As far as the fifteenth century abounds in references to the castle rabsztyńsim, it happens earlier strongholds are difficult to determine
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.