Rzeszów Castle (Lubomirski Castle)

Rzeszów Castle, also called the Lubomirski Castle, is a monumental building ringed by massive Baroque bastions and a moat, a few minutes' walk from the main square of Rzeszów (say "ZHEH-shoof"), capital of the Podkarpackie region in southeastern Poland. It is not a typical castle museum: the current building went up in the early 1900s as a courthouse and prison and today houses the Regional Court. The fortifications and the lower part of the old gate tower survive, though, and on a few dates a year you can join a guided tour inside.

History

A manor house stood here by the 15th century. Before 1610 Mikołaj Spytek Ligęza turned it into a fortified residence and in 1620 into a palazzo in fortezza – a palace inside fortifications. The Lubomirski family, one of Poland's great magnate clans, then owned it until 1820. From about 1682 it was rebuilt as a four-winged palace to designs by the Dutch-born architect Tylman van Gameren, and between 1719 and 1746 military engineer Karol Henryk Wiedemann extended the bastion fortifications.

In 1820 the Lubomirskis sold the complex to the Austrian authorities (Rzeszów was then part of Austrian Galicia), who used it as a court and prison. Because of its poor condition, the old palace was torn down and the present building was erected in 1902–1906, keeping the base of the gate tower, which was raised to five stories and topped with a Baroque cupola.

A place of memory

For decades the castle served as a prison. During the German occupation in World War II, a Nazi special court (Sondergericht) carried out sentences here, and after the war the Communist authorities held many members of the Polish anti-Communist underground here, some of whom were executed. According to the Institute of National Remembrance, about 30,000 people passed through the prison between 1944 and 1956. The prison closed in 1981, when the Regional Court moved in.

What to see

• The bastions and moat – four bastions survive, with small stone watchtowers from 1746; walk all the way around for the best views.
• The gate tower facing Śreniawitów Square, the castle's signature view.
• The interiors, courtyard and former prison corridors – only on guided tours.

Guided tours

The castle is a working courthouse, so most of the time you view it from outside, free of charge. On selected Mondays the city's Rzeszowskie Piwnice cultural center runs guided tours of the interior with PTTK guides. As of October 2026:

• Remaining 2026 dates: November 9 and December 7, with tours at 3 pm, 4:30 pm and 5:45 pm.
• Duration: about 90 minutes; meet at the court's entrance gate on Śreniawitów Square.
• Tickets: PLN 40, usually released about two weeks before each date on the Rzeszowskie Piwnice website.
• Good to know: tours are led by guides from PTTK, the Polish tourist society (ask in advance about English); recommended for ages 10 and up; many stairs and a narrow passage across the moat.

Getting there

The castle is at 3 Śreniawitów Square, about 500 m (a quarter mile) south of the main square. Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport (RZE) is about 10 km from the center, and direct trains link Rzeszów with Kraków. The center is a paid parking zone.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, as part of a walk around central Rzeszów – the bastions are among the best-preserved Baroque fortifications in the region. Combine it with the Rzeszów Underground Tourist Route beneath the market square and, for a day trip, Łańcut Castle 20 km away.