Old Castle in Żywiec

The three-storey palace at Zamkowa 2 is the oldest building in Żywiec. Its story reaches back to a 15th-century stronghold, and over the centuries it grew from a Gothic fortified tower through a Renaissance courtyard to an eclectic remodelling in the historicist style. Today it houses the Town Museum, just a short walk from the market square and the brewery.

From stronghold to residence

The Długosz Chronicle mentions the Żywiec castle around 1460, when it belonged to the Skrzyński family and was taken by royal troops. In 1477 it was razed to the ground and rebuilt most likely between 1485 and 1500. Around 1569 Jan Spytek Komorowski launched a major expansion that included an arcaded Renaissance courtyard modelled on Kraków's Wawel. In the 17th century the castle passed to the Vasas — King John II Casimir stayed here in 1666 or 1669, as a memorial plaque recalls.

The Habsburg era

In 1808 the owner became Albert of Saxe-Teschen, and in 1838 the castle was bought by the Habsburgs, who remained its lords until the outbreak of World War II. After the fire of 1870 it was remodelled to a design by Karol Pietschka in the historicist style — the form that survives today. In 2014, part of the family renounced its restitution claims to the castles and the park.

Visiting

The palace sits in green parkland linking the Old Castle with the New Castle. Since 2005 it has housed the Town Museum with regional exhibitions. The best way to spend a visit is to combine the interiors with a stroll through the Habsburg Park and the old town — a comfortable half-day outing.