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Place in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
Photo: Kajtq at Polish Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ogrodzieniec is a town in the Silesian Voivodeship of southern Poland, in the Ojców mountains 62 km northwest of Kraków. It's famous for its Gothic-Renaissance ruined castle, 2 km east in the village helpfully called Podzamcze, which means "by the castle". The area's limestone outcrops also attract climbers. In 2023 Ogrodzieniec had a population of 4100.
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A stronghold has stood here at least since the 12th century, enfolded by outcrops at the 515 m highest peak of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. The first stone castle was built mid-14th century and rebuilt as a Renaissance palazzo from 1530. It was badly burned in 1655 by Swedish troops, partly repaired, then the Swedes burned it again in 1702. It was left a ruin and the last occupants left in 1810.
Like Ogrodzienic Castle, this was a 12th century wooden stronghold on an outcrop, and when it was torched in the 14th century it was abandoned and forgotten. Rediscovered in the 1990s, it's been reconstructed, with three wooden towers and a chieftain's hut.
Theme park for younger children, where the main attraction is the miniature railway. There's no overall admission fee, you pay separately for rides, so it soon mounts up.
The Barn
Slick family-friendly place, inexpensive.
Good fresh food, service is sometimes disorganised with long waits.
Midrange place close to castle, comfy enough but thin walls so there's noise from events and other guests.
Wonderful modern spa hotel, great comfort, facilities and service.
Trains run hourly from Katowice to Zawiercie the nearest station, taking 50 min via Będzin and Dabrowa Gornicza.
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Katowice · International · KTW
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