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Castles and fortifications
The Castle in Nowy Wisnicz | In the eastern part of the Malopolska Region there are many fascinating places, both for those seeking picturesque landscapes and those more interested in historical and architectural landmarks. Also, in this area one can find mysterious structures shrouded by century-old legends that welcome guests into the magic by hosting widely attended mock battles.
The development of castles in Poland was sparked by the appearance of noble families and the urgency of protecting Polish borders. Tarnow's land did not compose a border but it was on the path of a major trade route that needed the protection of armed men and powerful fortresses. As a result, brick castles and fortifications began to spring up around this area in the 13 th century. The greatest period of development was during the first half of the 14 th century when many noblemen were building strongholds and towns thought it an essential precaution to surround themselves with walls.
When driving through the Dunajec Valley, along an important Polish-Hungarian trade route, the Wytrzyszcze Castle and the ruins of the castles of Czchow and Muszyna are just visible over the treetops.
The Debno Castle is a unique structure located near the road Tarnow - Krakow and is one of the few examples of Gothic residences in Poland. Amazingly enough, it has not been altered or damaged since its creation, allowing tourists and locals alike to experience the magic of times long passed. Feeding from the authenticity of the structure is the September festival that hosts contemporary knights who reenact medieval traditions in a contest of chivalry. In addition to the Debno Castle is the Castle of Nowy Wisnicz, which is certainly the biggest and arguably the most beautiful fortified Baroque residence in Poland.
Finally, in a class of their own, the fortified Renaissance mansions elegantly combine aesthetic, defensive, and residential functions in their exceptional structural design. In such a way they offer sharp contrast to other structures of the region.
In Tarnow and Biecz you can see the ruins of fortifications that once offered peace and protection to their residents. So, step back in time and journey through the castle and fortification route in order to view their century-old splendour.
CASTLES
The Castle in Nowy Wisnicz |
The Castle in Nowy Wisnicz - The largest preserved Baroque fortified residence in Poland is the castle in Nowy Wisnicz, receiving its current Renaissance-inspired facade during the reign of Piotr Kmita. The residence is composed of four two-story wings surrounding a quaint, little courtyard. The feature that allows the Castle its unparalleled allure is the four towers that proudly stand at each of the corners of the residence. Each tower has its own unique shape, rendering the appearance of a completely different stucture from every angle. Its current structure is the result of an architectural design by Stanislaw Lubomirski, who had the Castle built in the years from 1615 to 1637. Since then, the Castle has been rebuilt and has received a stone fortification that now surrounds it.
Curious tourists and locals, once inside the Castle can either plan a stay at the hotel or satisfy hunger with the delicious foods of "Kmita," a restaurant located in one of the castle wings. In addition, the castle can boast of having one of the biggest ballrooms in Poland, which is even larger than that in the Royal
The Castle in Nowy Wisnicz |
Castle in Wawel. Equally impressive and even more beautiful is the domed chapel, which has an interior illuminated by the enchanting pale light of a lantern that allows guests to view its elaborate stuccoes and paintings.
A local legend tells a story of Stanislaw Lubomirski, a lord who brought many Turkish captives to the Castle of Nowy Wisnicz after winning the battle of Chocim. A few of these prisoners that were confined to a tower began to construct wings from the feathers of the tower pigeons. When the wings were complete, four of the captives decided to fly to their freedom. Unfortunately they did not make it far and the first fugitive crashed in town near the Castle, the second and the third a few kilometers further, and the fourth one crashed near Bochnia. Stone obelisks were placed in each of these locations to commemorate their tragic deaths.
The Castle in Debno | The Castle in Debno - Debno Castle is a late Gothic style knight's residence dated sometime beween 1470-80, that is the most well-preserved of its kind in Poland. Unlike similar structures this castle is not surrounded by high walls because it was made in the late Gothic period when there was a shift from an emphasis on protection to prestige demonstrated by structural elevation and comfort. Although not as important, safety was still taken into account as portrayed by a model depicting the Castle in the 15th century. At this time it was surrounded by a deep moat and an earth and timber fortification with a palisade. The Castle consists of four two-story buildings that enclose a cobblestone quadrangle and a well. Wooden galleries within the courtyard allow for a convenient
The Castle in Debno | and beautiful passage between castle wings. The brick exterior of the Castle is enhanced with towers, bay windows, and door and window portals that are embellished with inscripted designs (plant, geometrical, and heraldic motifs). The interior exhibitions will offer you both historical facts and the opportunity to experience Thegn Hall, the chapel, the treasury and an old fashion kitchen.
Debno Castle is enchanted by a legend about the tragic love of Tarlowna, the daughter of the master of the Castle, who fell in love with and married her father's servant. As punishment for the shame of her family and the disobedience of her father's will, she was bricked up in a wall while still alive. Her ghost, referred to as the "White Lady," is reportedly haunting the Castle corridors even
The Castle in Debno |
today.
Tarnow contains the ruins of a castle on Gora Sw. Marcina (St. Martin Mountain). It was erected in the years 1329-1331 by Specimir Leilwita. Originally it was a building made of stone and brick with a large tower, small residential area, and a surrounding rampart. At the beginning of the 16 th century the castle became the residency of Tarnowscy and it was then restructured so that it consisted of both a high and low castle fortified with towers. The castle has slowly deteriorated since the end of the 17 th c.
Bren maintains seventeenth-century fortifications called "okopy szweckie," or Swedish trenches, which are pentagonal structures built of brick and surrounded by a ditch. The function of such a structure remains unknown.
Dunajec Valley Castles
At one time there was an important trade route that linked Poland, Hungary, and other Balkan countries through the Dunajec Valley. Consequently, many castles were built there in the 13 th and 14 th centuries.
Trzewlin has ruins of a castle built on Panienska Gora (Maiden Mountain) near Wojnicz in the 14 th c. Here there are wall fragments and a ditch still remaining.
Melsztyn contains ruins of the castle of Leliwici Melsztynscy that was founded in 1340. The castle had been renovated in later half of the 16 th century in Renaissance style, but it was destroyed by the Russian army in 1771. Still preserved from the original castle are a fifteenth-century tower with living quarters only partially remaining, the north wall of the palace (16 th c.), and the basement, or water tank.
Czchow is the home of the Czchow Castle ruins, which had been built at the turn of the 14 th century. Currently, it consists of a tower that stretches twenty meters into the air (tourists admitted), the foundations of walls, and living quarters.
Tropsztyn is the castle in Wytrzyszczka that was constructed on a rocky hill in the first half of the 14 th century. Today it has been completely restructured into the most stunning example of a stone castle in Poland. While visiting you can walk along an underground trail that runs through the dungeons, and view an exhibition devoted to the Incan culture. The reason for an Incan display is that legend claims that this castle held the treasure needed for the restoration of the Incan Empire. It was hidden here by offspring of the Incan king.
Grodek nad Dunajcem was a castle created in the beginning of the 15 th century that has only ruins remaining. It is located on the island called "Malpia Wyspa," or Monkey's Island, in the northern part of Jezioro Roznowskie (Roznowskie Lake).
Roznow contains the remains of the Laziska Castle from the 14 th c.
Roznow is also the location of a fortress that was never completed, but only begun by Jan Tarnowski. It consists of three conjoined buildings, a stone pentagonal corner tower, and a gate.
Fortified Renaissance Manors
Wieruszyce was erected in 1531 and renovated in the second half of the 16 th c. The manor is built of stone and rests on a square foundation with a rounded alkierzowa corner tower. It is private property at the present.
Jezow contains a two-story mansion built in the first half of the 16 th century that is made of stone and brick and covered by a hipped roof.
Leki Gorne has a brick manor that is dated back to the early 17 th c. It is three-stories high and loopholes are still preserved in the wall of the staircase.
Szymbark is the home of a manor founded in the 17 th c. and located on the headland of the Ropa Valley.
TOWN FORTIFICATIONS
Biecz is a town once surrounded by impenetrable ramparts and intimidating barbicans during its golden age from the 14 th to the 16 th c. Today a few fragments of Gothic and Renaissance ramparts remain as well as three turrets.
Tarnow is a city that was also greatly protected, surrounding itself with earth walls, ditches, and ramparts in the 14 th century. Fortifications were then modernized in the 15 th and early 16 th c. in order to defend the Church and Monastery of Bernadine that was built in 1468. What is more, the city was enclosed with a double ring of ramparts with towers and apses. The ruins of the ramparts together with the apse have been preserved to this day. The apse was built of brick; it had composed part of the exterior lower rampart that preceded the main one.
Pilzno received its royal charter in 1355, including it in the king's properties. The town's fortifications, its earth ramparts and apses, were constructed in the 15 th century and then modernized in the 16 th c. The tower and arsenal were again rebuilt in the 19 th century and have remained partially preserved.
FORTIFIED CHURCHES
Gnojnik contains the Gothic church of Sw. Marcin Biskup (St. Martin the Bishop) that was founded in 1380 with a second intended use. It was also a defensive stucture, evident from the battle stations in the roof top.
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