Inowłódz Royal Castle

Above the Pilica river in Inowłódz stands a royal castle, built in 1356–1366 on the orders of Casimir the Great. The building served as an administrative and defensive centre on the border with the Mazovian duchy, and after centuries of ruin was reconstructed and opened to visitors in 2013.

Construction under Casimir the Great

The castle was built in the second half of the 14th century on the initiative of King Casimir the Great, who was strengthening the defensive system on the border with Mazovia at that time. It had a rectangular plan, with two corner towers of octagonal shape and a diameter of around 10 metres. The original area of the compound was 1500 square metres, and after the first renovation it was expanded to 1690 square metres.

Fortifications and defence

The castle walls were built of stone, with thickness reaching 2.4 metres. The whole structure was surrounded by a moat fed with water from the Pilica, which made the complex difficult to capture. Such a design corresponded to the role the castle played: border guard and administrative point for the surrounding areas.

Destruction and ruin

The castle survived for several centuries, but suffered serious damage during the Swedish wars in 1655–1657. After these destructions it fell into ruin and remained in that state for a long time, unused and partly dismantled by local residents for building material.

Research and reconstruction

The first scientific excavations at the site of the ruins began in 1949. Full reconstruction was carried out in 2007–2013 with EU co-financing. The work allowed the building's form to be recreated and prepared for visiting. The castle opened officially to tourists on 15 June 2013.

Role today

One of the castle towers now houses the Municipal Cultural Centre, a library and a Tourist Information Point. The building is managed by Inowłódz Municipality. Through this, the castle combines the function of a monument with the role of a local cultural and information centre for those visiting Inowłódz and the surrounding Pilica region.

Practical information

• Address: Zamkowa 1 (the National Heritage Institute's monument register – zabytek.pl – lists number 7; it is worth verifying the numbering on site)
• Getting there: Inowłódz is situated above the Pilica river; information about access is provided by the Tourist Information Point operating in the castle tower
• What to expect: reconstructed walls and towers of the former defensive castle, historical displays, library and cultural centre in the tower
• Opening hours and any admission fee are worth checking before your visit directly at the Tourist Information Point