Szydłowiec Castle

Szydłowiec Castle (Zamek Szydłowieckich i Radziwiłłów) is a white Gothic-Renaissance residence of the Szydłowiecki and Radziwiłł families, set on an island among the channels of the Korzeniówka stream. Today it houses the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, home to Poland's largest collection of folk instruments, and a cultural centre. It is one of the prettiest places in southern Masovia and a good stop on the way between Warsaw and Kielce.

Where it is and how to say it

Szydłowiec (shid-woh-VEETS) lies about 110 km as the crow flies south of Warsaw, the nearest big city, and about 28 km west-southwest of Radom. A car is the easiest way to get here. Tickets are in zloty (PLN). Guided tours are offered in English as well as Polish.

A short history

Stanisław Szydłowiecki built the Gothic castle in 1470-1480 on the site of an older knightly seat. In 1515-1526 Mikołaj Szydłowiecki, later Grand Treasurer of the Crown, rebuilt it as a Renaissance residence with a two-storey east wing and an open loggia. In 1548 the estate passed to the Radziwiłł family; later owners added vaulting, a monumental portal with the family coat of arms and Baroque touches, and the last big remodelling ended in 1629.

Princess Anna Sapieżyna Zamoyska bought the castle in 1802, and in 1828 it went to the treasury of the Kingdom of Poland. In the 19th and 20th centuries it served as a warehouse, field hospital and theatre, and by the 1920s it was in poor repair. In September 1942, during the liquidation of the ghetto, about 5,000 Jews were held here before deportation to Treblinka. Postwar reconstruction began in 1950, with major conservation in the 1960s and 1970s. The instrument museum opened to visitors in May 1975.

What to see

• The courtyard, with a sgraffito frieze, Renaissance windows and portals with the Odrowąż and Radziwiłł coats of arms.
• A three-arch loggia on the east wing.
• The Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, with more than 2,000 exhibits from the 17th to the 21st centuries; a new permanent exhibition, "Forte, fortissimo", opened in 2026 for the museum's 50th anniversary.
• An exhibition on the castle's former owners and temporary shows.
• The Radziwiłł Park around the moat, good for a walk.

How long to allow

Plan 1.5 to 2 hours for the museum and courtyard, or about 3 hours with the park. A temporary entrance from the courtyard side has been in use since June 2026. You can book a guide (150 PLN, in Polish or English) or rent an audio guide (15 PLN). There is a family ticket and workshops for children.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• 1 October to 31 March: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-16:00, closed Mondays.
• 1 April to 30 September: Tuesday to Friday 9:00-16:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00-18:00.
• Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed on 1 and 6 January, 1 and 11 November, Easter, Corpus Christi, 15 August and 24-26 December, among others.
• Standard ticket 32 PLN, reduced 24 PLN, group 20 PLN, family 75 PLN (2+3 or 1+4). Entry is free on Tuesdays, and for children under 7.
• Bookings: +48 48 617 12 43, rezerwacja@muzeuminstrumentow.pl.

Getting there

Address: ul. gen. J. Sowińskiego 2, 26-500 Szydłowiec. The museum's website gives no parking details, so ask by phone. Is it worth visiting? Yes, especially for music lovers and for the Renaissance architecture.

Nearby

Szydłowiec's historic market square and former synagogue are close, and Radom and Kielce are within driving distance.