Tenczyn Castle
| Tenczyn Castle | |
|---|---|
 |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Polish Gothic-Polish Mannerism |
| Town or city | Rudno |
| Country | Poland |
| Construction started | 1319 |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Demolished | 1655-1656, 1768 |
The Tenczyn Castle, otherwise known as the Tęczyn Castle, is a medieval castle in the Polish Jura, in the village of Rudno, Poland. It was built as a seat of the powerful Tęczyński family. The castle fell into ruin during the Deluge in mid-17th century, after being pillaged and burned by Swedish-Brandenburgian forces looking for the Polish Crown Jewels and rumored treasures of the Tęczyński family. Subsequently rebuilt, after a fire in the mid-18th century it again fell into disrepair and remains in that state to this day.
Castle stands on rocks which are remnants of Permian lava stream, constituting the highest hill of Garb Tenczyński (Castle Hill 411 m above the sea level).
The name of the castle comes from the name of the daughter of Tynek Starża. According to the legend, he arrived here in the 9th century, founded Tyniec and built a castle for his daughter Tęcza (Rainbow). The first mention of the stronghold is dated 24 September 1308, when king Władysław I the Elbow-high, who was hunting in the woods "in Thanczin", issued a diploma to the Cistercian monastery in Sulejów. It is believed that the first wooden structure was erected around 1319 by Jan Nawój of Morawica, Castellan of Cracow. He also built the largest of the castle towers, called today the Nawojowa tower. The medieval castle included three additional round Gothic towers. Further expansion was carried out by Jan's son Jędrzej, governor of Cracow and Sandomierz. He erected the north-east part of the structure, where he lived, dying there in 1368; he is also known as the first to take the name Tęczyński. Jędrzej's son Jasko renewed and significantly expanded the castle, and founded a chapel. The first recorded mention relating directly to the castle dates from this period. The king Władysław Jagiełło imprisoned some important Teutonic prisoners, captured during the Battle of Grunwald, in the castle. To commemorate this event one of the castle's turrets was called Grunwaldzka.
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