Located only 20 km from Krakow, it is the largest forest complex in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
The current Niepolomice Forest is nothing like it was in the times of the first Piast dynasty, when it was a place of numerous hunting trips of Polish kings and princes. The ancient forest was replaced by rapidly growing pine already during the partitions, and subsequent war conflicts meant that the Forest was treated as a source of wood. Since the mid-20th century some efforts have been made to restore the natural forest stand.
Today, the Niepolomice Forest plays mainly a recreational role. It is an ideal place for runners and lovers of lonely walks among the trees, bicycle trips or horse riding. There are plenty of places along the trails where you can rest and information boards about the local fauna and flora, as well as monuments and memorial sites.
