Bolkow Castle is one of the medieval fortresses in Lower Silesia that is definitely worth a visit. The castle itself dominates the town of Bolkow and you can see beautiful views from it. It is located practically in the center of the town, on a hill, so from its tower you can admire a large part of the Kaczawskie Foothills.
For us, it is one of the most interesting castles in Lower Silesia, which you can read about in the post 5 amazing castles in Lower Silesia you must visit. You can find more inspiring forts in Lower Silesia that hide a lot of mystery and beauty.
Table of Contents
Bolkow Castle - how to get to the castle - location
Bolkow Castle is very well located and it is situated on Bolka Street in the center of the town. If you will be traveling by car on the S3 expressway between Jelenia Gora and Wroclaw, it is worth deviating from it and drive to Bolkow. You can park your car when visiting the castle in a small paid parking lot at 12 Bolka St. One hour of parking costs 3 zlotys (less then 1 euro) – we think that paying for 2 hours will be enough. From the parking lot you will be only a dozen meters away from Bolkow Castle.
It is impossible to miss it, as it is well visible from a distance.
Sightseeing Bolkow Castle - attractions worth seeing and its history
The first mention of a fortress in Bolkow describes its establishment in 1277 by order of the Duke of Legnica Boleslaw II the Bald. However, it is said that the origins of the castle’s history date back to his son Bolko I, who began fortifying the area. What sets Bolkow Castle apart from other castles is its observation tower, which is the only one of its kind in Poland. Today, the bow tower measures 25 meters and is accessible to tourists and is the main attraction of the fortress.
After the death of Bolek II, the castle is taken under the rule of the Czech Crown and around the 16th century it takes its final form. The walls, cloister and courtyards are being expanded. The entire structure is designed with firearms in mind, so it was a very modern defensive structure. Moreover, the total area of the castle was about 7,200 square meters, making it the largest castle in Lower Silesia at its time.
Unfortunately, if you are interested in the history of the region, you know that castles here have never had a “quiet life”. Bolkow Castle was repeatedly stormed and besieged. Most of the battles were won, but it was not without losses in the structure of the object. At one time it was even taken over by the Cistercian Abbey of Krzeszów, who positively influenced the development of the area.
Today Bolkow Castle is being successively reconstructed and attracts more and more tourists. Admiring the views from the bow tower and strolling through the historic walls are only part of the attractions they can see here.
There is a museum on the premises, depicting the history of Bolkow and the site itself. Inside you will see many exhibits related to the fortress and the region. In addition to permanent exhibitions, you can also see temporary exhibitions – their most up-to-date list can be found on the official Bolkow Castle website.
Of the latest trivia is the information that the oldest window in Poland is located at Bolkow Castle. It is over 700 years old and was discovered as a result of archaeological and architectural research in the Gothic part of the castle. According to the research, the wood obtained to create the shutter dates back to the 12th century – so the castle still hides many secrets waiting to be discovered.
Bolkow Castle - a knightly stronghold and venue for many events
What is worth mentioning is that at Bolkow Castle there is an active Knights Brotherhood of Bolkow Castle, which was founded in 1994. It actively supports the attractiveness of the castle, by organizing many knightly events including workshops, tournaments or other events aimed at introducing knightly culture. A cool event are historical and craft picnics during which you can see how traditional folk items are made, see how a blacksmith works and much more. This is undoubtedly great entertainment for families with children. Possibly it will become one of their new hobbies? It’s worth checking out!
Moreover, the castle is alive and in its courtyard you can often come across cultural events or festivals. The most popular festival is Castle Party, which had its 20th anniversary in 2024. It is a music event that attracts thousands of fans of gothic and industrial music. At its open-air festival you can see many people dressed as witches or vampires, which are symbols of this subculture. There will certainly be no shortage of strong sounds and the fact that this will be the anniversary edition will certainly be something to look forward to. In addition to the musical experience, this is also a commercial and culinary event. So there will be something for everyone. If you like this kind of atmosphere then keep in mind the date of July 12-14.
The castle, therefore, is the site of many cultural events, and it’s definitely worth watching it on Social Media, because that’s where you’ll find out about the most up-to-date events or relevant information.
Summary and interactive map
Castles in Lower Silesia are certainly one of the biggest showpieces of our province. There are quite a few of them and each hides some secrets and interesting stories. Bolkow Castle is not only a well-preserved medieval fortress, but also a brilliant vantage point for viewing the surrounding area. We definitely recommend you to see it if you are near Bolkow.
Bolkow Castle opening hours
MONDAY (exhibition halls closed): 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free admission (on weekdays)
TUESDAY-Friday: May-September: from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., October-April: from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m,
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: May – September from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., April and October from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., November – March from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m,
Closed: Easter, Castle Party Gothic Rock Festival, All Saints’ Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day.
Price list
normal: 20 zlotys (about 4 euro)
reduced: 15 zlotys (about 3 euro)
children up to 7 years old – free admission
On working Mondays visiting the castle is free of charge (museum halls are closed).
Interesting places nearby:
- If you will still be interested in visiting castles, it is worth driving a few kilometers to Swina Castle, located north of Bolkow. It has recently been a little bit renovated and opened to tourists. So, if you haven’t visited this castle, but would like to see an interesting monument, we strongly recommend it to you. What’s more, at the Swina Castle you can climb to a viewpoint on the rocks, so there is something of interest for everyone.
- Interestingly, a very interesting statue of Leszy was recently erected in Bolkow. If any of you like the world of the Witcher and Slavic legends, such a statue will definitely be worth seeing. Leszy himself, from Slavic stories, is the guardian of the forest, who was able to successfully defend the heart of the wilderness. This time he decided to stand guard over the Bolkow City Park, and that’s where you have to look for him.
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