Castles

Apart from showing the natural environment, Poland's tourist routes also present the country's cultural and historic sights: mediaeval castles, Baroque palaces, stately homes, places of worship for the various religions and denominations, open-air museums of folk culture, and mysterious prehistoric sites. In the north of the country, there are castles that were built in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Teutonic Knights, the most famous being the fortress in Malbork.

Jousting tournament Golub-Dobrzyn Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

These enormous regular-shaped fortifications (usually on a quadrilateral plan) are still awe-inspiring today. Inside them you'll see reconstructed interiors sometimes with original furnishings and museum exhibitions. Jousting tournaments are held in summer at Bytów, Gniew, and Golub-Dobrzyn Castles.

Castle in Olsztyn Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Fraternities of knights arrive from all over Europe. In their company you can step back in time for a while - to watch lance and axe duels, archery and crossbow competitions, attacks on the fortress with massive siege engines, and in the evenings sit with the knights around a campfire, take part in feasts, and watch performances of courtly dancing.

Southern Poland has its Eagles' Nest Trail - the ruins of dozens of defensive 14-15th-century castles, perched on the crests of limestone hills in the Cracow and Czêstochowa Jura. Some of them were erected for King Casimir the Great, others belonged to the spiritual and temporal lords of Poland. Today these spectacular ruins run in a great chain across a picturesque landscape. The most impressive links in the chain are the ruins of Bobolice, Mirów, Olsztyn, Tenczyn, and Ogrodzieniec Castles. Ogrodzieniec is regarded as the most beautiful castle ruin in Poland. The Cracow and Czêstochowa Jura which is the natural setting for the Eagles' Nests is a favourite with rock-climbers and excellent terrain for cycling and riding.

Castle in Niedzica
Photo: www.poland.gov.pl

Castles that were once owned by aristocratic families can be seen throughout the country. Many are medieeval buildings, some convereted in a Renaissance, Baroque or Neo-Gothic style in later times. In the interiors, you'll admire the collections of art, furniture, tapestries, and firearms. Their grounds have rare species of trees and shrubs. And of course each castle has its own White Lady ...

5 Castles worth visiting

Lancut - a mediaeval fortress, gradually transformed into a residential mansion. Famous in Europe since the 17th century, chiefly for its magnificent interior decoration, the work of famous architects and artists. You'll find a collection of antique carriages, coaches and sleighs. In May, during the music festival that has been held here since 1961, the Castle hosts great performers from all over the world.
Niedzica - a beautiful little 14th-century castle, converted in a Renaissance style, considered one of the best historical defensive structures in Poland. Lodged on top of a cliff that plummets down to the Dunajec Reservoir.
Kórnik - a romantic castle, converted in the 19th century in an English Neo-Gothic style. Its is the biggest and oldest dendrological park in Poland, set up during the early 19th century. Several thousand species of trees and shrubs from all over the world grow here on an area of about 30 hectares.
Baranów Sandomierski - a Renaissance stately home, designed by the famous Italian architect Santi Gucci. Every Thursday throughout the year, it hosts the Castle Feasts, where you'll savour old Polish cuisine to accompaniment of early music.
Krasiczyn - Built at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries as a defensive structure, the Castle has superb towers and walls topped by beautiful parapets. It is located on the River San in the Pogórze Przemyskie Natural Landscape Park.

Source: www.poland.gov.pl