Castles

Otmuchów Castle

For more than five centuries Otmuchów Castle was the residence of the Wrocław bishops — Henry IV Probus granted it to them in 1290, ending a dispute with Bishop Thomas II. Standing by the lake, close to the dam of the Otmuchów reservoir, it now operates as a hotel within walls that remember the Renaissance, the Baroque and Hussite raids.

The stronghold of the Wrocław bishops

The main rebuilding of the medieval castle was carried out by Bishop Przecław z Pogorzeli (1341–1376); his successors changed it further: Jan IV Roth, Andrzej Jerin — who added the Renaissance wing in 1585–1596 — Karol Ferdynand Waza and Ludwik Franciszek Neuburg, to whom the castle owes its Baroque form from the 17th century. The tall, four-sided tower with machicolations bore the coat of arms of Bishop Jerin flanked by St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist. Inside, the bishops kept their treasury and prisoners, which is why the stronghold was attacked repeatedly, mainly by the Hussites.

From Humboldt to a hotel

After secularisation in 1810, the castle passed in 1830 to Wilhelm von Humboldt, who demolished the southern and western parts and laid out a garden in their place. In 1929 the property went to the municipality of Otmuchów. Today the complex, with its park, serves as a hotel.

Practical tips

Allow 1–2 hours for the interiors and the park; the courtyard and the tower make the strongest impression. Combine your visit with a walk across the dam of the Otmuchów reservoir and a stroll around the town square with its town hall. Check on site what is open to visitors — part of the building serves hotel guests.