The ruins of the Ogrodzieniec Castle are amongst the largest set amongst the inselbergs of the highest part of the Krakow-Częstochowa Highland, not to mention the most beautiful.
The initial fortifications were established during the reign of Bolesław Krzywousty and lasted through to 1241 when the invasion of the Tartars saw them completely destroyed. In the middle of the 14th century, a new gothic castle was erected in the same place - which became the headquarters of the warrior family, Włodek-Sulimczyk. The stronghold was perfectly integrated into the landscape: three sides were shielded by tall rocky outcrops and the fourth side of the stronghold was screened by a tall stone wall. The entrance to the castle was through a narrow crevice between the rocks. When the Boner family from Krakow gained ownership of the castle in the 16th century, saw the castle converted into a renaissance residence. In 1655, however, during the Swedish invasion of Poland, the castle was conquered by the Swedes, who stationed their armies there for almost two years and ruined significant sections of the buildings. Again in 1702, the castle fell to the Swedes and the resulting fire ruined over half of the castle. Almost no recovery work was done on the construction since that time. The last of the castle's inhabitants left the ruins of the stronghold around 1810.
After World War II, it was decided to retain the castle in the form of permanent ruins. Conservation work was performed between 1949 and 1973 and the effects are still there to see today.

„ZAMEK"
42 - 440 Ogrodzieniec
ul. Kościuszki 66
tel/fax: +48 32 67 32 220, 67 32 991
e-mail: biuro@zamek-ogrodzieniec.pl
Website: www.zamek-ogrodzieniec.pl