he settlement of Kazimierz was founded at the beginning of the 13th century, soon after it housed a customs house, the protection of which was initially provided by a cylindrical tower erected on one of the hills, probably by Władysław I the Elbow-high. The tower is about 20 meters high and 10 meters in diameter. In the forties of the fourteenth century, king Casimir the Great erected the second part of the castle in the lower part of the hill, less than 200 meters from the tower. Initially, the building was limited to the perimeter of the walls surrounding the polygonal courtyard, the entrance led from the side of the cylindrical tower, from the north-east. Probably in the fourteenth century, in the middle of the north-western section of the walls, a square tower with five floors was erected. The castle later became a starosty non-stronghold in the hands of the Knights Templar.
In the fifteenth
View from the west, photo by ZeroJeden, VI 2003
century, another extension enriched the complex with a three-storey residential wing added to the perimeter wall in the western corner of the courtyard. At the end of the 15th century, between the residential wing and the tower a second wing was erected, one-storey, and the promontory with the castle was cut off from the rest of the hill by a dry moat. At that time, the castle was also supplied with water by drilling a well in the courtyard.
In 1509, the starosts of the castle were the Firlej family, who added a one-storey wing, and all buildings were crowned with an attic, during their time the castle received a Renaissance décor. They ruled here until 1644, the later fate of the castle is mainly associated with damage from the period of wars with the Swedes. In the years 1655-1657 and 1707-1714 the stronghold suffered significantly, and in 1774 it was already abandoned and neglected, falling into complete ruin.
Currently, the castle, secured as a permanent ruin, together with the historic town, is a great tourist attraction.
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e settlement of Kazimierz was founded at the beginning of the 13th century, soon after it housed a customs house, the protection of which was initially provided by a cylindrical tower erected on one of the hills, probably by Władysław I the Elbow-high. The tower is about 20 meters high and 10 meters in diameter. In the forties of the fourteenth century, king Casimir the Great erected the second part of the castle in the lower part of the hill, less than 200 meters from the tower. Initially, the building was limited to the perimeter of the walls surrounding the polygonal courtyard, the entrance led from the side of the cylindrical tower, from the north-east. Probably in the fourteenth century, in the middle of the north-western section of the walls, a square tower with five floors was erected. The castle later became a starosty non-stronghold in the hands of the Knights Templar.
