Charming view of the Pradnik Stream Valley from the top of the hill called Okopy (photo by S. R. Bielak)

Ojcow & Cracowian Valleys – the Jurassic Essence

In the southern part of the Polish Jurassic Highland there are located several especially beautiful valleys. Their unique natural values have contributed in founding Ojcow National Park and Cracowian Valleys Landscape Park. These valleys usually occur as deep ravines or gorges, which are surrounded by steepy slopes and dominated by high rocky crags. Such kind of valleys is the main characteristic feature of local landscapes. However their value comes from picturesque landscapes its main source is high biodiversity of fauna and flora. Quite a good example is the Pradnik Stream Valley which is inhabited by six thousand species of animals and over two thousand five hundred species of vascular plants, mosses, fungus and lichens. Another valleys located inside the borders of both parks are equally interesting and, in the natural point of view, give way to the Pradnik Stream Valley only in very small scope. In Ojcow National Park one can mention the Saspowka Stream Valley, the Valley of Enchantment and the Paduch Valley. In Cracowian Valleys Landscape Park there are numerous valleys but seven of them are very special. Their names come from streams and brooks flowing through them: Bedkowka, Bolechowka, Eliaszowka, Kobylanka, Raclawka, Szklarka and Kluczwoda.

The Froggy Horse, located in the Kobylanska Valley, is an example of typical lonely rock made of hard white-grey limestone (photo by Sebastian R. Bielak)

Limestone rocks, deep caves and numerous bats

In addition to deeply cut valleys other important feature of Jurassic landscapes is abundance of lonely rocks. They are made of hard white-grey limestones which are up to 650 feet (200 m) thick and 150 to 300 million years old. The highest rock in the whole Polish Jurassic Highland is called Sokolica, which in Polish language means Falcons’ Rock. It rises over 230 feet (70 m) above the Bedkowska Valley’s bottom. Under the influence of erosion, lasting for millions of years, some of the rocks reached unusual shape which has given them their names, e.g. Hercules’ Club, the Glove, the Devil’s Gate or the Froggy Horse. Another interesting aspect of the Jurassic Highland are caves and over a dozen of species of bats wintering in them. In the whole area there are 1900 caves, including 700 caves located inside Ojcow National Park. These caves have been created under the karsting process – for millions of years water has been dissolving calcite contained in limestone and in such way some small empty spaces were created. Then water has continued its work, widening free spaces and connecting them together, untill finally whole karst systems (consisting of caves and corridors) have appeared. Among many caves occurring in the area only four have been opened to the public: Lokietek’s Cavern, the Dark Cave, the Bat Cave and the Upper Wierzchowska Cave. The last one is almost 3300 feet (1000 m) long and is the longest cave in the southern part of the Jurassic Highland.

The castle in Pieskowa Skala was once a well fortified stronghold that defended trade routes connecting the City of Cracow with Silesia region (photo by S. Bielak)

Medieval castles on the Eagle Nests Trail

The Polish Jurassic Highland is famous not only of its wonderful landscapes and wildlife but also because of an impressive dose of history saved in walls of old castles, manor houses and churches. In the fourteenth century, during reigning of Polish king Kazimierz the Great, over a dozen of fortified castles were built in this area. Their main task was to defend western boundaries of the Polish Kingdom, especially its capital city – Cracow, and important trade routes leading to Silesia. These strongholds have looked like eagle nests because were built on top of inaccessible rocks, which were strategic places improving possible defence. Although along passing centuries castles have been sold and bought, new owners always took care of them, repeatedly rebuilding and developing their property according to actual fashion. Only in the seventeenth century, during a long and terrible war called the Swedish Flood, most of Jurassic castles were pillaged, destroyed and burnt. Fortunately, some of them have been saved from inevitable falling into total ruins. In the southern part of the Jurassic Highland castles in Pieskowa Skala and Korzkiew have been restored, while ruins of castles in Ojcow, Rabsztyn and Rudno are being reconstructed.