Ogrodzieniec

Getting to Ogrodzieniec

Trains run hourly from Katowice to Zawiercie the nearest station, taking 50 min via Będzin and Dabrowa Gornicza. They may start from Gliwice and continue to Częstochowa, but some are inter-city trains from Vienna and Ostrava to Warsaw and Gdańsk - you pay extra to ride these. From Kraków you have to travel via Katowice.

Worth seeing

1. 01
   Ogrodzieniec Castle

   A stronghold has stood here at least since the 12th century, enfolded by outcrops at the 515 m highest peak of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland.

2. 02
   Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rocks
3. 03
   Suchy Połeć
4. 04
   Castle on Mount Birów

   Like Ogrodzienic Castle, this was a 12th century wooden stronghold on an outcrop, and when it was torched in the 14th century it was abandoned and forgotten.

5. 05
   Ryczów Watchtower

   It's just a crumbling stump on an outcrop and you may find it fenced off.

Things to do

Dom Strachów means "Haunted House" and it's at Zamkowa 42 by the castle entrance. You go through a series of darkened rooms and hear spooky legends. It might amuse a child of 5-8 but most reckon it's not worth the 20 zł. Open daily 10:00-18:00.

1. 01
   Ogrodzieniec Theme Park

   Theme park for younger children, where the main attraction is the miniature railway.

Where to eat

Stodoła (The Barn), Plac Jurajski 1, Podzamcze (at castle entrance),. Mon-Fri 11:00-20:00, Sat Sun 10:00-21:00. Slick family-friendly place, inexpensive. Bonera, Wojska Polskiego 21, Podzamcze (near castle entrance),. Daily 10:00-18:00. Good fresh food, service is sometimes disorganised with long waits. Restauracja 511 is within Hotel Poziem 511, see below.