Dunajec river castles

The Dunajec river castles is a chain of thirteen medieval castles (some of which do not exist any longer), built in southern Lesser Poland, along the Dunajec river. The castles protected the border between the Kingdom of Poland and the Kingdom of Hungary, as well as a very important international merchant route, which went along the Dunajec and the Poprad. Most of the castles are in ruin now, some of them do not exist any longer. Their history of most castles dates back to the period known as fragmentation of Poland (early 12th century), when, following the Testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth the country was divided into several provinces. The Dunajec river castles were located on the territory of two castellanies, Wojnicz and Nowy Sącz, in extreme south of the Seniorate Province.

Construction of this castle began in the early 14th century, and was initiated by the Białon family (Rawa coat of arms), which later changed its last name to Trzewliński. In the 15th century, the castle belonged to the Wielowieyski family (Półkozic coat of arms). According to a 19th-century historian and etnographer Zegota Pauli, in 1543 the Trzewlin Castle was visited by King Sigismund I the Old, and his wife Bona Sforza, to escape an epidemic. It is not known when the castle was abandoned. Most likely, it was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland (1655–1660), and in the late 17th century, its walls were pulled down by the residents of Wojnicz. Currently, all that remains are a dry moat, and small pieces of walls.

The Trzewlin Castle was located on a hill called Panieńska Gora, on the left bank of the Dunajec, 120 meters above the bottom of the river valley. The complex consisted of three parts - the upper castle (square-shaped, with measurements 40 by 40 meters), the lower castle (triangular shaped), and a round fortified settlement (borough), separated from both castles by a moat. The ruins are some 12 kilometers southwest of Tarnów, and 3 kilometers south of Wojnicz.

...
Wikipedia