The Royal Castle

The castle in Niepołomice began as one of many fortifications throughout Małopolska initiated by King Kazimierz the Great in the 14th century, however this one soon became his favourite residence which he used as a retreat from the royal seat in Kraków. Kazimierz wasn’t the only king to favour the isolated outpost however, as his successors all invested themselves in further embellishing and expanding the castle into a magnificent royal residence where much time was spent. The castle’s heyday came during the rule of Władysław Jagiełło who held meetings of the royal council here, often entertaining foreign dignitaries and passing official court judgements from Niepołomice rather than Wawel. It was also from here that the famous royal hunts set out, bringing back the big game trophies of bison, bears and boars that would line the castle halls. In the mid-16th century King Zygmunt August rebuilt the residence on the model of contemporary Renaissance palaces – the appearance of which has been restored today. The ‘Other Wawel’ (as it was known) maintained its splendour for another hundred years before the Swedish deluge brought an end to its golden age and, along with the country, the castle gradually fell into ruin during Poland’s eras of partition and occupation. A long and costly reconstruction began in 1991 and was only completed in 2007. Today the castle functions as a museum and art gallery (see Niepołomice Museum) hosting numerous concerts and events throughout the year, as well as housing a cafe, restaurant, conference centre and 3-star hotel. Surrounding the castle is a park with a large playground, a picturesque garden and the Wisła River which flows right behind it.