Bolków Castle

On the side facing the Nysa Szalona river, Castle Hill drops away in a 90-metre slope, while to the east it slopes gently down into the town. On top, at 396 metres above sea level, stands Bolków Castle – one of the largest strongholds of the Piast dukes of Świdnica and Jawor, covering 7,600 m². Its trademark is a 25-metre tower with a sharp "beak" pointing towards the direction from which attack was expected.

History: a castle the Hussites could not take

The first mention dates from 1277, when Duke Bolesław II the Bald of Legnica wrote of "our castle" Hain. His son Bolko I the Strict expanded it as one of a chain of fortresses guarding the routes from Bohemia into Silesia across the Sudetes. Thanks to them, the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor stayed independent until the late 14th century, longer than any other Silesian duchy. In 1345 the castle withstood a Bohemian siege, and according to historians it served as the ducal treasury for about a hundred years. After the death of Duchess Agnes in 1392 it passed to the kings of Bohemia. In 1428 the Hussites captured and burned the town, but not the castle.

In 1539–1540 the Lombard architect Jakub Parr rebuilt the fortress in Renaissance style. An outer ring of walls with gun bastions was added, along with the three-storey Ladies' House. In 1646, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was taken by the Swedes. In 1703 it was bought by the Cistercians of Krzeszów. After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1810 it fell into decay, and in 1885 the authorities allowed parts of the walls to be pulled down for road-building material.

What to see

• The beaked tower – 15 m across at the base, with walls 4.5 m thick. The beak of red and yellow sandstone was meant to make cannonballs glance off. The original entrance was via a drawbridge 9 m above the ground.
• The hunger dungeon at the base of the tower, 10 m deep. Prisoners were lowered into it from above.
• The Ladies' House – a Renaissance building with a museum. The upper floor has an exhibition on the fortifications of the Duchy of Świdnica-Jawor, and the ground floor hosts temporary exhibitions.
• Walls and courtyards built of green and red schist and sandstone.
• A wooden window from around the 13th century, considered the oldest in Poland.

Interesting facts

Bolków's beaked tower is probably the first of its kind in Poland. The only other surviving one is at nearby Niesytno Castle in Płonina. In 1813 Russian soldiers searching for legendary gold cut a hole in the base of the tower to reach the dungeon. There is no evidence they found anything. Local legend also tells of a tunnel linking Bolków with the castle at Świny. The castle appeared in the Polish film and TV series "The Witcher" (Wiedźmin), and in 2000 a ground-penetrating radar survey revealed a previously unknown underground room.

Tripto tip

The castle rises right above Bolków, about 30 km north-west of Wałbrzych. A visit is mostly a walk around the courtyards and walls, so wear sturdy shoes. Allow 1–1.5 hours including the tower and museum. In mid-July the castle hosts Castle Party, a gothic music festival, and in early September the Trzy Żywioły (Three Elements) Travellers' Festival. On those days the castle becomes a stage, so if you prefer peace and quiet, check the events calendar first. You can combine the trip with the castle ruins at Świny, the other end of the legendary tunnel.