Czestochowa, Poland, (pronounced ches-toe-HOE-vuh), 130 mi/210 km southwest of Warsaw, is primarily of interest to devout Catholics. It's home to the holiest relic in Poland, the Black Madonna, also known as "Our Lady of Czestochowa." The object, a painted wooden panel, is kept in the 600-year-old Jasna Gora (Luminous Mountain) Monastery. (Copies of the icon are displayed in many churches throughout Poland.) On major religious holidays (such as Ascension Day), as many as 2 million visitors may go there to pay homage. It's a tradition for pilgrims to walk to the shrine from their homes—residents of Warsaw leave nine days earlier. The icon is displayed during religious services only, so plan ahead to see it (don't expect to get a close look).
The monastery also has three museums, one of which contains Lech Walesa's 1983 Nobel Peace Prize. On holy days, and even on weekends, accommodations can be very tight. Because the town offers few other attractions for tourists, it's best to stop for a service at the monastery while en route from Warsaw to Krakow.
If you do stop in Czestochowa and have the time, you can take an interesting day trip to the nearby town of Olsztyn (not to be confused with the northern Polish city of the same name). The scenic Eagles' Nest Trail starts there and continues south to Ojcow National Park near Krakow, passing the Mirow Castle, the Bobolice Castle and the beautiful Ogrodzieniec ruins en route. The trail can be traversed on foot or by bicycle or car.
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