Between Jurassic castles and strongholds, on the Trail of the Eagles' Nests and in the heart of the Jurassic landscape park, we have found our place to live and host. It started 17 years ago. At that time, we welcomed our first guests, and during company events we sat on the floor filled with pots and plates, because we couldn't keep up with cleaning. Then came the reflection that whenever children are with us, they follow Krzysztof step by step. It also turned out that Krzysztof is not afraid of any children's questions. Although he probably doesn't know the answer to every one, he tells the kids what a sieve goat is, shows what a diamond Italian looks like, tells what to feed rabbits, and what geese and pheasants like. Our belief that our children should be like in paradise became deeper and deeper.
Today we have a farm full of animals, even more enthusiasm and agritourism for children and their families. Because children are the most important thing for us and in the season everything revolves around them. There is time to collect eggs, milk goats and pet rabbits. We have badges for getting to know the Jura, recognizing wildflowers and Jurassic birds. There is space for free roaming on the grass, splashing in the pool, faces covered with berries picked in the forest. Evenings are filled with children's laughter, which is mixed with the sounds of a crackling fire. We also have homemade meals that will satisfy all, but especially children's, palates. You come to us with the desire to relax like on vacation with your family. The kind that likes to be together, make some noise and have fun. If you need it, we are waiting for Jura!
In the northern part of the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska, in the Eagles' Nests Landscape Park, there is our agritourism, created for families with children. In autumn, we also open our doors to couples and groups of friends.
We can host 33 people. We want you to feel at home with us and have the opportunity to integrate with others during common meals and activities.
In our house we have for you: a double room, two triple rooms and four duplex family rooms (even for a family of 5). They are all en-suite and have direct access to the garden.
The double room has two single beds and space for a travel cot.
Triple rooms have a double bed and a single bed.
Duplex family rooms have a double bed and a fold-out American on the mezzanine and two single beds downstairs. We must warn you that the stairs are quite steep, so we recommend this choice for families with older children.
Common spaces are:
– a living room, which can become a workshop room if necessary,
– a place for a bonfire and a grill with a smokehouse,
– a playground, which is located in the garden, which can be accessed from the rooms,
– mini-fields for football, basketball and volleyball,
- swimming pool (20 m²) with swimming accessories.
The area is fenced and safe for children. And big, we have 3 ha, including a piece of private forest. We are surrounded by fields on all sides.
Our agritourism has no direct neighbors, it is located behind the village, but it is located by the road. Kotowice is a village with 400 inhabitants, there is one shop in it.
We cook like mom. And we certainly try! We cook ourselves, at home, taking care to meet the needs of the most demanding children's palates.
Meat and sausages come from a local, family-owned butcher's shop, we buy fruit and vegetables at the local market, and we have our own eggs. We try our best to make it homely and tasty.
We serve meals in the dining room, where there are long tables conducive to integration. Breakfasts have their base (cold meats, cheeses, vegetables, preserves) and something different every day. For the youngest we have cereals and milk. Sometimes we manage to give milk from our goats. Dinners are served at 17:00. We kindly ask you to be punctual, because there are activities for children after the meal. Dinners consist of: soup, main course, dessert and drink. During the season it may be difficult for us to take care of special diets, if you need one, please ask us in advance about the possibility of preparing it.
You can go to the Żarki fair, which is famous for its unique bread, the recipe of which is known only to one person in Poland. It's a sweet and dark tartar. In Złoty Potok, you can try the famous Rainbow Trout from Złoty Potok, which was bred by Count Edward Raczyński in the second half of the 19th century. In Lelów, on the other hand, you will get acquainted with the taste of: ciulim, cholent, goose pipes and goose lard, Lelów plum brandy and soup à la bat. These are examples of Jewish cuisine dishes. If you would like to try something from the classic Jurassic cuisine, look for roasts - a one-pot dish, baked in a cast-iron pot over a fire.
Who doesn't know the Jury must change it! A number of pleasures await here. Climbing Jurassic rocks, bicycle and cross-country trails, caves, balloon flights and skiing in Cisowa, Smolen and Morsko.
Take a breather here:
– basking in a wood-fired sauna,
– from the position of a deckchair watching your children play,
– integrating in the living room or by the evening bonfire,
– tasting homemade tinctures, which we will treat you with,
– grilling together, and maybe even smoking some delicacies.
Our agritourism is located in the heart of the Eagles' Nests Landscape Park. What do we recommend to you in particular when it comes to the area?
– Rafting on the Białka River from Lelów, which lasts less than 2 hours and is perfect for children – on the way you can count on meeting with crayfish and beavers.
- Caves! The Deep Cave in the western part of Góra Zborów, called Raven Rocks, in the Góra Zborów nature reserve, can be visited with a guide (the route takes about 40 minutes). There are many more caves in the area, you can also see: Easter, Piaskowa, Wielka Well Szpatowców, Sulmowa, Żabia, Berkowa and the cave in Kroczyce.
– Kroczyce and Podlesickie rocks for climbing and cycling. It is a 5 km long range of rock monadnocks created e.g. through: Góra Zborów, Kołoczek, Po Średnia, Popielowa, Łysak, Jastrzębnik or Słupsko. They are covered with a dense network of over 500 km of climbing routes.
– The castle in Mirów (1.5 km from us) in shape resembling a ship. Its brick watchtower was built here in the times of Casimir the Great. From there you can go along the Trail of the Eagles' Nests to the castle in Bobolice.
– Beaches on the reservoirs in Dzibice, Biała Błotna, Przyłubsko or Siamoszyce.
– The palace and park complex in Złoty Potok, where, walking around the 40-hectare area, you can see the Raczyński Palace and the Krasiński Manor.
– The Old Mill in Żarki, where the Museum of Old Crafts is located (we have a discount for you to enter) – it is a multimedia and interactive space that will appeal to both small and large. In Żarki itself, apart from the Old Mill (Museum of Old Crafts), we also have discounts to: Time Machine (Knight Janusz's workshop), EtnoJura (wooden toys and eco-products workshop), Hokuss Pokus - sweets manufacture. Recently, the educational farm Siodłata Gęś and the Parrot House JuRajskie Ptaki were also built there.
– Żarki itself is an old Jewish town with a restored synagogue and Jewish cemetery (an old, very atmospheric Jewish cemetery).
And finally, a few words about locks. In total, the Trail of the Eagles' Nests includes 11 castles: Ojców, Pieskowa Skała, Rabsztyn, Bydlin, Pilcza in Smolen, Ogrodzieniec, Morsko (or Bąkowiec), Bobolice, Mirów, Ostrężnik and Olsztyn. Interesting places in the area, but not included in the Trail of the Eagles' Nests, include: the castle in Siewierz and the royal castle in Będzin. There is a watchtower in Łutowiec.
What’s there for children?
The motto of our place: fun! We have created our agritourism for families with children, trying to open the sky to children and give parents a moment of respite. We look after a bunch of animals (and on the farm there are: goats, rabbits, several species of hens, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, pheasant and canaries), feed them and learn many interesting facts about them. Each of our youngest guests joins the Jurassic Smyk Club. Everyone has a chance to earn a special badge. They are awarded for: visiting the right number of places in the Jura, for knowledge about the region, about Jurassic birds or recognizing herbs and wildflowers.
We also do not forget about the youngest in the kitchen, making sure that their nutritional preferences are fully satisfied with us.
What else?
– workshops, animations and competitions with prizes,
– a playground, which can be accessed directly from the rooms,
– bonfires with sausages on sticks in the evenings.
On the playground there are: swings, a climbing wall, a house, a slide and a sandpit. For older children there are: a mini football field, a basketball basket and a volleyball or badminton court. All sports equipment is available on site. In the summer, we set up a large swimming pool (about a meter deep) - we also have balls, inflatables and other toys. We also have board games, puzzles and books, perfect for evenings and bad weather.