Poland · Restored
Racibórz Castle
Zamek w Raciborzu
Racibórz Castle is a medieval stronghold on the Oder in Racibórz, Silesia, with documentary mentions from the early 12th century and brick construction from the 13th century. It served as a princely residence and later an administrative seat, and contains a Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Thomas Becket. The present complex preserves a mix of medieval brickwork and later plastered wings around a cobbled inner courtyard.
First raised
1300
Its prime
1300
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1300
What Racibórz Castle looked like in its prime.
Set on the island bend of the Oder, the castle groups a white, steep-gabled Gothic chapel with a slender octagonal spire and twin tall lancet windows beside low rectangular wings covered in red clay tile. Brick Gothic details remain around doorways and window surrounds; the ensemble faces a broad cobbled forecourt with a timber-roofed well-house and an arched gatehouse entrance. At its prime the compound showed continuous brick curtain buildings, tiled rooflines and a compact, enclosed courtyard.
Its story
The story of Racibórz Castle.
Racibórz Castle stands on what was once a natural island in the Oder, first mentioned as a stronghold in the Gesta principum Polonorum of Gallus Anonymus under the year 1108, when the knights of Bolesław III Wrymouth took it from the Moravians after defeating the garrison in the field. Archaeological research has found seven cultural layers on the site, and the earliest stronghold may date back to the 9th century, guarding the Polish–Czech border.
From 1108 the castle was under Piast rule. When the independent Duchy of Racibórz was established in 1281, Przemysław of Racibórz began rebuilding the old stronghold; the work, completed in 1287, produced a compact complex of brick buildings whose main accent was a residential building resembling a palace. The castle also contains a Gothic chapel dedicated to St Thomas Becket.
A castellan resided here until the first half of the 14th century, and from the end of the 14th century until 1743 the castle was the seat of the Racibórz district starosta. John III Sobieski halted at the castle on 24 August 1683 on his march to relieve Vienna. The present complex preserves medieval brickwork alongside later plastered wings around a cobbled inner courtyard.
Step inside
8 places to explore in 1300.
The record describes 8 distinct spots at Racibórz Castle, including 1 interior: chapel interior (st. thomas becket). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
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Clans who held Racibórz Castle.
The families that held Racibórz Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Piast
Seat of the Piast princes of Racibórz from 1108 to the early 14th century.
