OJCOWSKI NATIONAL PARK - PIESKOWA SKAŁA

  The name 'Pieskowa Skała' has tripple meaning in Polish language - 'Dog's Rock' or Devil's Rock, or Peter's Rock'. First meaning is legendary:

Owner of the castle, Piotr Szczebrzyc had to get married with young and pretty Dorota. She, being in love with court lute player, did not want to get marry with old Szczebrzyc. He, wishing to force her, catched her and prisoned her in a tower of the castle and without food. Hopefully, Dorota had a dog that was bringing food for her every day. Ungry Szczebrzyc notices the dog, killed it and soon Dorota died with hunger. Today the castle is named 'Pieskowa Skała (Dog's Rock) and the tower where she died Dorota's Tower.

  Another meaning is legendary too. Near the castle there is a characteristic rock called Herkules Club. Old people say that the rock was put here by a devil (in Polish Bies). To memorise the Bies, the castle is called Bies's Rock or Pies's Rock or Pieskowa's Rock.

  Real meaning of the neame is simple and reflects names of the first owners - Peters. Five generations of the Szafraniec family got names Peter. In Polish Perer = Piotr = Pietr = Pietrko = Piesko. Hence the name Pieskowa Skała (Peter's Rock).
  The historians connect existence of the castle with other castles between Kraków and Częstochowa. In middle ages the fortifications had to defend the border between Poland and Silesia. In this way dozens of castles were erected. To the most important belonged Wawel, Korzkiew, Ojców, Rabsztyn, Smoleń, Ogrodzieniec, Olsztyn and Częstochowa. Today the fortifications are great tourist attraction. Tourists can walk from Krakow to Częstochowa along red trail (about 140 km).