Ojcowski National Park

Having seen what we had to see in Czestochowa, we got back to our car and continued further south. Right before the trip we decided that we want to visit all the national parks in Poland. We knew that during this single trip we'd visit at least two. Maybe even up to four. We ended up visiting just two of them, but nothing's lost. We still have time to visit all the others. And southern parts of Poland are full of national parks.

We drove from Czestochowa to Ojcowski National Park (aka Ojców National Park. The name comes from the village situated in the park). The park is situated in the central section of Pradnik Valley and part of Saspowska Valley. It's the smallest national park in Poland. The vast majority of the park is covered with forests. There are various rock formations in the park, as well as many, many caves. Tourism is restricted to marked trails only.

The entrance to this park is free. And what can you see there?

We spent two days in the park. No, that's to say too much. We spent altogether like 5-6 hours in the park, just split to two days.

The first day we went to see the Hercules' Club. That's a huge rock standing on a hill, which is resembling what might have been Hercules' club. Below the hill you can see the waters of Pradnik River moving slowly along. If you follow the trail, you'll get to Pieskowa Skała Castle. Which looks gorgeous from the outside. Unfortunately, due to construction works (sounds familiar? Yup, felt like Paris all over again) we could not give it a closer look.

However, we went to see a Chapel on the water. Which is a strange sort of construction. But nice at the same time.

On the second day we hit the trail. Just one. Cause we were in a little bit of a hurry to finally get to our holiday destination. We spent the second day getting to and from and sightseeing the ruins of Ojców Castle. That castle is part of a system of castles known as Eagle's Nests, which was used to protect the border of the Kingdom of Poland. This castle was build by Casimir III the Great (King of Poland) in mid-fourteenth century. Now it's just a museum. You have to buy a ticket to enter the castle. Normal ticket is 3 pln, reduced 2 pln, children up to the age of 5 get in for free.

The views from the castle are great. But not much of the castle is left. A well, one or two towers and some walls.

See additional info below the pictures ;)

 Watching ducks swimming in the waters of Pradnik River / Obowiązkowe oglądanie kaczek pływających w Prądniku

 On the left: Hercules' Club and Pieskowa Skała Castle. On the right: Chapel on the water / Po lewej: Maczuga Herkulesa i Zamek w Pieskowej Skale. Po prawej: Kaplica na wodzie

 On the trail / Na szlaku

 Ojców Castle / Zamek Kazimierzowski w Ojcowie

 

Aaaaaand some additional info:

It has happened. Apparently, that's the way it was supposed to be. Year 2015 is a year of changes. Fuerteventure changed into Sharm el Sheikh. And cruise down the Nile River has just changed into... Thailand.

Clearly, Nile doesn't was us. That's the second time already. Second attempt, second failure. Third time's a charm? Maybe we'll see one day. That's so not what it was supposed to be. But I'm sure it's going to be great.

Any advice anybody? What to do, what to see, where to go, where to sleep? All we have for now are plain tickets. So any advice would be plenty.