Zamczysko in Myślenice: A Castle Blown Up Centuries Ago?

Po polsku: Zamczysko w Myślenicach

A castle blown up centuries ago? In Myślenice, in Małopolska, on a hillside above the Raba river, stand the ruins of Zamczysko (roughly „the old castle site”), a mysterious fortress from the road that once led from Kraków to Hungary. And a legend says it had an underground tunnel running all the way to the castle in Dobczyce.

A fortress on the road to Hungary

The ruins lie on the right bank of the Raba, on a ledge of the Uklejna hillside, at about 380 m above sea level. They belong to a fortified building from the 13th century.

The first mention comes from 1342. A document from that year describes a customs house (komora celna) where fees were collected from merchants carrying goods along the route from Kraków to Hungary. The castle was probably also part of a system of strongholds protecting that road.

A round tower made of local stone

The stronghold was a free-standing round tower built of local stone. At the base it was 10.2 metres across, and its walls were more than 4 metres thick. There were probably also wooden farm buildings nearby.

The whole place was surrounded by an earth rampart and a wooden palisade. On the Uklejna side, a ditch separated it from the slope.

Who built it, and who blew it up?

Nobody knows who founded the castle. It may have been King Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki) himself. It could also have been Hanko, the first wójt (town head) of Myślenice.

The time of its destruction is just as unclear. We know it was blown up in the 15th century. Jan Długosz writes about a fire in Myślenice in 1457. At that time, troops led by Kawka and the Świeborowski brothers fortified themselves in the town and demanded pay for their expeditions to Prussia. King Casimir Jagiellon sent his army against them, and the town was destroyed. Długosz, however, does not list the castle among the losses.

Another theory says robbers settled in the castle and attacked travellers. To stop them, the king ordered the castle to be blown up. Yet other sources claim it was only destroyed in the 19th century, by treasure hunters.

I like that a place like this keeps several stories at once. Which one you believe is up to you.

The legend of the tunnel to Dobczyce

According to legend, Zamczysko had an underground passage leading all the way to the castle in Dobczyce. Dobczyce is about 15 km away. It is only a legend, but a good story to have in mind while you stand among the old stones.

What archaeologists found

In 1957, archaeological research was carried out here. It uncovered pot shards, crossbow arrowheads and a small boot horseshoe.

The finds went to the Regional Museum „Dom Grecki” (Greek House) in Myślenice. Its collections have since been taken over by the Museum of Independence in Myślenice.

A protected landscape reserve

Since 1962, the ruins and the surrounding land have been protected as the landscape reserve „Zamczysko nad Rabą” (Zamczysko above the Raba). The reserve protects the remains of the stronghold, a fir forest with some pine and spruce, and common ivy.

How to get there

Zamczysko is in the Zarabie district of Myślenice. From the end of ul. Zamkowa, follow the red trail uphill through the forest. It is about 0.7 km and takes about 15 minutes. The path is short, steep and narrow, so my tip is to wear good shoes.

More to see nearby

• Myślenice: the main square, Zarabie and a walk along the Raba, after which it is easy to climb up to Zamczysko.
• Uklejna: the forested hill above the ruins, a lovely walk in autumn.
• Dobczyce castle: the one the legend says was linked to Zamczysko by a tunnel, with views over Lake Dobczyce.
• Lanckorona castle ruins: another fortress by the old road to Hungary, with secured walls and a view over the area.

More guides: Kraków & Małopolska in English.

Łukasz, Niezwykła Małopolska