Fairytale Fortress (Baśniowa Warownia) in Inwałd

On a rocky rise in Inwałd, behind a palisade of wooden logs, stands a "medieval" stronghold of about 2,500 m² – complete with towers, an armoury and a torture chamber. It is not a historic monument but a theme park opened in July 2012, now known as the Fairytale Fortress (Baśniowa Warownia). It is part of the Świat Marzeń (World of Dreams) amusement park next to the well-known Miniature Park, and works well as a family history lesson with a fairy-tale twist.

From re-enactment to fairy tale

At first the site operated as the Medieval Fortress Inwałd. For several years it hosted historical events, competitions, shows and spectacular sieges staged by re-enactment groups. Over time its character changed: it kept its medieval look, but fairy-tale characters moved in – Sir Paszko the Knight, Ariana the Witch and Szafir the Dragon. Every year it also hosts the Smocze Plony (Dragon Harvest) festival, inspired by Slavic harvest rituals.

What to see

Inside the castle walls and in the outer bailey you will find:

• the Lady's Chamber, the Armoury and the Torture Chamber,
• a Wax Workshop,
• a medieval settlement where you can see how a blacksmith, weaver, potter and rope-maker worked,
• the Dragon Lands with moving dragons,
• newer attractions such as a Laser Arena, giant building blocks and the Monkey Grove play area, plus the Castle Tavern.

A Dragon Show takes place every hour on the hour. On weekends, long weekends and holidays, and every day in the summer holidays, the fortress characters run activities for children – the schedule changes with the season.

Inwałd Park at a glance

The fortress is one of several attractions in Inwałd on national road 52 between Kraków and Cieszyn. The Miniature Park has been open since May 2007 and shows models of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty; next to it are an amusement park, a seasonal water park (since 2025) and separately run parks: Dinolandia, the "Kucyk" mini zoo and the John Paul II Garden.

Tripto tip

The entrance to Świat Marzeń is at ul. Wadowicka 169 in Inwałd (postal address: Andrychów). Tickets are sold online or at the gate; prices and ticket types change with the season, so check before you travel. The park does not open every day outside the main season – in autumn it may be closed Monday to Wednesday, and in winter the fortress and amusement rides are closed – so always check the opening calendar. Allow 1–2 hours for the fortress and most of a day for the whole park. Buses stop right outside the entrance; the nearest railway stations include Wadowice and Bielsko-Biała.