Historic sites
Stary Olkusz Stronghold is an archaeological site on a small hill west of today’s Olkusz. A circular courtyard about 80 metres across is surrounded by a moat and two rings of earthen ramparts. The appeal lies in the terrain, church ruins and Olkusz’s early mining past.
The site was a defensive settlement, probably destroyed during Polish-Czech fighting at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. Burnt layers yielded arrowheads, spurs, pottery and objects made of silver and lead. The finds point to ore processing and extraction.
After the stronghold was destroyed, a Gothic church of St John the Baptist was built on the hill in the 14th century. It was reduced to a chapel in the 16th century and survived until the 18th; today, walls, crypts and a monument with a cross from 1937 remain. In the 1960s, the Friends of Olkusz Land Society helped save the stronghold and church ruins from being buried under mine spoil from zinc and lead extraction.
The site lies west of Olkusz, near national road 94. It is an open area without a ticket office or permanent services, so check the map and a safe place to leave your car. The ramparts and moat are uneven and slippery after rain; wear sturdy shoes and do not climb fragile walls. Allow 20–30 minutes. Nearby are Rabsztyn Castle, the Błędów Desert and Olkusz.
GetYourGuide
Discover recommended experiences, tickets and tours you can book online.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission from bookings.Booking.com
Hotels, guesthouses and apartments near Stary Olkusz Stronghold Site.
See stays on Booking.comAffiliate link — we may earn a commission from bookings.