Rabsztyn

State of preservation:		Artificial ruins
Admission:		The ruins are a result of construction works from the last 10-15 years. The entrance to the castle area is free of charge for the time being, however recently the works have escalated, aiming at rebuilding the castle. For that reason sightseeing the castle is possible in the specific hours only.
Parking:		There is no parking lot nearby, however there is a lot of room to park
Searching difficulty:		The castle is observable from a distance so it is very easy to find
Access difficulty:		The access to the ruins is difficult and requires climbing up the steep hill
Subjective rating:		Nice ruins

Driving directions:

Driving down the road 783 from Olkusz to Miechów, after covering around 1 km, on the left side of the road on the hill, the ruins of the castle are noticeable from a distance. As to reach there You have to, right past the board with the name of the place Rabsztyn, turn left into the side road. You drive down it to the foot of the hill.




Historical outline:

The history of the arising of the castle in Rabsztyn is not known. It is mentioned neither in the chronicles of Jan from Czarnków nor of Jan Długosz. The first references to the village appear only in the XIVth cent. and they follow that Rabsztyn was in pawn at the Province Governor of Cracow, Spytko from Melsztyn. For the first time the castle was mentioned in the document from 1396 and on the occasion of a reference to the chaplain of the castle chapel. The history of the stronghold has been known only since 1400. It was then in the possession of the family of the Leliwit-Melsztyńskis and remained in their hands until 1441. At that time as the dowry of Jadwiga from Książ became the property of the Toporczyks, the part of whom assumed the surname of the Rabsztyńskis on that occasion. The death of the last from the family of the Rabsztyńskis caused that since 1509 the castle was often changing its owners, who carried out a few reconstructions of the stronghold. In the XVIIth cent, the Swedes burnt down the castle, which since then has been falling into bigger and bigger ruin.


Pictures:



Pictures of knights tournament which took place at this castle




Nearest castles:

Podzamcze

Smoleń

Bydlin

Pieskowa Skała

Ojców

Rudno