History
In the light of archaeological research, the castle or watchtower in Myślenice was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. The existence of the building was confirmed by a document from 1342, recording a customs house operating there, collecting fees from merchants traveling on the Kraków-Hungary route. In the same document, King Kazimierz the Great allowed the colonization of the surrounding forests and the establishment of an urban settlement in the valley, finally founded between 1342 and 1354. Documents recorded the burgraves managing the royal castle in Myslenice since 1399. In 1443, it was already referred to as the old castle. In 1457, the mercenary troops of Kawka and the Świeborowski brothers fortified themselves in the town, demanding payment of arrears of pay. However, the castle did not play any role in the fights of the royal troops with the rebels. This could indicate that it was no longer in use at that time or that its fortifications were outdated and insufficient. The castle was probably finally abandoned or destroyed in the 16th century. Additionally, in the 19th century, its remains were supposedly blown up, most likely by treasure hunters.
Architecture
The small castle was built on a promontory of a hill, cutting into the valley of the Raba River flowing from the west and north. The slopes of the hill were steep and high in these sections, similarly to the south and partly to the east, where streams flowing from higher parts carved narrow ravines. The only access to the castle led from the south-east, through a neck connecting the promontory with the rest of the hill. The main element of the castle was a free-standing, cylindrical tower built of local sandstone. Its base had a diameter of 10 meters, and the interior 2.5 meters, which gave a wall less than 4 meters thick at ground level. The promontory on which the tower was built was about 50 x 60 meters in size. It was cut off from the plateau by two deep ditches and an earth rampart. It is possible that at the edges of the slopes there were also wooden fortifications in the form of a palisade, surrounding a small courtyard next to the tower with dimensions of approximately 11 x 17 meters.
Current state
To this day, the remains of the tower’s blasted wall have survived, scattered across the densely overgrown area. Entry to the headland is free. It is located in the Zamczysko nad Rabą nature reserve, just above the Myślenice district with private single-family houses.
bibliography:
Leksykon zamków w Polsce, red. L.Kajzer, Warszawa 2003.
Leńczyk G., Katalog grodzisk i zamczysk z terenu Małopolski, Kraków 1983.
Malik R., Średniowieczne lokacje miejskie nad Rabą. Myślenice. Ze studiów nad budową i kształtem miasta lokacyjnego, “Wiadomości Konserwatorskie”, nr 20/2006.
Sypek R., Zamki i obiekty warowne Jury Krakowsko-Częstochowskiej, Warszawa 2003.
Wagner A., Murowane budowle obronne w Polsce X – XVII wieku, tom 1, Warszawa 2019.