Ojców National Park, National park in Lesser Poland province, Poland
Ojców National Park is a protected area in Lesser Poland province covering limestone cliffs, narrow valleys, and beech forests across 21.5 square kilometers (8.3 square miles). The Prądnik River runs through the main gorge, carving rock walls over centuries that now define the landscape.
The area gained official protection as a national park in 1956 after archaeologists uncovered evidence of prehistoric settlements dating to the Old Stone Age. Two castle ruins from medieval and Renaissance times mark periods when the gorges guarded trade routes between Kraków and Silesia.
Locals call rock formations by names like the Needle or the Club, reflecting a tradition of storytelling that visitors still encounter on marked paths. These names appear on trail signs and help hikers navigate through the gorge as they follow the Prądnik River downstream.
The park offers more than 46 kilometers (29 miles) of marked hiking trails connecting caves, rock formations, and viewpoints through the valleys. Paths are easy to follow during summer and fall, while some steep sections can become slippery during wet or snowy conditions.
The area hosts 21 of the 26 bat species found in Poland, a fact honored by a bat silhouette in the official emblem. Several caves serve as winter hibernation sites where these animals hang in clusters and sleep until spring.
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