Ruins of the Muszyna Castle

Monuments

Na pierwszym planie armata na kamiennych fundamentach skierowana lufą w kierunku baszty z kamieni z izbicą i stożkowym dachem. Za armatą ścieżka na dziedzińcu prowadząca do baszty. Po drugiej stronie ścieżki druga armata. Ścieżką idzie kilku turystów. Pod basztą, przy drewnianych kramach stoją dwie osoby. Na około mury i w tle zalesione wzgórza pod częściowo zachmurzonym niebem.

ul. Zazamcze, 33-370 Muszyna Tourist region: Beskid Sądecki i Niski

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The origins of the castle are lost in distant history, but it is customary to say that it was built during the reign of Casimir the Great on a steep hill that some people called Baszta and others called Zamczysko. The hill rises above a bend in the Poprad River at 527 metres above sea level in the Koziejówka Range at the fork of the Szczawnik and Muszynka creeks.

It is possible that before the Muszyna Tower, there was the first wooden fortified settlement in the Koziejówka Range, which is most probably mentioned in a text from 1391. The 14th-century castle in Muszyna had mainly defensive functions, as evidenced by its strategic location. Such buildings often underwent alterations to meet defensive and residential needs. In addition, the castle walls allowed observation of the border and the trade route along the Poprad River to Hungary. Unfortunately, the fortress location was not the best, as the massif of Koziejówka was heavily eroded at this point. Efforts were made to save the walls, but in 1455, these efforts met with resounding failure, eventuating in the collapse of the gate that connected the north and south defensive walls. The damage was temporarily repaired with wood and clay due to insufficient funds. In 1474, a Hungarian army under the command of Tomasz Tarcza attacked the castle. The battle lasted only two days, as the makeshift fortifications were relatively easy to overcome. The intensity of the battle is evidenced by the large amount of militaria found in the archaeological excavations. Until then, the Baszta was the seat of the starosts of the so-called State of Muszyna, ruled by the bishops of Kraków.

After being destroyed during the Hungarian invasion, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. The wall dividing the castle into two parts was dismantled, and a residential castle building was built. It was only a border watchtower and had no administrative function at the time. At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the castle faced a fierce trial when it burned down, even its thick walls were burnt through. After this event, it was not rebuilt and fell into disrepair. Due to a lack of reliable sources, there is much that is unknown about history of the castle in the 17th and 18th centuries. What is certain is that when the Austrian army occupied Muszyna in 1770, the castle was already a ruin.

The tower later served as a source of building materials. In the 1870s, a quarry was established below the ruins. The ruins deteriorated faster the reader does not know what this and the ravaging of the castle by hunters for legendary treasures. The castle’s foundation and archaeologically valuable layers of soil were also disturbed. Even before the Second World War, the hill with the ruins was overgrown with forest. It was in 1936 that a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Good Counsel, was reverently placed on a stone pedestal amidst the ruins. Today's is the third at this location and dates from 1992. May services are held here.

In 2013, after excavations had been completed, the relics of the walls were secured, and the tower's ruins were raised from the basement level to the first floor, providing a viewing platform with a beautiful panorama of the city.

The reconstruction of the castle in Muszyna took place in 2020–2023. The task was made even more challenging due to the limited number of sources and drawings, as well as the less-than-ideal condition of the ruins. During the project, the foundations of the ruin's walls were uncovered. The tower was rebuilt to three storeys, an observation deck was added and the bridge over the dry moat was rebuilt. Instead, the top floor of the tower offers a panoramic view of the city and gives us an idea of why this particular spot was chosen as the location of the watchtower.

An exhibition hall and a rooftop viewing terrace are in the southern part of the fortress, on the site of the former summer residence of the Bishops of Kraków. Thanks to the historical exhibition, we can learn about the passionate and centuries-old history of the castle, which is more than 600 years old, and learn about tales and legends associated with the castle. The castle is an excellent Muszyna attraction for adults and children!