Kochłowice (hillfort)

The hillfort in Kochłowice is a medieval motte in the fork of the Kochłówka river, in the Kochłowice district of Ruda Śląska. It was built in the early 14th century and is the oldest monument in the city.

What stood here

The topography of the site has survived: the moat, the mound itself and the outer bailey. On top of the mound stood a wooden residential tower whose walls were daubed with structural clay, and a palisade ran around it. The slope of the mound was reinforced with a stone mantle and a system of laths, and on the outer side of the moat a retaining structure of piles driven in at an angle of 60 degrees was discovered. Archaeologists also found traces of a wooden bridge, which was more of a footbridge over the bottom of the moat.

Who ruled here

Written sources are silent about the motte, and the pottery found dates mainly from the 14th and 15th centuries. It probably belonged to the dukes of Bytom. A document from 1467 mentions a farm near the mound by the mill pond, which indicates that by the mid-15th century the stronghold no longer functioned, and a mill stood at its foot.

Care of the monument

Since April 2009 the voluntary guardian of the monument has been the Genius Loci Association, which cleans the site, has cut down trees that were overgrowing it and organises outdoor history lessons and trips. Archaeological research was carried out here in 1980, in 2013-2015 and in 2022. In 2013 information boards were put up by the motte. The slopes of the mound are threatened by trees growing over them, motorcyclists and treasure hunters, so it is worth being careful and not climbing them unnecessarily.

Practical information

• Location: Ruda Śląska-Kochłowice, on the Kochłówka river.
• The site has information boards; the rules of entry and the hours are worth checking before a visit.
• Nearby: the Aquadrom and the Museum of the Silesian Uprisings in Świętochłowice, both about 4 km away.