Piast Castle in Racibórz

Piast Castle in Racibórz was the seat of the dukes of Racibórz and Opole-Racibórz and is one of the oldest castles in Upper Silesia, standing on the Oder right next to the old town. After a thorough restoration it houses a museum with exhibitions in the Ducal House and the Malt House, a brewery, and the Gothic Chapel of St Thomas Becket, often called the gem of Silesian Gothic. With children, half a day here passes easily.

History: stronghold, ducal capital, brewery

The Racibórz stronghold is mentioned in the chronicle of Gallus Anonymus under the year 1108. In 1172 Duke Mieszko Tanglefoot made Racibórz the capital of his duchy, and from around 1200 a mint here struck bracteates inscribed MILOST. In January 1241 the stronghold repelled a Mongol attack – a legend tells of a commander killed by an arrow, whose stone head was set into a corner of the castle for centuries and is now kept in the Racibórz Museum.

Under Duke Przemysł the castle was rebuilt in brick, and the Gothic chapel went up in 1288–1293. In 1288 Bishop Thomas II of Wrocław, who had taken refuge here in 1285–1287 during his conflict with Henry IV Probus, founded a collegiate chapter at the chapel. The castle later changed hands many times before passing to the Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst family: in 1840 Victor Moritz received the title Duke of Ratibor (Herzog von Ratibor). In 1858 the foundation stone of a new brewery was laid on the site of former wings. A major restoration costing about PLN 23.6 million began on 17 June 2008.

What to see

• Chapel of St Thomas Becket – a slender Gothic chapel with a brick portal; the interior is free to visit.
• Ducal House – exhibitions on the medieval castle and the dukes of Racibórz, a throne room and chambers with stories for children.
• Malt House – multimedia exhibitions on Upper Silesia and the Oder, plus the tourist information point.
• Courtyard and castle brewery – a venue for concerts and fairs.

Tripto tips

Allow 2–3 hours for the castle and chapel. The castle and tourist information are open Tuesday to Thursday 8:00–18:00, Friday until 22:00 and at weekends 8:00–20:00; they are closed on Mondays and on some public holidays. A ticket for the Ducal House and Malt House costs PLN 40 (reduced PLN 20), one building PLN 30 / 15, and a family ticket (2+2) PLN 70. With the Large Family Card each family member pays PLN 20. A guided tour costs PLN 150 in Polish and PLN 200 in a foreign language – book ahead.

The castle is at ul. Zamkowa 2 on the right bank of the Oder, a few minutes' walk from the market square. Racibórz lies about 80 km west of Katowice, close to the Czech border. Afterwards, visit the Racibórz Museum to see the stone head from the castle corner.