Castle of the Sułkowski Dukes in Bielsko-Biała

In the eastern part of the Old Town of Bielsko-Biała stands the oldest and largest historic building of the city: a castle whose foundations were laid by the dukes of Cieszyn. The stronghold was erected in the second half of the 14th century on the initiative of Przemysław I Noszak — rectangular, with two towers, attached to the town walls.

From the Piasts to eclecticism

The castle grew with successive lords: the Sunnegh families added the east and south wings with a chapel, and Duke Kazimierz II laid out a large castle garden to the east. Its present eclectic, two-storey silhouette dates from the remodelling of 1855–1864 to a design by the Viennese architect Jan Pötzelmeyer. The fabric shows layers of epochs: Romanesque (the chapel with its bell-cote), Gothic (the square tower with crenellations) and Renaissance (the facades with rows of windows and arcades); the north-eastern corner is decorated with a hexagonal turret.

Museum and concerts

The castle is the main seat of the Historical Museum in Bielsko-Biała — besides it, the museum runs the Weaver’s House, Fałatówka and Stara Fabryka on the Monuments of Technology Trail. Chamber music concerts are held in the castle interiors.

In practice

Address: Wzgórze 16, a few hundred metres from the Bielsko market square. Check opening hours and ticket prices at muzeum.bielsko.pl. Combine your visit with a stroll around the old town — the castle stands right at its eastern edge.