Strażnica Ryczów

Strażnica Ryczów is the ruin of a medieval defensive structure on the Strażnica rock, in the municipality of Ogrodzieniec. Fragments of walls and a rampart up to about 1.5 m high survive.

Why this watchtower was built

The watchtower was built probably in the late 14th century in the area of Ryczów Leśny. It is thought that its founder was Casimir the Great, and that the structure was meant to fill a gap in the system of Jura castles. Few written records survive, so the history is hard to reconstruct. It is known that the structure was still in use in the 15th century.

What it looked like and what remains

The structure stood on a rock that is hard to reach. It was probably a tower on a quadrilateral plan with sides of about 16, 11, 12.5 and 10 m. The entrance led from the east over a wooden bridge. At the foot of the rock there was a small courtyard with a gateway from the north, and the whole was surrounded by a moat and an earth rampart.

It is about 4.5 km from the castle in Ogrodzieniec.

About a kilometre from the watchtower lies the Ruskie Góry nature reserve.

Practical information

• Location: near Ryczów, Ogrodzieniec municipality, Zawiercie County.
• This is a ruin on a rock, with no buildings to visit. Check the access route and the condition of the terrain before setting out.