Iłża Castle

The upper castle at Iłża was built on a plan shaped like a heart – one of very few such cases in Poland. For several centuries it was the stronghold and residence of the Bishops of Kraków, hosting kings Władysław Jagiełło, Sigismund the Old and Stephen Báthory, and in 1637 King Władysław IV met his future wife here. Today a round tower rises from the limestone hill above the town, with views over the whole surrounding area.

History: the castle of the Bishops of Kraków

Work on the stone fortress most likely began around the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, and in 1326–1347 Bishop Jan Grot enlarged it. By then it was strong enough for the bishop to take refuge here during his dispute over tithes with King Casimir the Great. Later bishops kept expanding it: around 1560 Filip Padniewski turned it into a Renaissance residence with decorative attics, and in the 17th century Marcin Szyszkowski added the lower castle and bastion-style fortifications.

On 17 September 1655, after a defence lasting a few hours, the castle was taken by the Swedes, and King Charles X Gustav received envoys here. In 1657 the troops of George II Rákóczi of Transylvania caused further damage. The castle was repaired, but by the end of the 18th century it was badly dilapidated. After the partitions of Poland the Austrians used it as a military hospital and held parties there, and during one of them a fire destroyed what was left of the buildings. The last occupant moved out in 1812, and the ruins were taken apart for building material – the castle's bricks went into an inn and a faience factory, among other things.

At the end of the 19th century Tadeusz Lubomirski bought the site and handed it over to the Society for the Protection of Historical Monuments. In 1939 a German artillery shell struck the tower. The real turning point came only in 2021, when the first stage of comprehensive conservation work on the upper castle was completed and its interiors were opened to visitors.

What to see

• The main tower, about 25 metres high, covered by a transparent umbrella-like roof, with a terrace at the top.
• The castle well, partly cut into the rock and about 23 metres deep; its original depth may have reached around 40 metres.
• More than 10 rooms of the upper castle open to visitors, including vaulted cellars.
• Walls up to 3 metres thick and a cobbled courtyard of about 5,000 m².
• A new viewing platform and the remains of the lower castle, or outer bailey.

Interesting facts

The oldest known view of the castle is an engraving by Erik Dahlbergh, a Swedish soldier and draughtsman, from the time of the Swedish invasion. The whole complex may have covered as much as 5 hectares, with walls perhaps 500 metres in circumference. The chronicler Jan Długosz and the poet Jan Kochanowski also visited Iłża, and in the 20th century the painter Jacek Malczewski and the film director Andrzej Wajda. Local tradition speaks of a tunnel linking the castle with the town, but its existence has never been confirmed.

Tripto tip

The castle stands on the southern edge of Iłża, on a hill, so the last stretch is an uphill walk. In season almost all of it is open – you can climb the tower and look down the well – and there is a tourist information point on site. Allow 1–1.5 hours. In summer try to catch the Knights' Tournament or the Film Music Concert (Koncert Muzyki Filmowej), and if you stay until dark you will see the tower floodlit above the town. Check current opening hours and prices with the Iłża tourist information office before you go.