Ojców Castle Ruins: A Royal Gate and Valley Views near Kraków

Po polsku: Ruiny zamku w Ojcowie

Did a king really name his castle in memory of his father? The ruins of Ojców Castle sit on a high rock above the Prądnik Valley, about 25 km north of Kraków, in the middle of Ojców National Park. It is a must-see on any trip to the park, and the view from the tower is worth it.

A short history of Ojców Castle

The stone castle was built in the second half of the 14th century, in the time of King Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki). A fortress stood here even earlier, though. Its beginnings go back to the 12th century, when the voivode of Kraków (a senior royal official, wojewoda krakowski), Skarbimir of the Awdaniec family, received a castle from Bolesław III Wrymouth (Bolesław Krzywousty) after the victorious battle of Nakło in 1109.

The castle you see in ruins today was built at the king’s inspiration on a high promontory cutting into the Prądnik Valley.

Sadly, the castle soon became part of bargains, debts and unclear changes of ownership, and it quickly fell into decline. In the 17th century it passed to Michał Koryciński, who paid for its renovation.

The Swedish Deluge and the barrel legend

In 1655, during the Swedish Deluge (potop szwedzki, the Swedish invasion of Poland), the castle was plundered and destroyed. Legends tell of a brave defence.

The story goes that the commander of the defenders ordered barrels to be turned upside down and sprinkled with leftover grain. The Swedes saw these „supplies” and supposedly gave up the siege, believing the defenders were in no danger of hunger. They attacked a monastery said to have stood on the slopes of Złota Góra instead. Later the Swedes used the captured castle as a store for food and weapons.

After the Deluge, the castle returned to the Koryciński family, who restored and extended it. In the end, though, the fortress lost its defensive character and became more of a residence. From 1676 it belonged first to the Warszycki family, then to the Męciński, Morski, Łubieński and Załuski families. In 1787 the residence hosted King Stanisław August Poniatowski.

During the Partitions (rozbiory, the period when Poland was divided between its neighbours), the castle began to decay again. Walls in danger of collapsing were taken down. What remained was the octagonal tower, the entrance gate and the perimeter walls.

The castle today

Today the main gate survives, along with the pillars of the old bridge. You can visit one of the castle towers, which stands at a viewpoint with a panorama over Ojców and the Prądnik Valley. You can also see remains of the walls and the castle well, which was the centre of the old courtyard.

In the room above the entrance gate there is an exhibition about the history of Ojców Castle. Temporary exhibitions are held here too. At the foot of the castle lies a spa park (park zdrojowy), created in the 1880s.

A name with a story

The castle’s name was originally Ociec. According to the story, the king himself gave it in memory of his father’s fight for the Kraków throne. His father, Władysław the Elbow-high (Władysław Łokietek), found shelter in the caves of the area. The most famous one is Łokietek’s Cave, with the legend of the spider.

My tip: wear comfortable shoes, since you will be walking in the park and up to the castle. And on the way back, stop at the little Chapel on the Water.

More guides: Kraków & Małopolska in English.

Łukasz, Niezwykła Małopolska