he defensive structure probably existed in Bielsko since the 13th century. The wooden stronghold was built on the edge of a hill above the Biała River, and was cut off from the rest of the hill by a wide dry moat. Shortly after 1316, the city and the stronghold were surrounded by a defensive wall, and a gate was placed in the wall at the junction of the stronghold and the city, which was soon replaced by a strong gate tower. Probably around the middle of the 14th century, the stronghold burned down, probably after this event Przemysław I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn, began building the first brick elements. The castle was separated from the city by a defensive wall, which began at the city gate tower and ended with a newly built defensive castle tower. The princely residence was built in the north-eastern corner and, like the tower, was slightly extended beyond the perimeter walls. The residence was a trapezoidal building, with interiors without division into smaller parts. The building probably had three storeys, of which the lower two were covered with vaults, and the upper one served only defensive functions.
In the 15th century, due to the unrest of the Hussite Wars and the shifting of the border between the Czech Republic and Poland, the Bielsko castle was expanded and strengthened. It was separated from the city by a moat and behind it a new series
Castle in the mid-twentieth century
of walls, so the previous city gate tower could no longer fulfill its previous function and the passage was bricked up. A new entrance to the tower was made from the courtyard side. The entrance to the city was moved beyond the new series of defensive walls. In the corner of the castle from the city side, probably in the place of the former wicket gate, a two-storey residential and defensive building was erected, next to which there was an entrance gate and a drawbridge over the moat.
In the second half of the 15th century, the interiors of the main castle building were also transformed, which were divided into smaller rooms. In 1489, the Duke of Cieszyn, Casimir II, using the city pastures, created castle gardens to the east of his residence.
In the 16th century, the castle was fortified from the east with a low wall with bastejas, and construction work carried out several times during that century was mainly limited to adapting the complex to serve residential functions. Three more buildings were built by the perimeter wall.
The first inventory of the castle dates from
Bielsko Castle in a photo from the interwar period
1571, which was written due to the sale of the property of the indebted Dukes of Cieszyn. The castle became the property of Karol of Promnica, then Adam Schaffgotsch. During their rule, little changed in the castle. Then, in 1592, the estate was purchased by the Hungarian magnate Jan Sunnegh, whose family rebuilt the castle in the Renaissance style. The modernized southern wing then took on residential functions, and the whole was decorated with polychromes, saving on stonework details. In the first half of the 17th century, construction work continued, during which the buildings around the courtyard were enclosed into four full wings and the previously diverse buildings were partially unified.
In 1646, the castle was captured and burned by Swedish troops. It suffered further damage during the city fires in 1659 and 1664. The castle was rebuilt, and the courtyard was surrounded by cloisters during the reconstruction. After the death of the last of the Sunneghs in 1728, the castle often changed owners.
In 1752, it was purchased by Aleksander Sułkowski, whose family owned it until the end of World War II. Partially damaged by the fire of 1753, the castle was probably renovated, and in 1787 Franciszek Sułkowski began extensive construction work. In 1808, the castle burned down again, and during the reconstruction, the southern and western wings were raised to three storeys. By 1830, a castle chapel was also built in the south-eastern corner.
During another fire in 1836, the upper floors of the castle and most
Aerial photo, photo by ZeroJeden, V 2020
of the surrounding buildings were destroyed. During renovation work, the area took on its current appearance - the city fortifications were removed and the terrain was leveled. In the years 1854-1864, Ludwik Sułkowski rebuilt the castle to the form preserved to this day. In 1934, the castle gardens were removed and their area was built up.
During World War II, the castle did not suffer too much damage. After the war, it was taken over by the state and adapted to serve as educational and cultural institutions. For some time, it housed the Art High School, and is currently the seat of the Museum in Bielsko-Biała.
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e defensive structure probably existed in Bielsko since the 13th century. The wooden stronghold was built on the edge of a hill above the Biała River, and was cut off from the rest of the hill by a wide dry moat. Shortly after 1316, the city and the stronghold were surrounded by a defensive wall, and a gate was placed in the wall at the junction of the stronghold and the city, which was soon replaced by a strong gate tower. Probably around the middle of the 14th century, the stronghold burned down, probably after this event Przemysław I Noszak, Duke of Cieszyn, began building the first brick elements. The castle was separated from the city by a defensive wall, which began at the city gate tower and ended with a newly built defensive castle tower. The princely residence was built in the north-eastern corner and, like the tower, was slightly extended beyond the perimeter walls. The residence was a trapezoidal building, with interiors without division into smaller parts. The building probably had three storeys, of which the lower two were covered with vaults, and the upper one served only defensive functions.
