Ogrodzieniec Castle, built during the times of King Casimir the Great on the highest hill of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, is the largest and most famous castle in Silesia, as well as the most popular of all the castles on the Trail of the Eagles' Nests. It was situated on the highest Jurassic hill, Góra Janowskiego - 515 m above sea level, from where it was and is still clearly visible...

Rising high in the centre of Bielsko-Biała, the castle is the oldest and largest building in the historic town of Bielsko. According to legend, this site formerly sheltered a settlement of robbers who would set upon travelling traders. It is said that Casimir, Duke of Opole (d. 1229/30), captured this stronghold, wiped out the bandits, and in its place constructed a hunting lodge. Over...

At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries Pszczyna grounds were ruled by Cieszyn dukes. In 1517 the duke of Cieszyn, Kazimierz II, sold the lands to a Hungarian magnate, Aleksy Turzo which ended a ruling period of Piast dynasty in Pszczyna district. A Free State Country (Wolne Państwo Stanowe) was formed, including Pszczyna, Mikołów, Bieruń, and since 1536 Mysłowice, with a capital in...

The castle in Chudów is an example of a 16th-century noble residence with defensive qualities (location in wetlands, massive walls, moat). According to the sources, the first historically confirmed owner of Chudów was Jan (Johannes) de Hodow, who appears in the records on October 15, 1434 as one of the judges. This may indicate his high position or the office he held. The documents from...