Bolków Castle

Bolków Castle stands on a rocky hill above the town of Bolków in the Jawor District. It is one of the best-preserved strongholds of the Dukes of Świdnica and Jawor. Its distinguishing feature is the tower with a spur, also known as the ‘bow tower’, the only structure of its kind in Poland. Today, the castle houses the Bolków Castle Museum, a branch of the Karkonosze Museum in Jelenia Góra.

Genesis

The first mention of the castle dates from 1277. Bolesław II Rogatka, Duke of Legnica, also known as „the Bald”, wrote at that time of ‘our stronghold’ (castro nostro). However, the stone Gothic castle was not built until the reign of his son, Bolko I the Stern, Duke of Jawor and Świdnica. It was he who surrounded the hill with massive stone walls featuring a system of gates and erected stone residential buildings. At the same time, a tower with a spur was erected. Bolków was part of a network of strongholds with which Bolko I fortified his duchy.

14th century – the fortress’s heyday

The castle owes its next Gothic extension to the successors of Bolko I: Prince Bernard and Bolko II. The earlier structures were then combined into a single residential and service building, known today as the Gothic House, whilst the gate fortifications and outer walls were significantly extended. The castle became the most powerful stronghold in Silesia and served as the ducal treasury. Surviving from this period are the portals on the ground floor, a two-part window facing the courtyard at the height of the third storey, and a small internal window in the shape of a clover.

The strength of the stronghold was confirmed by the events of 1345. Czech troops under the command of knights from Czerna stormed the castle four times, failing on each occasion. Following the death of Bolko II, who had no heirs, the castle, together with the entire Duchy of Świdnica and Jawor, passed under the rule of the Bohemian Crown by virtue of dynastic agreements.

The 15th century – the Hussites, Podiebrad and the robber knight

The castle was not captured during the Hussite Wars. It was not until 1463 that the Czech King George of Poděbrady succeeded in doing so, appointing the knight Jan of Czerna as its lord. The new lord of Bolków quickly became notorious for his acts of robbery and plunder. Enraged townspeople, supported by Silesian towns including Wrocław and Świdnica, captured the castle in 1468 and hanged the knight himself from the tower.

Renaissance-style reconstruction

The castle took on its final form in the 16th century. In 1540, a reconstruction project led by the architect Jakub Parra began. A residential building known as the Ladies’ House was erected at that time, connected by a cloister to the existing structures, which were given a Renaissance character. The outer fortifications were also extended: new courtyards and bastions adapted for firearms were added. Following the reconstruction, the castle covered an area of approximately 7,600 m² and was one of the largest in Lower Silesia at that time.

The Thirty Years’ War and the Fall

In 1646, during the Thirty Years’ War, the castle – defended by just 40 soldiers – was captured by the Swedes. Over 1,800 artillery rounds were fired during the fighting, and the buildings suffered severe damage. In 1703, the castle was purchased by the Cistercian monks of Krzeszów. Following the secularisation of the order in 1810, it became the property of the Prussian state treasury. Abandoned, it slowly fell into ruin, and in 1885 the town council authorised the partial demolition of the walls.

Architecture

The oldest and most distinctive part of the castle is the tower with a bastion. Its wedge-shaped projection faces the direction from which an attack was expected, allowing projectiles to slide down the wall. Today, the tower stands 25 metres high, and its walls are 4.5 metres thick. The ground floor houses the so-called ‘starvation dungeon’, whilst a staircase running inside the thick wall leads to the upper storeys. Surrounding the tower is the upper castle complex, featuring the Gothic House and the Renaissance Ladies’ House, whilst below lie the outer courtyards and 16th-century bastions.

Reconstruction

Work to preserve the ruins began in the first half of the 20th century. After a hiatus, it resumed in 1994 and continues to this day. Since that same year, the Bolków Castle Knights’ Brotherhood has been active at the castle, contributing to its development and appeal.

Interesting facts

The tower with a prow in Bolków is the only example of this type of structure in Poland, and its prow resembles the bow of a ship, hence its colloquial name, the „bow tower”. A starvation dungeon has been preserved in the tower’s ground floor, whilst the stairs leading to the upper storeys run inside a wall 4.5 metres thick.The story of Knight Jan of Czerna, who was hanged on the tower of the castle he himself ruled, is one of the most famous episodes in the stronghold’s history. During the siege of 1646, over 1,800 projectiles struck the castle, yet its walls have survived to this day for the most part. Following its 16th-century reconstruction, Bolków covered an area of approximately 7,600 m², making it one of the largest defensive complexes in Lower Silesia at the time. The castle is also associated with the Castle Party festival of Gothic and alternative music, which took place in mid-July 2026.

The castle today

The Bolków Castle Museum is a branch of the Karkonosze Museum in Jelenia Góra. On the first floor of the restored Ladies„ House, there is a permanent exhibition entitled ”Defensive Architecture of the Duchy of Świdnica and Jawor’, whilst temporary exhibitions are held on the ground floor. The castle also serves as a venue for outdoor events: every July, the Castle Party music festival takes place here, and the museum organises, amongst other things, night-time tours, live history lessons and the 4 Castles Tournament.