Castle of Pigs. A firecracker among the castles of Lower Silesia! A viewpoint with a fairy-tale path

The stunning castle of Świnain Lower Silesia is considered the oldest private castle in Poland. Just a few kilometers from the castle inBolków, it rises on a low hill (369 m above sea level) as powerful ruins. They look at each other like Bobolice and Mirów in the Jura. Only that the Pigs outnumber the Bolks in age. The wooden and ground defensive stronghold stood in this place already in the 10th century. The stone stronghold itself was built in the fourteenth century, thanks to the knightly family of the Pigs, who ruled this place for centuries.

History of the Castle of Pigs

There was the so-called keep, a massive residential tower made of broken stone, surrounded by a perimeter wall. Here, rooms in horizontal cities, such as tenement houses, were arranged vertically. Further buildings were built in the fifteenth century, but the real development took place in the seventeenth century. Then the estate was transformed into a Renaissance mansion with fortifications and bastions. The whole was surrounded by a new defensive wall, the entrance to the castle led through a drawbridge, and the castle gate was decorated with a portal with the coat of arms of the Świnków family.

Mystics in the castle

At that time, thanks to Count Jan Zygmunt Świnka, the castle became an important center of theosophy and mysticism. It housed the already legendary library, gathering books and treatises on alchemy, philosophy and the mysteries of life. Valued mystics met here, and in 1624, at the castle in Świny, Jakub Böhme wrote "A Message to a Thirsty and Hungry Soul" and began work on "177 Theosophical Questions". Other mystics, such as Abraham von Franckenberg, a mathematician, alchemist and student of Böhme, also met within these walls, and the influence of the ideas propagated at the castle even reached Angelus Silesius, an outstanding Silesian poet-mysterian.

Pigs Castle Tour

The following centuries brought destruction, but strangely enough, not due to the enemy, but storms and fires that violated not only the walls, but also the historic interiors of the building. This abandoned fortress remained in ruins for several hundred years, until today the ruins are cared for and made available to visitors for afee.

I highly recommend these walls, because they captivate with their beauty, panache and fantastic aura. From the dark basements with spiders through the courtyards to the top floor of the tower, which overlooks the terrace, where there is a nice panorama. The place is mysterious and romantic at the same time! In individual fragments of this powerful stronghold, there are information boards with curiosities and the history of the object.

Viewpoint next to the castle

Don't miss it. Don't think you've seen yours before in the castle tower. Take this path to the left of the castle. Not only the point is nice, but above all the route is fabulous, so look carefully around, under your feet and above your eyes. Don't miss these tiny and slightly larger wooden figures. There are dozens of them, and searching for them, and above all finding them, is a lot of fun not only for children.

Church in Świny

Going to the castle, you will come across the former private temple of the owners of the castle. It is a Romanesque-Gothic church, which is the oldest preserved rural temple in Silesia. Mentioned as early as 1313, it was later enlarged, but its interior remains extremely modest, and at the same time valuable and beautiful. You will see beautiful, 16th-century painted steels, tombstones of the Świnka family and the epitaph of Jan Zygmunt Świnka from 1664. Currently, it is a parish church and services are held here, which we used to sit in unusual benches and enjoy this beauty.

Niesytno Castle

It is such a bonus in the form of further saved ruins of the castle in this area. Niesytno Castle belongs to the same owner, for now it is excluded from sightseeing, but perhaps in 2 years it will invite a revitalized building, which already looks very impressive. After all, it was built by an insatiable knight Niemir, hence the name of the estate. This is what the legend says. The written origins of the stronghold are unfortunately not known, but the building has a medieval pedigree. The tower is unusual because it is octagonal and housed the so-called warm room lined with wood and prepared for the residents of that time. We are looking forward to the development of events and wish you good luck!

Accommodation in Bolków

While visiting Bolków and the surrounding area, we slept in Gościniec Stara Mleczarnia at Republikańska Street. The place is delicious, it is actually located in a former dairy, but it is so beautifully revitalized that it captivated us! Original elements referring to dairy traditions can be found here at every step. In comfortable rooms, you sleep between two castles, one in Bolków and the other in Świny. There is a shared kitchen at your disposal.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Practical information

Ruins of the castle Pigs
green Trail of Piast Castles, Pigs
Paid sightseeing
on site souvenir box, free parking and a car with fast food

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you have already visited this attraction, it is also worth visiting several other interesting ones places nearby. Within a radius of 100 kilometers you will find many interesting places places that can diversify your stay in this part of Poland.

• Książ Castle, distance: 16.5  km
• Grodno Castle in Zagórze Śląskie, distance: 29.7  km
• Szczeliniec Wielki, distance: 53  km
• Sky Walk Tower in Świeradów Zdrój, distance: 54.5  km
• Czocha Castle, distance: 57.6  km
• Ostrów Tumski in Wrocław, distance: 68.1  km
• Wrocław Zoo with Afrkarium, distance: 69.9  km
• Bear Cave in Kletno, distance: 93.8  km
• Barycz Valley, distance: 94.3  km
• Palace in Kopice, distance: 99.2  km