Around Cracow, extraction of rock material for building and road construction as well for chemical and steel industries developed on a large scale. With the establishment of the Jurassic Landscape Parks in this area, industry-scale exploration of rock material is permitted to continue within existing sites only until the developed rock deposits last. The author reviews possibilities to use old extraction sites for tourist and recreational purposes, taking Zakrzówek (situated within the administrative boundaries of Cracow) and Czatkowice (to the north of Krzeszowice) quarries as examples.
Present tendencies in European tourism involve an evident interest in beauty of woods, in clean air occurring there, and the difference forest landscape offers in contrast to urban surroundings. More and more tourists desire silence, tree sound, separation from the crowd, all these factors which determine the recreation function of forested areas. The destructive effects of tourism on forest environment have shown since long. The extent of damage depends on the form of tourism in the area. Camping is the greatest threat among these various forms of recreation. That is why the author appeals for reasonable design of tourist paths and skiing tracks, rest and parking areas, camping sites and other components of tourist infrastructure in forested areas.