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Bike Path: Source of the Warta - Okiennik Wielki - Ruins of Bąkowiec Castle

Region:

Jura (Jura), Śląskie (Silesian Voivodeship)

straighten 8.3km

directions_bike timer 1h 9min

north_east 188m

south_east 183m

Medium - For young hikers, steep sections possible

Route Map

The slope of the terrain
Asphalt road
Bike route

The asphalt bike path starts in the town of Kromołów, where the Warta River originates. It passes near the famous Jurassic rock formation - Okiennik Wielki and leads to the ruins of Bąkowiec Castle. This is part of the Eagle Nests Bike Trail.

The entire route is an asphalt bike path away from car traffic, safe and suitable for children and bike trailers.
Benches and a shelter are available along the route.
There are some significant inclines on the route.
The route is mostly sunny.
There is a parking lot for cars at the beginning of the bike path.

Bike Path Kromołów-Morsko, with Okiennik Wielki Rock in the Background

Source of the Warta River in Kromołów

In Kromołów, you can see the source of the Warta River. The Warta, mentioned in the Polish national anthem, is the second longest river in Poland, after the Vistula. It starts in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, specifically in Kromołów, a district of the city of Zawiercie. The name of the city, Zawiercie, comes from the river's name and means 'beyond the Warta'.

Above the source of the Warta River, there is a chapel dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk. This saint is the patron of sources, bridges, drowning people, and protector during floods. The chapel was originally built of wood at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries and was dedicated to Saint Mark, the patron of grains and sowing. After a fire, it was rebuilt in brick in 1803 and dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk.

Bike Path Kromołów-Morsko

The bike path starts in Kromołów, a district of Zawiercie. You can reach the path from the city via local public roads. From the Zawiercie train station, it is about 6.5 kilometers to the bike path. The best way to get there is via road DK78, which has a bike path (partly shared with a sidewalk, mostly paved with bricks). For those with children, it is better to reach the bike path by car - there is a parking lot at the beginning of the path.

The bike path takes you through the fields of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, making it scenic and atmospheric. Without a doubt, this is one of the most interesting sections of the Eagle Nests Bike Trail in terms of bike infrastructure.

Okiennik Wielki

Shortly after leaving Kromołów, you will see Okiennik Wielki on the horizon. This large limestone rock with a visible 'window' is one of the most recognizable rocks in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. The bike path passes a bit away from the rock, so it's best to leave your bike somewhere - we didn't find any bike racks, and the paths around Okiennik were wild and overgrown. However, it's worth walking to the viewpoint as it offers a nice panorama of the surroundings. Entering the rock window is not possible for the average visitor - it's an adventure for rock climbers.

Okiennik Wielki - Rock Window to the Sky

One of the most recognizable rocks in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland with a rock hole. ...

Ruins of Bąkowiec Castle

It is suspected that near the village of Morsko, the first wooden fortress was built by knight-robbers. For this reason, Władysław Łokietek took Morsko from them and gave it to the monastery in Mstów. Bąkowiec Castle was built on the high Tiger Rock. The stone gate, fragments of which have survived to this day, led to a small courtyard surrounded by a wall. The semicircular towers in the corners served as observation and defense points. Currently, the ruins are located within the 'Morsko Plus' resort and are not open to visitors.

We also recommend another section of the Eagle Nests Bike Trail with two castles

If you enjoy family bike trips, we also recommend another section of the Eagle Nests Bike Trail, which also follows a bike path away from cars. The trail takes you to two majestic Jurassic fortresses in Mirów and Bobolice through the beautiful Mirowski Road - an old route used for centuries by local peasants to travel from Mirów to markets in Żarki.