on road 78 and head towards Pilica. There is a 17th-century bastion fortification surrounding the palace. The intricacies of owning this facility make it difficult to get to and explore.

Near Pilica, towards Wolbrom, there is a beautifully situated medieval castle in Smoleń. This is one of those strongholds that King Kazimierz, later called the Great, set up to ensure border security after the unification of Poland after almost two hundred years of division into districts. One of the most sensitive, closest to the capital city of Krakow, was the one with the Luxembourg dynasty, already ruling the Czechs, claiming the rights to Silesia. The Krakowsko-Częstochowska Jura was therefore covered with a network of watchtower castles, set on rock inselbergs. Many of them have survived, although usually in ruins. Currently, some of them, finding various patrons and sponsors, are to a greater or lesser extent restored and are more and more pleasing to the eye.

In Smoleń, leaving our motorbikes in the parking lot next to the castle, we climb up to the castle. Currently, it is being restored, because its condition has already started to pose a threat to safety. A large-scale renovation is to bring it back to tourists. It is worth seeing, even if you do not manage to climb the high tower, the view from which is simply breathtaking.

The only Polish desert

Without reaching Wolbrom, in the village of Dłużec, turn right and sneaking along winding roads among the fields, we reach road No. 783 from Wolbrom to Olkusz. On the right, 4 kilometers before this town, it is hard to miss the elegantly renovated Rabsztyn Castle. Even if the entrance through the gate is closed, it is worth visiting the castle walls. In front of the castle, there is a good restaurant called Podzamcze, where you can eat well and be tasty.

You can get to the village of Klucze from here by some „comics”, but in order not to get lost, it is better to reach Olkusz, and then head to Zawiercie along the road No. 791. Before Klucze, we carefully look for the signpost (left) to the viewpoint on the Błędowska Desert. It is nicely laid out and has a board telling you what you can see from the plateau.

The Błędowska Desert begins to take back the features proper to its name, because until recently it has almost changed into the Błędowska Forest, overgrown by self-seeders spreading in the area of ​​sands that have not been extracted for many years, used as filling in mines. Currently, this area is being restored to a state of „bare” sand. First, a man stripped the land, cutting down the forest, then afforested, and now he intervenes again, preventing nature from restoring the state it used to be … From the eastern observation point we move to the northern one, near the village of Chechło. The sands run right up to the road and are cut with ruts of various single and double tracks with off-road aspirations.

Traces of history and a contemporary castle.

From Chechło through Błędów (hence the name of the desert) and Niegowonice (on the road 790) we reach Podzamcze (behind Ogrodzieniec),
where you can admire the ruins of one of the largest castles of its time. Then we go towards Pilica, but after a while we turn left to Żerkowice, Włodowice, Kotowice and we reach Żarki. From here we follow the local roads to Zabór and Przybynów and after less than 20 kilometers we can admire the ruins of another stronghold on the trail of the Eagles’ Nests – the castle in Olsztyn. In summer, the castle is full of cultural and entertainment events, such as knight tournaments or historical reenactments.