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

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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

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

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

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

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 Bobolice Castle – a royal castle built in the middle of the 14th century in the Polish Jura, in the village of Bobolice.
The castle in Bobolice was built by King Casimir III the Great in the middle of the 14th century, probably in place of an earlier wooden structure. The castle was a part of the defence system of royal strongholds protecting the western border of Poland on the side of Silesia. In 1370, immediately after becoming King of Poland, Louis I the Great granted the castle to Władysław Opolczyk, Duke of Opole, as a prize for his support of the king’s dynastic plans. Nine years later Opolczyk leased the castle to Andrzej Schoen, a Hungarian from Barbalas; the new owner manned it with Germans and Czechs, who robbed local inhabitants and conspired with the Teutonic Order. Dissatisfied with their behaviour, the Polish king Władysław Jagiełło invaded Bobolice in 1396 and took over the castle with adjacent estates. From that time on, the stronghold was owned by a number of families, including Szafrańcowie, Trestkowie, Krezowie (Ostoja coat of arms; owners from 1486) and later Chodakowscy, Męcińscy and Myszkowscy (Jastrzębiec coat of arms; owners of the neighbouring Mirów Castle).
According to 15th century chronicles, a representative of the Krezowie family captured and imprisoned his niece in the Bobolice Castle. She is still said to haunt the stronghold as a lady in white. There is also a tale about two twin brothers, owners of castles in Mirów and Bobolice. Legend has it that they dug a tunnel between the two strongholds so that they could often meet tête à tête. One day they came into possession of a big treasure – they hid it in the tunnel and put an odious-looking witch on guard to deter any potential thieves. The brothers understood each other perfectly and could go through fire and water for each other. However, their friendship was put to a difficult test, when one brother brought a beautiful girl from his war expedition. Suspecting that his twin brother may have fallen in love with the girl, he locked her in the cellar near the treasure. One day, during the absence of the witch, who was attending a witches’ sabbath at the Bald Mount, he caught the pair of lovers in the vault. He got angry, murdered his brother and bricked up the girl in the castle dungeons. The ghost of the girl is still said to haunt the castle tower.
The beginning of the decline of the castle dates back to 1587, when it was heavily devastated during the invasion of Maximilian III, Archduke of Austria, a rival of Sigismund III Vasa to the Polish throne. The castle was reconstructed by the then owners, the Krezowie family, but in 1657, during the Deluge, it was plundered and totally ruined by Swedish troops. The condition of the stronghold was so bad that when King John III Sobieski arrived here in 1683, he had to spend the night in a tent.
In the 19th century a huge treasure was found in stronghold cellars. It is supposed that its part may be stored in the legendary tunnel between Bobolice and Mirów. In 1882, after parcelling out the land, the already deserted walls were acquired by the peasant family of Baryłów. Now the castle belongs to the Lasecki family, who decided to rebuild it in 1999.
The castle is situated on a steep rocky hill (360 m above sea level). Up till now, only the upper part of the stronghold (the residential building with at least two storeys and remnants of the cylindrical wall tower) has survived. The castle was accessible through a drawbridge over the dry moat, and the entire construction was surrounded by walls with battlements, made of local white limestone. Currently reconstruction works are under way in order to restore the entrance gate and the circumferential wall around the castle grounds.

Bobolice Castle

Castle Mirowski and bobolicki create a beautiful team landscaped dwukilometrowym rocky ridge. Casimir the Great, strengthening the eastern boundary of Lesser Poland, together with the lock bobolickim erected a two-storey brick building in the first half of the fourteenth century. This was not yet the castle and only associated with bobolickim castle watchtower. It was not until the late fourteenth century Krystyn coat fox with Koziegłów, after receiving Mirowskie estate, proceeded to transform the guards in the castle. Probably King Wladyslaw Jagiello in the transmission of the castle Krystyn instructed him to make this extension. 
In 1489 years came into possession of Mirow representatives Myszkowskis family and founded a residential place. As such, of course, had to be enlarged and modernized. The main building was increased by two-storey residential tower also increased to five storeys. Then the castle was lower, ran into the entrance by the gate tower. 
On the lower castle were residential and business. 
Since 1600 years began to Myszkowscy to style margraves on Mirowo de Gonzaga. This title Zygmunt Myszkowski received from her Italian friend, the Duke Mantey de Gonzaga. The Foreign Legion sounding name was added splendor to the already powerful gens. Mirow, though impressive, stopped them enough. Castle along with the goods sold so Korycińskiemu, and this after a few years it Męcińskim departed. When the time came the Swedish "deluge" is a beautiful Eagle's Nest was destroyed, and the attempts of reconstruction, in 1787 abandoned completely. 
The lower castle was not much left, only the foundations of some buildings. However, is fairly well preserved castle top. It has most of the walls and ceilings were only ruins. The windows are preserved Renaissance frames, also survived two portals.