Bydlin Castle was probably built in the fourteenth century as the ancestral seat of a family of knights of the Arrow coat of arms,  and later passed into the hands of the Szczepanowski, Brzezicki and Boner families. The next owner - Mikołaj Firlej rebuilt it at the turn of the sixteenth / seventeenth century as the church of the Holy Cross, and according to local legend it also functioned as an Arian church for a short time. It was burnt by the Swedes during their march to Czestochowa in 1655. Since then the building fell into disrepair. At the moment, remnants may be seen of the so called "Kamieniec", that is a rectangular residential building, as well as the remains of the peripheral wall and gate, and fragments of a rock-cut moat. Visible trenches, dug by the soldiers of the 1914 Polish Legions, remain in the woods  surrounding the castle ruins. The soldiers were stationed on the fortified Hill of the Holy Cross for several days during their fights with the Russians.

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Bydlin Castle

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The first wooden fortifications were probably there at least since the thirteenth century. Wood-gas castle was in 1300 completely destroyed during the Battle of Ladislaus the Short of Wenceslas II of the Polish crown. It is also possible that the mention of the destruction of the castle fortifications on the opposite applies to the top Biśnik. The owner of the land Pilica was then among Toporczyków. Shortly afterwards, even before the middle of the fourteenth century, John of Pilica or his son Otto ascended to the top of the rock stone castle Pilica. In the western part of the foundation established high tower with a diameter of 7.5 meters from the perimeter walls ran along the edge of the rocks. The entrance to the tower was located at the top of the walls. The eastern part of the rock occupied residential building. Soon after the erection of the castle on the rock expanded it by two-castle. On the west below the castle there was carved in the rock to a depth of over 100 meters apparently well. This also defended the castle grounds two półbaszty. Entrances at the foot of the castle led from the south side, and from the north provided a small gate for communication between podzamczami. 
In 1389 years, Otto died, and his daughter Elizabeth married Vincent of Grabow Leliwa coat of arms. Later the castle became the property of the son of Elizabeth and Vincent governor and castellan of Cracow John Leliwa coat of arms, which took the name Pilecki. In the fifteenth century was the expansion assumption, during which półbaszty turned into towers. At the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth century re-building work undertaken, which resulted in increased area of the western foot of the castle and was built in the western corner of the new residential house. 
The last owner of the house Leliwa-Pilecki was also John, who in 1570 sold the castle to the Bishop Philip Padniewskiemu, and he gave it to his nephew Wojciech. The castle was not now used as the headquarters of the owner, and after 1610, when Wojciech Padniewski built castle in New Pilica, Smolen has been completely abandoned.

Castle in Smolen

Located on the western edge of the town of the same name, Pilica Palace dates to 1610 and only 40 years later it was surrounded by fortifications including a moat. It didn’t stop the Swedes however, who duly burned it and moved on as the first tourists to hike the Eagles Nest Trail. Renovations were undertaken but by the end of the 18th century the property had been a source of debt for several owners and after changing hands again started slipping into squalor.

In the mid-19th century new investment gave it the lovely neo-Renaissance appearance it has today, with the four palatial wings said to have over 40 chambers. Though in decent condition Pilice currently lies abandonned and is the subject of a legal battle over its ownership. Not much is known of the interiors, but the garden and surrounding property would be perfect for a tea party if maintained. While not currently open to the public, if you ask the guard very politely you might get to peek inside.

Castle in Pilica

Ogrodzieniec Castle is situated on a rocky hill called Mount Janowski east of the city Ogrodzieniec. The first assumption defensive wood and earth could exist here in the days of Boleslaw Boleslaw. It is also possible that the first city ogrodzieniecki was on top of a neighboring Birów where Blazej Muzolf in the 90s of the twentieth century when he discovered relics of the wooden castle. Brick fortress was established at the time of Casimir the Great, or slightly earlier. Casimir the Great granted the right ogrodzienieckie Marshal of the Polish Kingdom Przedborowi of Brzezia. When Przedbór received Ogrodzieniec castle was damaged and needed reconstruction, which was performed, it is possible that the earlier wooden castle obtained when masonry elements of defense. During this time he held the castle highest part of the rocks, but outside the walls of peripheral could only consist of a wooden building courtyard. It is possible that the north-east, where the slope fell gently existed shaft or defensive wall. The entrance to the castle ran through a gap in the rocks on the east side of the foundation. After the death of Przedbora castle returned to state ownership and in 1386 years Wladyslaw Jagiello gave him cześnikowi of Krakow and the alderman of the Lublin Włodek Charbinowice Sulima. In the fifteenth century, probably at the time of Sulimów, the castle was enlarged. On the eastern rock trzykondygnacjową residential tower was erected, and on the south - residential wing. The courtyard was provided, though perhaps already existed, the water tank. In 1470 years, the castle was bought by the family Sulimów by Imbrama and Peter Salomon, and then passed to the ownership of Rzeszów, Pilecki, Chelm and boners. In the first half of the sixteenth century the Ogrodzieńca was Seweryn Boner. He was the right hand of Sigismund the Old, who instructed him to rebuild the Wawel Castle. After the construction of the royal residence for himself he decided to erect an equally stunning. With many of his possessions Ogrodzieniec chosen as the best-located, close to Krakow. Rebuilt in a Gothic stronghold in the magnificent Renaissance Ogrodzieńcu established. He was also the northern wing, expanded south, which received two towers, and in place of the former gate erected a third gate tower, which led to the drawbridge. The gate tower decorated on the third floor chapel. At the foot of the castle bailey stretched wide for commercial purposes and entertainment, which were arranged tournaments. After the death of Seweryn Boner expansion still continued by his son Stanislaw, who built the west wing, and to the south added a "chicken leg" outside the castle walls, the building had five floors and each placed shooting. 
Castle in the sixteenth century, however, was more than the object of a defensive residence. The next owner was Nicholas Ogrodzieńca Ligęza who raised the defense of the castle from the south rising next to the "chicken legs" boulevards. The castle was in 1587 conquered by the Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg, but did not suffer in this episode. Then there was the property Firlejs, and half of the seventeenth century, Andrew Firle made ​​minor construction work and changed the castle into a Baroque decor. During the Swedish invasion, the castle was overrun by invaders, but also did not hurt. After the withdrawal of the Swedish castle became Castellan of Krakow Stanislaw Warszycki that surrounded the bailey wall with a gate and erected within it a stable and coach-house. 
1702 began with the fall of the castle. The Swedish army of Charles XII withdrawing from those areas set fire to the residence. The owners of Męcińscy did not take too costly repair and the castle fell into disrepair. In 1784 the ruined buildings bought from Męcińskich Thomas Jakliński, be suitable for use here only a few rooms. In 1810 the last owner Ogrodzieńca Jaklińskiego sister eventually left the castle. Since that time, it was a place where the building blocks for the surrounding farms. In the early twentieth century the area of the ruins bought one of the local peasants, but it does not change the destination of the ruins. 
In the interwar period the initiative of Alexander Janowski, co-founder of the Polish Tourism Association, gradually buying up land castle and proceeded to secure the property. 
After the Second World War was secured in the years 1949-1973 the castle as a permanent ruin and made ​​available to tourists.

Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamczu

As far as the fifteenth century abounds in references to the castle rabsztyńsim, it happens earlier strongholds are difficult to determine. Jan Dlugosz mentions created on the initiative of King Casimir the Great Castle in Olkusz. Because without finding any other documents Olkusz castle, some historians identify that reference was from Rabsztyn, but in 2001 in the Olkusz found during construction work on a piece of thick medieval wall with a gate, which introduced new doubts. 
It is assumed that the first buildings and wood-earth fortifications built here at the end of the thirteenth century, and the castle was built in the fourteenth century. He held only the highest part of the hill on a rock, here was located high cylindrical tower and ran along the edge of the peripheral wall rock. The first certain mention comes from 1396 years, 
Castle Rabsztyn 
Woodcut by drawing B.Podbielskiego, Weekly Illustrowany 1862 from the collection of the Library of the Institute of Literary Research 
  It lists the chaplain of the chapel of the castle. The castle was in the possession of Spytko of Melsztyn, and the properties of the family Melsztyńskich remained for 1441 years, it was time for embezzlement to the king confiscated and as a dowry Jadwiga Książ passed into the hands of the family of Andrew Tęczyński Toporczyków. In 1442, on the order of King Andrew Tęczyński had strengthened the castle. After Andrew's death, his son took the name of Rabsztynska headquarters. When in 1509 expired Rabsztyńska line of this family castle was in the hands Boner, who for three generations exercised the office of governors rabsztyńskich. 
Another alderman was in 1592, Nicholas Wolski, then Marshal of the Crown Zygmunt Myszkowski. It is probably in the early seventeenth century, expanded Rabsztyńska fortress into a Renaissance residence, which partially lost its defensive character. At the foot of the upper castle castle was lower with trójskrzydłowym palace on two floors, which had 40 rooms. The whole was separated from the rest of the hill by a deep moat, over which it moved from the south bridge on pillars. The bridge led to the basement gate tower, the remains of which have survived to this day. 
During the Swedish invasion troops retreating invaders plundered and destroyed the castle, which has not been rebuilt. Partially it was still used until the beginning of the nineteenth century. In the second half of the nineteenth century, treasure hunters have fulfilled the destruction of blowing up the only preserved part of the castle - the castle tower and walls of the lower.

Castle in Rabsztyn

The first mention of the castle dates from Peskenstein 1315 years, from the document duke of Cracow Ladislaus the Short. Probably it refers, however, to establish a defense on the neighboring castle to the current top Kocica. Dlugosz mention of the castle in Pieskowa as the foundation of Casimir the Great, who in 1377 was given by Louis of Hungary Peter Szafrańcowi coat Starykoń. Castle then probably occupied the highest part of the hill called the rock of Dorothy and his squad entered a four-sided tower at the base and octagonal lot higher, though possible, that the octagonal superstructure formed later. This tower existed here until the mid-nineteenth century. On the rock was located probably even a residential building, and the lower party of the hill was surrounded by the castle wall, within which there were outbuildings, perhaps brick. 
Giving Louis, however, was not definitive, since in 1386 Wladyslaw Jagiello Pieskowa Rock pledged at the Krakow podstolego Peter Szafraniec, but due to lack of reimbursement castle has remained permanently owned Szafraniec. Peter Szafraniec died in 1398 years, and the castle taken over by his son, chamberlain, mayor and Voivode of Cracow also Peter, who owned the castle has confirmed the privilege of Jagiello in 1422. The other two Szafrańcowie, the chamberlain of Krakow and also Peters, no longer had such influence at the royal court, and in 1450 years the fourth consecutive Peter Szafraniec dealt with looting and to the extent incurred the nobility and neighbors that Casimir IV convened the council aimed to curb dealings. Uncontrollable nature was still one of the sons of Peter Christopher, who was beheaded on Wawel Hill in 1484 years. 
The castle became the property of his brother Stanislaus, and then to Jerome Szafraniec, son of Stanislaus. Jerome restored the good name of the gens Szafraniec. He came to a significant position in the court of King Sigismund the Old, married his daughter, and with her ​​dowry family fortune grew. Jerome expanded its headquarters. The circuit is then enriched the walls of a round bastion with a gate, and at the end of extended east from the walls of the building dostawiono second tower was. Surely then also changed the decor of the castle, because staying at the royal court, Jerome could move to Pieskowej Rocks latest trends. 
In 1557 years, Jerome died, and the castle became Stanislaw Szafraniec who undertook the extension of residence, completed in 1578. To the wing of the existing south-western pavilion was built with two storeys towers coming to a gate. Then Gatehouse tower was lowered, and preserved its two stories have been included in the new east wing. In the third stage of the redevelopment of the entire south and east wing was extended with one floor, which them together equaled a courtyard surrounded by cloisters. In this way, a compact complex buildings combining the fourteenth century buildings with new ones. 
The last heir of the family castle Szafraniec was the son of Stanislaw Jędrzej, who died childless in 1608 wrote Pieskowa Rock adjacent Maciej Łubnickiemu goods. The next owners are Barbara Sośnicka, Samuel Śladkowski, Jan Zebrzydowski Radwan coat of arms, and then his son Michael. After taking Pieskowej Rocks in 1640 Michael Zebrzydowski modernized and extended the castle. Easily accessible from the east side erected a modern bastion fortifications. The existing entrance leading from the north side of the courtyard ward now found himself in a curtain between the eastern bastions. In addition to the fortification works were also a place for the construction of the castle, where he established at the time the chapel of St.. Michael. 
During the flood the castle occupied by the Swedes in 1655 severely affected. After the withdrawal of the invaders castle remained in the hands of Michael Zebrzydowski until his death in 1667, later becomes the property of John Wielopolski. 
It has strengthened the castle moving here runs from the castle in Zywiec. After his death the castle passed to his son Francis. During the next war with the Swedes castle again fell into their hands. In 1718 the castle was engulfed in fire, which destroyed nearly all the buildings, saving only the oldest part. The castle was completely rebuilt probably only in 1760, when the son of Francis Jerome chose the castle in Pieskowa at its permanent residence. During the reconstruction bricked up many elements of Renaissance design buildings. Cloisters encased transforming it into a glazed windows, viewing loggia bricked up, changed or cut all the windows and portals in the walls. 
In 1842 the castle was bought from Wielopolskis John Mieroszewski, and 1846 years after his father inherited it Sobieslaw August Mieroszewski. Soon after, in 1850 a fire destroyed the castle completely, and three years later sank Dorothy rock and collapsed tower, which stood on it and the oldest part of the foundation of the defense of the fourteenth century. Started by Mieroszewski reconstruction was not completed when in 1863 as a result of the Russian artillery castle has witnessed again by fire. After these events, but reconstruction continued and completed in 1877. This year, the castle became the property of Sobiesława Christopher Mieroszewski, and bought it 1896 years Michal Wilczynski. The castle, however, was not then used, because the previous owner took away all of his equipment. Lack of maintenance has led to the slow progressive destruction. 
Thanks to Adolf Dygasińskiego founded in 1902 the company a few avid fans of the monument "Castle Pieskowa", which participants found the funds to purchase the property. The castle was converted into a guest house and served this function until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. After the war the castle was taken over by the state, and since 1950 a monument took to the Ministry of Culture and the Arts. From 1948 to 1968 years conducted here by Alfred Majewski restoration work was exposed Renaissance shape of the monument.

Castle in Scala Pieskowa

The ruins of the fourteenth-century knight's castle built by the family Włodków. Built on an irregular plan, along with a courtyard surrounded by a moat and embankment natural gas, on which stood the tower. From the south defended wall built on rock. Destroyed after leaving the seventeenth century. 
In 1927 he bought land Witold Czeczot and erected adjacent to the remains of stone building. To the present day the old castle are preserved only fragments of walls built into the rocks. 
Adjacent area Zabrzańskie Repair Plant Coal Industry utilized for the construction of a holiday village.

Castle Bąkowiec in Morsko

Castle was built by King Kazimierz the Great, and the administration says that the name castrum Oczec was established in honor of his father Wladyslaw the Short, who was once close to Ojców hiding from enemy troops. The exact dating is not possible, but it can be assumed that the castle was built between 1354 year, when the king received from the bishopric of Cracow these lands, and the year 1370, when he was already established here margrave Zaklika. Originally the castle consisted of an octagonal tower of the final defense buildings situated on the cliffs towering over the rest of the hill, perimeter walls circling erratically on the edge of the hill and the quadrangular gate tower dostawionej to the rocks at the foot of donjon. Dwelling house erected along the eastern section of the peripheral walls. Promontory cut off from the rest of the hill a deep ditch, over which the drawbridge over. Casimir the Great Fathers created in the county, the first known was alderman John of Korzkwia the late fourteenth century. 
In 1400, the castle was pledged by Wladyslaw Jagiello. Further prefects were representatives of many wealthy families, among other things Szafrańcowie, Boner, Myszkowscy and Korycińscy. The work of construction or repair of their reign there is no information, however, is likely to have to be some carried out, since only in 1620 recorded a bad state of the castle. Probably he was not used to this time as a permanent seat of their respective owners. In the said document from 1620 mentions taken by Nicholas Korycińskiego reconstruction and expansion of the fortress. The work took a long time, after the death of Nicholas were still continued by his sons Ferdinand and Stephen. As a result of these works were created was the residence of the new residential house positioned on the protruding south in the area gate rock promontory. The building had a basement and had two floors ground. It included, among other things chapel. At the center of the courtyard was a deep cut into the rock well. 
During the Swedish invasion the invaders seized the castle without a fight and probably arranged in the armory, and the food. After the withdrawal of the Swedes, the castle was renovated by Stanislaw Korycińskiego, and in 1676 years the county took Warszyccy paternal and later Męcińscy and the Sea. In 1721 the governor was Boguslaw Łubieński, later Załuscy. In 1787 the castle was undertaken Stanisław August Poniatowski, then the governor, with the rest of the last, here was Theophilus Zaluski. After the partitions of Polish At the end of the eighteenth century, the castle began to be neglected and fell into disrepair, residents eventually left him in 1826. When it was put into auction purchase made ​​Wolicki Constantine, who had demolished a large part of the walls and buildings to obtain building material. Another owner, Wojciech Prendowski, wore Although with the intention of rebuilding the castle, commissioning plans for the implementation of these works known architect Francis Mary Lanciemu, but the restaurant did not even work began. Completed while the work of destruction, when the Gothic stone castle ordered to erect an inn and brewery. Surviving octagonal tower in 1913 lowered fearing that the lower part of the walls will not hold the load. 
Currently, there are preserved gate tower, octagonal tower, ground floor of the building walls and the remains of the southern outer walls. The courtyard has been preserved as well. From the bridge leading to the gate tower are preserved only partially stone pillars. The octagonal tower you can see traces of the stairs and the fireplace are from the fourteenth century.