The city is located on the border river Olza and at the foot of the Silesian Beskid Mountains. It has an old street layout with a market square in the middle. Almost untouched by time, a Romanesque rotunda of St Nicolaus (11th/12th cc.) stands amidst the trees on top of the castle hill. A neo- Gothic bower with the 16th century well, many churches, monastic complexes and the Protestant cemetery (19th c.) can also be visited. >>>>
Often called the spiritual capital of Poland, Częstochowa attracts pilgrims and tourists from the whole world, who flock to the Marian shrine located in the Pauline monastery on Jasna Góra (Bright Mountain).The Chapel of the Miraculous Picture contains the icon of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child known as the Black Madonna which pulls in millions of pilgrims every year. The monastic museum are full of art pieces and votive offerings. From Częstochowa, tourist can continue through the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, suitable for hiking, climbing, biking and horseback riding. >>>>
One attractive option of exploring the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland is the Trail of the Eagles' Nests running along the line of castles and defensive towers from Częstochowa via Olsztyn, Potok Złoty, Ostrężnik, Mirów, Bobolice, Podlesice, Ogrodzieniec, Pilicę, Smoleń, Bydlin, Klucze, Rabsztyn, Olkusz and Ojców to Kraków. The Jurassic landscape is dotted with ruins of medieval castles and such natural attractions as island mountains, rocky hills, caves and ravines and karst springs. Diverse fauna and flora. The hiking trail is accompanied by paths for bikers and horsemen. >>>>
The 19th century hunting castle built for the Pszczyna princes in the English neo-Gothic style, situated on a lake and amidst woods. Beautiful stain-glass windows, fine wood paneling and nicely carved beams. Now a luxurious hotel and a restaurant. >>>>
The simple medieval castle became a sumptuous palace of the Pszczyna princes, following the remodeling works undertaken in the late 19th century. It acquired a new French neo- Renaissance appearance and a large landscape park. The castle museum contains about 80% of the original interior decorations from the turn of the 19th century. Tourists can visit imperial apartments, collection of miniatures and armory.
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The former mine that was worked for lead and silver. The mine was closed but the labyrinth of galleries, caverns and drainage tunnels remained, and it was adopted for the needs of tourist. Two underground tourist routes were arranged. The highlight, though, is a motorboat trip along the Black Trout Shaft, a part of the flooded drainage tunnels which were excavated as needs arose. Museum of mining and a skansen of steam engines. >>>>
The museum of coal mining with 32,000 exhibits is the greatest attraction of the city. The mining skansen (Queen Luiza) is composed of the ground level part with the unique hoisting steam engine and the underground part where visitors can get acquainted with mining technologies, construction of galleries and see how big mining machines and other facilities work. >>>>
The Silesian Beskid range with its abundant snow cover is an ideal place for winter sports enthusiasts. Many mountain refuges, tourist hiking trails, skiing trails and ski-fits, especially in Szczyrk, Wisła and Ustroń. The Żywiec Beskid range also offers recreation and winter sports facilities, and the most popular are the centers in Korbielów, Zawoja, Zwardoń and Węgierska Górka. Original folklore can be admired at Istebna and Koniaków (lace-making). The Beskid Culture Week with approx. 4,000 participants is organized in August and jointly hosted by Szczyrk, Wisła, Ustroń and Żywiec >>>>
