The ruins of the Ogrodzieniec Castle in Podzamcze - Station 07 - Krecenderska Tower and Chamber, Kurza Noga and services courtyard

Description

Surely you have noticed a high tower, located in the south of the castle (photo 07.07.001). It is called the Kredencerska tower and belongs to the oldest brick part of the stronghold. The tower was located next to the dining room. In the lower part gold and silver tableware items were kept. The upper levels had military functions. Therefore, it was crowned by machicoulis, defensive apertures. Played a defensive role also the small chambers with loopholes, preserved up to now. We encourage you to pass through the original doors from that era (photo 07.07.002) and to ascend to the top of the tower, where is located a panoramic terrace. From there you can Admire the panorama, including Mount Birów, where we visit later on during the tour.

Near the tower there is the Kredencerska Chamber. It functioned as dining room, from which role originate its name. Kredencarz was the name used in ancient times for a trusted person in charge of silver and gold tableware. It is here that the noblest visitors were welcome (photo 07.07.003). Next, is the table room, from which you can enter the Castle Museum and the lower floors of Kurza Noga (photo 07.07.004-07.07.005).

Kurza Noga (photo 07.07.006) is a part of the castle added by Seweryn Boner, in the mid-16th century. Its high walls and window holes have survived till today. You may easily recognize how the rooms developed in this part of building (photo 07.07.007). On the upper floors there were the białogłowski chambers, the writer chambers, a ballroom, and even a Renaissance washroom. In the lower part there were casemates with very thick walls. Their defensive functions were strengthened by bullet holes (photo 07.07.008).

From the windows of Kurza Noga is possible to see the service courtyard (photo 07.07.009). It is surrounded by a thick wall, connecting Kurza Noga and the boulevards. This so-called curtain wall, served as a shield (photo 07.07.010). Watching it, you can see the grooves and holes, probably exploited for placed the wooden parts of the floor. Even here there were wooden porches (photo 07.07.011-07.07.012), which facilitated the soldiers to move between loopholes, arranged at different heights of the wall (photo 07.07.013-07.07.014).

In the courtyard there was uproar, since there was where craftsmen worked, materials were stored, and the general noise intensified the din coming from the aviary. One could enter here directly through a small gate, reinforced by iron grating.