fot.Grzegorz Szczęsny

Both the Sandomierz defensive walls and the castle were constructed during the reign of king Kazimierz III Wielki (14th c.). The castle was erected on the Castle Hill in place once occupied by a stronghold (10th c.). It was a residence of prince Henryk Sandomierski, son of king Bolesław III Krzywousty (1086-1138).
The southern corner tower is the oldest part of the castle. The castle was enlarged during the reign of king Zygmunt I Stary (1467-1548) and later during the rule of his son Zygmunt II August. Till the present time survived only the part that linked two corner towers. Above the southern entrance visitors can see the plaque commemorating election of king Zygmunt I Stary with date (1520) and a cartouche containing the royal eagle. This fragment of the building was built with the use of a specially fired brick known as zendrówka laid in rhomboidal pattern. Master Benedykt, nicknamed Sandomierski, was supervising the whole process of construction. He was also the author of two-storied arcaded galleries running around the closed castle yard.
The castle was seriously damaged during the Swedish Deluge (mid-17th c.), when it was dynamited. A few hundred inhabitants were buried under the debris. The only part that survived was the western wing, which was reconstructed during the reign of king Jan III Sobieski (1629-1696). Following the 3rd Partition of Poland (1795), the Austrians turned the castle into a prison and a seat of the court of justice. It ceased to be a prison only in 1959. Now the castle houses the Regional Museum.

The castle of Sandomierz is a very mysterious place – all people agree that it has underground passages, but nobody knows where they are. According to an old legend, there were three such passages constructed for the castle crew in case of need. One of them was mainly used by the king going to the holy mass so it led directly to the cathedral. Through the second one that gave an access to the other side of the Vistula defenders could escape or dispatch a messenger carrying a plea for rescue. The third passage is supposedly 10 kilometers long and ends in the locality of Skotniki. It also could serve the castle crew as an rescue route in dangerous situations.

Muzeum Okręgowe w Sandomierzu
ul. Zamkowa 12
27 - 600 Sandomierz
tel./fax. +48 15 832 22 65
www.zamek-sandomierz.pl

Opening hours:
May - September:
10.00 - 17.00 Tuesday - Friday
10.00 - 18.00 Saturday - Sunday
October - April:
9:00 - 16:00 Tuesday - Sunday

Ticket prices:
- full ticket 7 PLN
- reduced ticket 5 PLN

The nearest  Tourist Information Point
PTTK Division in Sandomierz
ul. Rynek 12
27-600 Sandomierz
phone: +48 15 832 23 05
phone/fax.: +48 15 832 26 82
www.pttk-sandomierz.pl

Information can be obtained in The Regional Center of Tourist Information
ul. Sienkiewicza 29
25-007 Kielce
phone: +48 41 348 00 60
e-mail: informacja@swietokrzyskie.travel