Episode 2. Bolków Castle | Polish Castles скачать в хорошем качестве

Episode 2. Bolków Castle | Polish Castles

Bolków Castle, dramatically perched above the Nysa Szalona River in Lower Silesia, is one of the region’s most distinctive medieval fortresses. Built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, it was long attributed to Duke Bolko I, though recent research suggests later Piast rulers played a key role in its construction. Its most striking feature is the unusual wedge-shaped keep – designed like a ship’s prow to deflect projectiles – a rarity in European castle architecture. Through the centuries, the stronghold endured Hussite raids, wars for the Czech crown, Renaissance renovations under master builder Jakub Parr, and later Cistercian stewardship. Swedish invasions and Prussian secularization brought decline, but in modern times it was revived as a museum and cultural site. Today, visitors can explore its towering walls, Renaissance sgraffito, archaeological excavations uncovering medieval treasures, and breathtaking views across the Kaczawskie Mountains. Bolków is also a key stop on the “Piast Castles Trail,” linking it to nearby giants like Książ, Cisy, Stary Książ, and Grodno. A true medieval gem of Lower Silesia, it invites exploration by car, bike, or foot.