Today, the ruins remain a rare example of a castle located in a mountainous, rocky terrain. The remnants of masonry and earthen structures, cultural layers as well as moveable artefacts preserved on the site remain a valuable source of knowledge about both the castle itself, the surrounding region and the defensive architecture of the late Middle Ages. The historical monument remains an important part of the region’s history.

Location and description

The historical monument is situated approximately 6 kilometres south of Janów, less than 200 metres south of the Janów-Żarki road. The castle ruins are perched on a rocky hill, surrounded by limestone outcroppings. The building was erected on a site which offered a natural defence advantage, with its northern side being virtually inaccessible due to the presence of an almost vertical rock cliff about 40 metres high. The remnants of the castle are located at about 380 metres above sea level. Today, the entire area is heavily forested. The castle originally consisted of two distinct sections - the high castle, which was a masonry structure made of stone, and the extensive castle grounds stretching to the south of the castle itself. The surface of the castle was approximately 1200 - 1500 square metres, while the castle grounds added a further 7100 square metres to that figure. The high castle most likely came equipped with a fortified tower, a residential section and a small courtyard. The structure is now in an extremely dilapidated state, with the total length of the vestigial remnants of the stone walls of the high castle being 144 metres. The surviving parts of the walls are about 2.2 metres thick. Bohdan Guerquin and Jacek Laberschek suggest that the castle may have never been completed, which would explain the scarcity of the surviving structures. It should also be added that a cavern known as the Ostrężnik Cave is situated at the foot of the hill upon which the castle once rose, on the north-eastern side thereof. Due to the presence of both Palaeolithic and Neolithic artefacts inside the cave, it was inscribed into the register of archaeological sites of the Silesian province.

History

The medieval written sources contain no references to the castle; this, and the lack of systematic archaeological surveys of the site, have meant that the origins of the structure have so far remained shrouded in mystery. For the above reason, various researchers have advanced contradictory theories as to the date of construction of the castle and the identity of its founder. Bohdan Guerquin believes that the castle was most likely erected at the initiative of Casimir the Great (born 1310 - died 1370), with another historian, Marceli Antoniewicz, largely concurring with his view. Bohdan Guerquin also submits that the complex may have not been completed during the monarch’s lifetime and that the construction process may have been abandoned after his death. S. Kołodziejski has advanced a different theory, opining that the Ostrężnik castle may have been erected at the request of duke Władysław Opolczyk (Vladislaus II of Opole, born 1326-1332 (?) - died 1401), with the actual construction process taking place in years 1370-1391. According to Jacek Laberschek, the castle may have been constructed in the early 14th century, during the reign of the Bohemian Přemyslid dynasty (1290-1306), with its construction being intended as a means of cementing the newly established authority. Laberschek also believes that the funds for the construction of the castle may have been provided by Jan Muskata, the bishop of Cracow who sided with the Bohemian monarchs, and that the construction process itself commenced in the years 1304-1306. The historian also adds that the construction was most likely never completed, perhaps due to the demise of Wenceslaus III (born 1289 - died 1306) and the subsequent conquest of the Cracow region by the Polish king Władysław (Ladislaus) the Elbow-high (born 1260 or 1261 - died 1333).

Condition and results of archaeological research

The site is accessible all year round.

compiled by Michał Bugaj, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Katowice, 22-10-2014.

Bibliography

• Antoniewicz M., Zamki na Wyżynie Krakowsko-Częstochowskiej. Geneza - funkcje - konteksty, Kielce 1998.
• Błaszczyk W., Inwentaryzacja średniowiecznych zamków i strażnic murowanych na wyżynie jurajskiej, “Rocznik Muzeum w Częstochowie” 1966, vol. 2, pp. 9-34.
• Guerquin B., Zamki w Polsce, Warsaw 1984.
• Kajzer L., Kołodziejski S., Salm J., Leksykon zamków w Polsce, Warsaw 2007.
• Kołodziejski S., Średniowieczne rezydencje obronne możnowładztwa na terenie województwa krakowskiego, Cracow 1994.
• Kołodziejski S., Średniowieczne budownictwo obronne na pograniczu Małopolski z województwem sieradzkim i ziemią wieluńską, [in:] Między Północą a Południem. Sieradzkie i Wieluńskie w późnym średniowieczu i czasach nowożytnych, Sieradz 1993.
• Laberschek Jacek., Na tropie rycerzy z [Złotego] Potoku i rozbójników z Ostrężnika, [in:] Almanach Częstochowy, Częstochowa 2002.