Castle Pieskowa

Pieskowa Skala (Castle), called 'a pearl of the Polish Renaissance', at the Ojcow National Park's northernmost end, among forests on a hill overlooking the picturesque Pradnik river valley, dates back to the mid 14th century. In the 16th century it underwent a refurbishment after the fashion of the north-Italian Renaissance. Since 1970 it has been home to a European art museum, a branch of Krakow's Wawel Royal Castle.

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Castle Pieskowa

One of the Eagle-nest Castles.

Eagle-nest Castles is a chain of medieval strongholds picturesquely elevated over the utterly scenic landscape of the rolling Krakow-Czestochowa Upland graced with profusion of fancy limestone rocks, gorges, cavities, etc. King Casimir III the Great (1333-1370) erected most of the once formidable fortresses to protect what was Poland's western frontier, at the time perilously close to the country's capital city, Krakow. Later on the king's castles passed into the hands of various aristocratic families, together with the adjacent land. New owners usually did their best to adapt the medieval fortresses as stately manor-houses and family nests through successive overhaul, expansion, refurbishment, renovation, etc. without compromising the defenses as long as possible. Nonetheless eventually the proud eagle-nest castles largely turned into picturesque ruins over the centuries.

Eagle Nests' Route, connecting several of the most interesting strongholds, starts in Krakow and has its end in Czestochowa. Sturdy hikers can cover the distance of 164 km following signs — a red horizontal bar sandwiched between two white ones — painted on tree trunks, telephone poles, pylons, etc., beginning at Krakow. Trzydziestolecia residential area, namely by its bus station. Motorists should best drive the first 24 km to the Ojcow National Park where two nearest eagle-nest castles are, then to the Rabsztyn, Pilica, Ogrodzieniec, Mirow, Bobolice, and Olsztyn ones.

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Castle Pieskowa

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Castle Pieskowa, well

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Castle Pieskowa

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Castle Pieskowa, view from

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Castle Pieskowa, gardens

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Castle Pieskowa

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Castle Pieskowa, window

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Castle Pieskowa, window

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Castle Pieskowa

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Castle Pieskowa, courtyard

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Castle Pieskowa, courtyard

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Castle Pieskowa, courtyard

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Castle Pieskowa, courtyard

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