Czestochowa Region

Situated on the Cracow-Częstochowa Upland, the city of Częstochowa is one of the main pilgrim destinations in the contemporary Christian world. Here, in Jasna Góra (Bright Mountain) Monastery, there is a miraculous painting of the Virgin Mary, called the Black Madonna of Częstochowa.

The painting has been owned by the monastery since the fifteenth century, and so far has attracted millions of pilgrims from all corners of the globe.

As well as being a religious centre and historical monument of great significance, the monastic complex of Jasna Góra is also a remarkable piece of architecture

Apart from a visit to Jasna Góra, Częstochowa offers a variety of activities to suit a range of tastes. If you fancy a quiet meal in company of friends, why not dine in one of the variety of restaurants and pubs in the city, offering both Polish and cosmopolitan cuisine.

For a splash of culture, why not visit numerous museums and art galleries, e.g. Częstochowa Museum, Gallery of Sculpture and Art, Museum of Iron Mining, Match Manufacturing Museum, Railway History Museum, Gallery of Foundry Art, and many, many more.

Don't forget that Częstochowa is a place of famous cultural events like the Gaude Mater International Festival of Sacred Music, the Bronisław Huberman Violin Festival (Bronisław Huberman was a Częstochowa-born, world-famous violinist of Jewish descent), the Częstochowa Guitar Convention or the Hot Jazz Spring Traditional Jazz Festival to mention just a few.

The Cracow-Częstochowa Upland, also known as the Jura (Jurassic Landscape Park), is one of the most attractive places in Poland. It is a narrow strip of land stretching for about forty kilometers between Częstochowa and Wieluń to the north and Cracow to the south. It is a land of exceptional beauty with its rocky hills, numerous caves, picturesque gorges, monadnocks and extremely rich vegetation.

Prominent in the beautiful landscapeare the ruins of medieval castles, which in the past used to protect the Polishborder from her invaders. Visitors are attracted by the opportunity to marvel at those splendours of a bygone age, and cherish an idea that they can leave behind, even if for a moment,

the cares of the modern world. The chain of castles form the so called Eagles' Nests Trails, which combine both monuments of architecture and natural landmarks of the region.

Thanks to its variety, the Częstochowa region offers a wealth of different pleasures and sports ranging from hiking, cycling, horseback-riding, cave exploration, and rock climbing to aviation, gliding, water sports, fishing, hunting or even mushroom picking.