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Niepołomice Forest

Lesser Poland  >  Poland

Huge forest just 20 km away from Kraków. Former hunting grounds of the polish kings, but now protected. More than 175 bird species can be seen in the area.

Added* by Michał Kica
Most recent update 3 jun 2021

Description

Niepołomice Forest is a large forest complex in western part of Sandomierz Basin, about 20 km east of Kraków. The forest occupies an area between Vistula and Raba rivers. The main complex covers about 110 km2 (42 sq mi). It is situated between the towns of Niepołomice, Baczków, Krzyżanowice and Mikluszowice. There are 175 bird species in the forest. Among the birds you can see are Belovrata muharica, Srednji detlić, Siva žuna, Crna žuna, Ruševac, Dugorepa sova, Prdavac, Crna lunja, Osičar, Orao kliktaš and Crna roda. There is also a reserve for European bison (wisent) in the forest but this is not accessible to visitors.

Details

Access

In the Niepołomice Forest, there are four marked hiking trails - green, red, blue and black - with a total length of over 33 km. The forest is crisscrossed by a dense network of forest roads - both for pedestrians, bicycles and horses - which allows you to plan your own unique route. The perpendicular arrangement of the paths makes it really difficult to get lost in the Forest. There is also a 7 km bicycle trail and the newly open 4 km long educational trail complete with informational placards about the local flora and fauna. Among the trails which lead deep into the forest, there is the 14 km long Niepołomice – Poszyna (green) trail called the Royal Road, and the two trails each 12 km long, Grodkowice – Błoto – Sitowiec, and the Podłęże – Przyborów – Sitowiec (blue) trail leading to mass graves of Poles and Jews from World War II. There is also the 8 km long Stanisławice (red) trail leading toward the perimeter of the wisent reserve; however, the reserve is not accessible to visitors.

Terrain and Habitat

Forest

Conditions

Flat

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

No

Good birding season

All year round

Best time to visit

Spring

Route

Wide path , Unpaved road , Narrow trail

Difficulty walking trail

Easy

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Links

View other birding spots in the area that are published on Birdingplaces

Map

Top 5 birds

Other birds you can see here

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