Czestochowa Off The Beaten Path

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While everybody comes to visit Czestochowa because of Jasna Gora, there is a quite other side of the city's history. This cementery reminds of the times before World War II, when the Jewish population had a great share in the overall population of the city.
It's a pity to see so many gravestones damaged, but there still are some tombs, which make an impression, like the one of Rabi Asz (see picture)

just few kms away from czestochowa there is a wonderful ruins of olsztyn castel with beautiful area, full of rocks around. it's really worth going there on the day trip. to get to olsztyn you need to take a bus 58 or 58 bis that goes from in front of the train station (Piłsudskiego street), one way ticket costs 3zł. you'll get by this bus to the market in olsztyn and from there is just 5 minutes (or maybe even less) walk to the castle. and the ticket to the castle area cost 2zł.

The natural characteristics of the jurassic rocky region was appreciated in the early Middle Ages for its defence qualities. The largest system of fortifications was created in the 14th c. by king Casimir the Great and the Polish knighthood: 29 castles and 10 fortified sentry points were built, often using the natural features of the region: castles were built in such a way that the rocks are a part of the structure.

Today these are mostly just ruins but what picturesque ruins they are!
The trail is called Eagles' Nests because some of the ruins are pretty hard to get to :-)

The trail extends between Czestochowa and Cracow (124km / 75m), and is one one of the most beautiful tourist trails in Poland. Full of picturesque jurassic rocks, castles, caves and forests, it attracts many tourists... for rock climbing, castle visisting, or simply for spending a few days in the beautiful nature. Perfect for hiking, biking tours and horse riding.

Extremely popular among rock climbers who come here every weekend. Has enough small and easy rocks for beginners. The more advanced climbers will also find it challenging!

Surrounding Czestochowa is a region of eerie jurassic rock formations and ancient castles and fortresses, all of which are worth a side trip. These form part of what is known as the 'Eagle's Nests Trail', an ancient route which ran from Krakow in a north-westerly direction to Czestochowa.

Czestochowa, like all other Polish towns, had a large population of Jewish residents before the 2nd World War. This picture shows the desecration by the Nazis of the Jewish Cemetery in Chzestochowa. You won't see it now, but I want to show you this piece of Czestochowa's history.