Castles

Royal Castle in Niepołomice

In the centre of Niepołomice, less than 25 km from Kraków, stands the Gothic-Renaissance royal castle to which the town owes its nickname of the second Wawel. Built by Casimir the Great, it served the kings above all as a base for hunting expeditions into the nearby Niepołomice Forest.

Residence of Casimir the Great

The castle was erected in the mid-14th century on the initiative of Casimir the Great and combined defensive and representative functions. It flourished most under Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund Augustus, when it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style and given the shape of a quadrangle with a courtyard surrounded by arcaded cloisters. Thanks to Queen Bona the famous gardens known as the Queen Bona Gardens were laid out here. The castle hosted royal assemblies and court trials, and received diplomatic envoys.

From the Deluge to revitalisation

The Swedish Deluge brought serious damage, and the castle steadily lost importance. The turning point came with a thorough renovation carried out in 1991–2007, which restored the royal residence to its former glory. Today the interiors house the Natural History Museum with its hunting display and exhibitions of the National Museum, and the castle — the only royal castle in Poland to do so — accommodates a luxury boutique hotel.

Visiting

The exhibitions are open daily from 10:00 to 18:00; the castle stands at Zamkowa 2, a few steps from the market square. A visit combines well with a walk in the Niepołomice Forest or a side trip to Wieliczka, about 13 km away.