The scenic valley of the Prądnik is dominated by Pieskowa Skała Castle, one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Poland.

Pieskowa Skała Castle has loomed over the valley of the Prądnik for over 700 years. Founded by King Casimir the Great (Kazimierz Wielki), it was a fortress and an element in the chain of fortifications defending the trading route from Kraków to Silesia. In the 16th century, the rogue Szafraniec family turned it into a stately residence with a splendid arcaded courtyard with a loggia on the outside. The castle has survived in a nearly unchanged form, and today it provides one of the most beautiful examples of Renaissance architecture in Poland. Interiors boast collections of painting, sculpture, and artistic crafts from the collection of Wawel Royal Castle, and an exhibition devoted to Pieskowa Skała. A word of warning: the place is said to be haunted by the spirit of a previous owner, Krzysztof Szafraniec, a knight beheaded for brigandry in the 15th century.

Practical information

Tickets: PLN 16/12, family PLN 50

outer courtyard: open daily from 8:00am to dusk

closed on Mondays