Hillfort in Stare Bielsko

The hillfort in Stare Bielsko is the remains of a medieval stronghold in the Stare Bielsko district of Bielsko-Biała, about 1.6 km north-west of the Market Square, at an altitude of 340-350 m above sea level. The stronghold was in use from the late 12th to the late 14th century.

What the stronghold looked like

The layout was close to a circle, measuring about 205 by 215 metres and covering about 3.2 hectares. It was surrounded by two rings of ramparts with a moat between them. On the southern side the ramparts were levelled in the 16th century.

A production and defensive settlement

Archaeologists discovered household and production pits here, including the remains of bloomery furnaces for smelting iron. Researchers link the end of the stronghold with a fire in the late 14th century. Excavations were carried out in 1938, 1961, in 1973-1981 and in 1995.

A trace in the names

The street that skirts the hillfort on the north is called Wał Szwedzki (Swedish Rampart), after the Swedish invasion of 1645-1646. Not far away stands the Cathedral of St Nicholas.

Practical information

• The Stare Bielsko district, Bielsko-Biała.
• This is an archaeological site with ramparts in the open, without buildings. It is worth checking the condition of the ramparts and the signage before your visit.