Pieskowa Skała Castle

Renaissance Pearl of the Jury

The Pieskowa Skała Castle on the Jura is a real architectural gem, located in the Ojców National Park, at the very edge of it. The Renaissance castle welcomes all tourists and captivates with its beauty. The building was built as a link in the fortification chain, protecting the trade route from Krakow to Silesia. Currently, it is one of the few such beautifully preserved monuments of Renaissance architecture in Poland.

Visiting the Pieskowa Skała Castle - sightseeing

The Pieskowa Skała Castle is one of the few such well-preserved objects on the Eagle's Nests Trail. It is sometimes mistakenly called the castle in Pieskowa Skała (today there is no such town, and the castle is located in Sułoszowa). This pearl of the Polish Renaissance is open to tourists, inside there is a Museum available all year round, and showing permanent and temporary exhibitions related to European art. Unfortunately, both the interiors of the Pieskowa Skała castle and the old equipment of the historical owners have not been preserved due to the turbulent history of these areas, which is why the presented art in the castle comes from the collection of the Wawel Royal Castle, whose Branch today is the Pieskowa Skała Castle.

History of the Pieskowa Skała Castle

The first mention of this stronghold comes from 1315, from a document by Władysław Łokietek, in which the German name of the Peskenstein castle appears. It is probably a fortification erected by Henry the Bearded to protect the road connecting Krakow with Silesia, and leading through the Prądnik valley. Another castle, built in today's place by King Casimir the Great in the fourteenth century, was to have an identical function. The royal guardhouse stood on a rock promontory and consisted of an upper and lower castle. The first one, with a high residential tower, has not survived to this day, and was located on an inaccessible rock called Dorothy. It eventually collapsed in the 19th century.

The lower castle, on the other hand, stood in the place of the current Renaissance courtyard and was surrounded by defensive walls. Pieskowa Skała remained in royal possession until the end of the fourteenth century, then it remained in the hands of various powerful families - Szafraniec, Zebrzydowski, Wielopolski and Mieroszewski. Interestingly, in 1787, King Stanisław August Poniatowski visited Pieskowa Skała Castle. This is not the only king associated with the Pieskowa Skała castle after the time of King Casimir the Great. The most famous family ruling the stronghold were the Szafrancians, their past is lush and conceals many intricacies, but one of the representatives of the family - Hieronim Szafraniec, enjoyed the special trust of King Sigismund the Old. He even married his daughter Regina, and for the money from the dowry of the bride, he expanded his residence, i.e. the Pieskowa Skała castle. It was during the time of the Szafranci, not only Jerome, that the castle gained a defensive system with towers, and the stronghold itself gained the appearance of a Renaissance residence with an arcaded courtyard and a viewing loggia. Naturalistic masquerades, coat of arms cartouches and ornate portals appeared in the courtyard. At that time, beautiful gardens, ponds and animals were created.

Another owner - Michał Zebrzydowski again significantly expanded the fortress, as a zealous Catholic he built the castle chapel under the patronage of St. Michael, but above all the castle gained fortifications in accordance with the requirements of the then martial art, i.e. bastion fortifications closing the outer courtyard. Unfortunately, they did not save the castle during the Swedish flood in 1655. The Swedes captured and looted the castle. After the vicissitudes of fate, at the beginning of the 20th century the castle was restored and transformed into a guest house, and an archaeological and natural museum was also created here. After the war, since 1949, conservation works have been carried out here, restoring the authentic features of Renaissance architecture. Nowadays, the castle has undergone a thorough renovation and looks great, shining white on the rocks and walls amid the surrounding greenery.

Fun fact - a robber in the castle

An interesting fact, or rather a paradox, because the Pieskowa Skała Castle was created mainly to protect the border and the trade route, and in the 15th century it became the seat of a robber attacking merchants crossing this route. We are talking about Krzysztof Szafraniec - the third son of Piotr Szafraniec, who burned with black magic in the castle. In 1484, on the order of King Casimir the Jagiellonian, the robber Krzysztof Szafraniec was captured and beheaded after the court in the Kraków market square.

Legend of the Pieskowa Skała Castle

How did the name Pieskowa Skała come about? This is explained by a legend according to which Dorotka - one of the daughters of Tęczyński - died of hunger at the upper castle, in the tower. She loved the lute player, but was ordered to marry the master in the castle - old Zaprzaniec. Then the lute player in the monk's disguise rescued his beloved and they fled together, but the joy was short-lived, because they were captured by the master's people. The young man died dragged by horses along the slope of the mountain, and Dorothy was pushed into the tower of the castle to starve to death. Her faithful dog brought Dorothy the garbage thrown to him from the master's table. He did not save his mistress, but the memory of a good doggy remained in the name of the rock.

See our ranking: The most beautiful castles in Poland with the Pieskowa Skała Castle

Movie Pieskowa Skała Castle

At the Pieskowa Skała Castle in the Jura, scenes for several films and series were shot. Scenery was found here in the series: "Queen Bona", "Janosik" or the popular "Stake bigger than life". In addition, scenes were shot to film the Sienkiewicz trilogy - "With Fire and Sword" and "Mr. Wołodyjowski". One of the newer films in which the Pieskowa Skała castle appeared is "Don't Lie Darling" with Piotr Adamczyk.

Herbova Restaurant & Cafe

At the castle, I also recommend the hotly beautiful gardens and the Herbova restaurant. It is also a cafe, prices are not too high for such a place, and the food is tasty. But it's not just about the food, it's also about the fact that through the restaurant you can enter the bastion - a wonderful viewpoint of the castle and the surrounding area, with the famous Hercules Mace!

Our videos

Pieskowa Skała was included in our film ranking of the TOP 5 castles in the Jura. Welcome!

Attractions near the castle

Not far from the castle is the famous Hercules' club - a limestone last in the shape of a huge club, a little further away is the Chapel on the Water, and even further... the magnificent Prądnik Valley - the heart of the Ojców National Park with the castle in Ojców.

Practical information

Courtyards of the castle
in low season:
Friday (free day)
9.00-14.30 Sat-Sun
9.30-17.00 Tickets: normal PLN 8, reduced PLN 6, family PLN 25
Exhibitions
Friday free day 10.00-15.00
Saturday, Sunday 10.00-17.00
Tickets: normal PLN 28, reduced PLN 22, family PLN 80
Parking: payable under the castle

Castle in Pieskowa Skala
Sułoszowa
tel. 12/ 389-60-04

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Krakowskie valleys, distance: 8.4  km
• Błędowska Desert, distance: 20.2  km
• Kazimierz in Kraków, distance: 24.4  km
• Eagle's Nest Trail, distance: 28.3  km
• Gródek Park in Jaworzno, distance: 33  km
• Wieliczka Salt Mine, distance: 35.1  km
• Bobolice Castle, distance: 45.8  km
• Black Trout Adit in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 71.9  km
• Castle in Żywiec, distance: 74.4  km
• Pławniowice Palace, distance: 93.8  km