Castle of the Dukes of Głogów

A round brick tower crowned with a metal crown is the oldest part of a castle that hosted King Casimir IV Jagiellon, the future King Sigismund the Old and, three times, Napoleon. The Castle of the Dukes of Głogów was almost completely destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt between 1971 and 1983. Today it houses the Archaeological and Historical Museum, and from spring to autumn you can climb its medieval tower.

History: from Piast stronghold to museum

In the second half of the 13th century Duke Konrad I of Głogów built a castle above a ford across the Oder, consisting of a brick tower and wooden buildings. After a fire in 1291 his successor Henry III surrounded it with a rectangular wall and added brick buildings. Another Gothic house followed in the 15th century, and the castle was linked to the town walls.

The castle received important guests. In 1462 King Casimir IV Jagiellon stayed here during his meeting with the Bohemian king George of Poděbrady. From 1498 to 1506 it was the residence of Prince Sigismund, later King Sigismund I the Old. After damage in the Thirty Years’ War it was rebuilt from 1652 as a Baroque residence with arcades facing the courtyard. From 1742 Prussian officials worked here, Napoleon stayed three times, and by the late 19th century most rooms were used by the courts.

In 1945 the castle was badly damaged in the fighting for Głogów. At first it was to remain a permanent ruin, but in 1967 the decision was taken to rebuild it. Work lasted from 1971 to 1983. A new low south wing deliberately revealed the tower, which had been hidden from outside since the 18th century.

What to see

• The Hunger Tower: a cylindrical keep from the second half of the 13th century, today 24 m high, 8.9 m in diameter, with walls 2.75 m thick at the base. It takes its name from the prison in its cellar. The original entrance was high above the courtyard; the current one was cut in the 19th century. The crown on top was added in the communist era.
• An exhibition on the defence of Głogów in 1109, with a model reconstructing the stronghold during the siege.
• “The Glow of Gold and Silver – Money in the Baroque” – a hoard of coins found in 2004 in Głogów’s old town.
• A collection of 52 Inuit soapstone carvings from the Canadian Arctic, donated by Roman Furmaniak, a native of Poznań whose post-war life took him to Toronto.
• Exhibitions on the heritage of the local nobility and on prehistoric burial urns.

Did you know?

• After the rebuilding, part of the east wing housed a Museum of Non-Ferrous Metallurgy and Casting.
• Weddings were held in the castle until the end of 2005.
• Next to the castle stands the Monument to the Children of Głogów, commemorating the defence of 1109, and the pink Bridge of Tolerance is close by.

Tripto tip

The exhibition rooms are open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00–17:00, with ticket sales ending 45 minutes before closing. A standard ticket costs PLN 15, reduced PLN 9, family PLN 35, and the tower PLN 8; museum entry is free on Fridays. The tower is open from 1 April to 31 October. On summer-holiday weekends visits start only on the hour. The courtyard is free to enter every day. Allow 1.5 hours for the museum and the tower.