The ruins of the Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze - Station 02 – Walls

Description

Watching the walls, starting from the left, you will notice in the first place a camel. (photo 07.02.001). Not meaning an exotic hunchback, but a group of rocks resembling the animal. Centuries ago in the area it was said that some Persian merchants came to the castle on their camels. When after a few days they wanted to continue their way, it turned out that one of their animal became a stone. This event has not, unfortunately, any record in historical sources. On your right you can see the eastern part of the wall (photo 07.02.002). In it there is the eastern gateway (photo 07.02.003) and numerous loopholes. This gate at the time of the Boners served as outbound. From the south, from centuries the Trzy Siostry (Three Sisters) have a view of the entire ward. It is said that the devil himself turned them to stone as they make him angry with gossiping (photo 07.02.004). It is worth to climb the stairs to the bottom of the Three Sisters. There is Męczarnia Warszyckiego (Warszycki Torment) (photo 07.02.005-07.02.007), a cave converted into a torture chamber. You can discover executioners tools and techniques they were using for inflicting tortures at that time. Among the exhibits are the chair of witches, the Spanish shoe and an iron maiden. For the more sensitive, we suggest to content yourself with admiring the stunning panoramic views extending from the front of the cave...

The torture chamber was named after Stanislaw Warszycki, Castellan of Kraków, who owned the castle in the 17th century. On the one hand, he was seen as a good host and a great patriot. He did not abandon the threatened King Jan Kazimierz, fought in defence of Częstochowa, and on his lands the Swedes never set a foot. His second, private face is far from being official. It is said that this ogre tortured himself his subordinates. He had no mercy also to his wives: one whipped in the castle courtyard, the other bricked up alive in the dungeons for treachery. They say that for these acts the devil kidnapped him to hell. Today, Warszycki returns to the castle in the form of a black dog. He was seen by so many residents of Podzamcze that you shall not believe that it could be a hallucination.

The rest of the walls do not hide dark secrets. It performed its functions of defence through the numerous holes for shooting. There is also the southern gate, which before the extension of the fortress served as an entrance (photo 07.02.008-07.02.009).

Now we invite you to the keep. Please move along the rocky path toward the building.