Grodziec (Lower Silesia Province) - Grodziec Castle

State of preservation:		The castle is rebuilt, however around there are picturesque ruins, which are much more interesting
Admission:		The entrance to the interior of the castle is paid, but in 2004 it was not much to watch there
Parking:		The parking lot at the foot of the hill is free
Searching difficulty:		The castle is visible from a distance and the signposts lead to it
Access difficulty:		Two roads lead to the castle. Going up the stairs is difficult, but the exertion is steady, whereas following the green trail shortens the way, but is very difficult, since it requires overcoming the sharp climb.
Subjective rating:		Lovely ruins and a nice castle

Driving directions:

Driving down the road no. 364 from Złotoryja towards Lwówek Śląski or Gryfów Śląski after about 8 km, in Pielgrzymka, you need to turn right towards Zagrodno. After arriving at the place Nowa Wieś Grodziska you should turn right again, this time towards Grodziec. After covering about 500 m away from the turn, on the hill on the left side of the road within about 1 km the tower of the castle is already visible. You ought to, however, drive on straight and at the crossroads, where the main road turns right, you need to drive straight (according to the signpost indication to the castle). Then you should drive as far as you are only able to, down the narrow asphalt path covered with holes, up the hill. When the further drive will seem to be impossible, park there and follow the green trail to the castle. At a given moment the trail will turn left and will lead up sharply up the hill, and directly opposite there will be stairs. Both these ways lead to the castle, and only differ in the level of difficulty.


Historical outline:

The former name: Gröditzberg

Preserved till now the castle buildings arose probably in the the XIVth cent. in the place of the wooden castle from the XIIth cent. This stronghold was sold in 1320 by the duke Bolesław III of Legnica to the knight Swolow from the family of Bożywoj (Busewoi). Then had to arise the brick castle, built by the private owners who were its owners till the end of the XVth cent. In the years of 1470-1472 the castle became the property of Fryderyk I of Legnica who a year later ordered to build the castle tower. In 1502 the stronghold was passed by the Czech king Vladislas II of Hungary to the dukes Frederic II and George, and after the partition of the Duchy of Legnica finally became Frederyk II’s property. It was him who began the following conversion in 1522, adapting the castle to the fire defense. In 1538 the stronghold became Fryderyk III’s property, and after dying out Piast lineage of Legnica, the castle began to deteriorate, as to became the ruin in the XVIIIth cent. However, in the beginning of the XIXth cent. the then castle owner - Jan VI Hochberg – carried out its reconstruction and arranged the park on the outer court. In the following years the castle was changing its hands even several times, and its present shapes owes to the reconstruction from the years of 1906-1908 by the project of Bodo Ebhardt who tackled the theme quite freely, and for the reconstruction of the stronghold he made use of the details from other castles.
After The World War II the castle suffered destructions, and in the 70s of the XXth cent. it was to be converted into the resort hotel. Works, however, were not accomplished. At present the castle is being renovated, probably in order to designate it for the hotel and/or the restaurant.




Pictures:




Nearest castles:

Trzebień

Chojnów

Modła

Warta Bolesławiecka

Gościszów

Skała

Rakowice Wielkie 1

Rakowice Wielkie 2

Warmątowice Sienkiewiczowskie

Lwówek Śląski

Płakowice

Rząsiny

Sędziszowa

Łupki (Wleński Gródek)

Stara Kraśnica