Castles

Brzeg Castle

Brzeg Castle is the former residence of the Piast dukes of Brzeg, and it owes its Renaissance form to George II and Barbara of the Hohenzollerns. Its design was modelled on Krakow's Wawel, hence the nickname "the Silesian Wawel”. Today the walls house the Museum of the Silesian Piasts, present in the castle since 1952.

From the Tower of Lions to the Renaissance

The first record of the castle dates to 1235, and its oldest surviving part is the brick Tower of Lions from around 1300. After the duchy of Brzeg was created in 1311, the castle became the dukes' seat. Its golden age came with the Renaissance rebuild: it was started by the Italian architects Jacopo and Francesco Parr and completed by Bernard and Peter Niuron.

A portal with 24 rulers

The entrance gate of 1554-1560 received a portal with two rows of sculptures: the first 12 rulers of Poland and 12 Piast dukes, from Henry I the Bearded to Frederick II. Above the arch stand the figures of the founders. The interiors were once decorated with 170 m of Flemish tapestries, which did not survive the turmoil.

The mausoleum of the Piasts

The Gothic chapel of St Hedwig from 1368-1369 later became the mausoleum of the Silesian Piasts. The dynasty died out with the death of George William in 1675, and the castle declined, serving at various times as an inn, barracks and warehouse. Damaged during the war in 1945, it was restored to its 16th-century appearance in 1966-1990, and in 2018 it was entered on the list of Historic Monuments of Poland.

Practical tips

The castle stands on plac Zamkowy in the centre of Brzeg. Allow at least an hour for the exhibitions and the courtyard; check hours and tickets on the museum's website zamek.brzeg.pl.