It was coupled with the town chartered based on a trade settlement and ancillary settlement by means of defensive walls. Its complex architectural form with numerous layers is a testament to the turbulent history of the castle and the changing needs of subsequent owners: from bishops of Wrocław to the hotel. Until the early 19th century, the Upper Castle was used by the bishops of Wrocław, who had a major influence on its formation. In the 19th century and the early 20th century, the castle was the seat of the Humboldts who introduced further changes in the structure of the building and surrounded it with a park.

History

The history of the castle dates back to the fortified settlement which existed in Otmuchów in the first quarter of the 12th century. Records from 1155 and 1261 mention the castellany of the bishops of Wrocław, the seat of which was a castle. Due to a dispute between a bishop and Henryk IV Probus, the ducal army destroyed the castle. It was reconstructed by the bishop in 1295.

In the 13th century, there was a residential building and a free-standing donjon connected by a curtain wall; the north-east wing of the castle was supported by them. Bishop Przecław of Pogorzela (1341-1376) extended the residential part to the north, added the carriage house to the donjon and the south-western wing with a fortified tower and a chapel of St. John the Baptist. The buildings between the carriage house and the chapel, i.e., the north-western wing, were built probably during the few years of the castle's occupation by the Hussites (1430-1435) Having regained their seat, the bishops made alterations to the castle, strengthening its defence system through the construction of the second ring of walls, gate gorge, and creation of embrasures. They also completed the north-east wing extension. Another extension was carried out by bishop Andreas von Jerin (1585-1596) and its purpose was to enhance the castle's defence and give it a Renaissance character. A new building was erected based on the partially preserved walls on the site formerly occupied by the north-west wing. The north-east wing was extended upwards to four storeys and a series of (rectangular and keyhole) embrasures were created. The residence gained stone portals and window surrounds, sgraffito decoration of the façades: window surrounds with grotesque motif, braid motif and candelabrum ornament. The interior was covered with new vaults and painted ceilings.

In the early 17th century, the interior was renovated, and the exterior architectural details (stone portals, window surrounds) were altered. Then, in the second and fourth quarter of the 17th century, the outside stairs overlooking the courtyard were added. At the end of the century, while renovating the façades, illusionistic windows and rustication were painted. Inside, the first and second floor of the main wing were covered with painted beamed ceilings.

The Prussian army which besieged the town in 1741 also occupied the bishops' castle. From then on, a part of the castle destroyed by shelling was used by the episcopal administration.

In 1810, after the secularisation of the property of the Nysa episcopal principality, the castle became a state property, and in 1821 it was awarded to Wilhelm v. Humboldt, Minister of King Frederick William IV. Wilhelm v. Humboldt renovated the north-east wing and demolished the ruined south-west wing. After a partial demolition, the north-west wing was rebuilt in classicist style. The last owner from the Humboldt family was Bernhard Humboldt-Dachröde, who sold the castle together with the palace and pheasantry to the town in 1929. Then, the north-western part of the castle was turned into a restaurant, and the castle started being used for tourist purposes.

The interior of the castle underwent renovation in the 1950s and was adapted for use as a hotel in 1969-1973.

Description

The castle is located on a hill surrounded by a park, on the site formerly occupied by a fortified settlement, in the north-western part of the town once enclosed by defensive walls.

Two of the three wings of the Gothic-Renaissance castle complex, with a tower, inner enclosed courtyard and well have been preserved to this day. They bear traces of numerous transformations from the 14th to the 20th century. The buildings on a rectangular floor plan, featuring a layout in the shape similar to the letter L, are connected by a square tower. The main wing consists of four storeys topped with tall gable roofs clad with roof tiles. A two-storey roofed staircase and a circular arcaded portico leading to it were added along the façade facing the courtyard. The west wing housing a restaurant consists of two storeys. Basements extend beneath all parts. The walls in the eastern part (up to the third storey) of the ground floor of the tower and basements are made of crushed stone, whereas the upper parts are made of brick.

The design and articulation of external walls are not homogenous and date from several construction phases. The façades of the eastern part are plastered, with partially preserved painted decorations: rustication, false windows featuring crown glass elements, topped with cube-patterned frieze. It follows from archival iconographic sources that the division of the façades into sections or storeys was made using friezes painted on plaster. The walls are articulated with rectangular windows enclosed in sgraffito and stone surrounds. The façade of the staircase on the side of the courtyard is pierced by oval windows that correspond to the arrangement of the stairs. One of the windows in the southern façade is installed in a bay. The tower is also covered with plaster and surmounted by an arcade frieze. Sgraffito decoration on the north-eastern wall depicts the coat of arms of Bishop Andreas von Jerin and Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. The façades of the western wing are largely obscured by newer pavilions.

The layout of the castle's interior was altered several times. The stone vaults of the basement and the ground floor and wooden ceilings have been preserved.

In the courtyard paved with cobblestones, there is a medieval well with boarding made of crushed stone, extended upwards by the addition of a colonnaded tempietto (1860), made of sandstone and covered with a tented roof.

The structure can be view from the outside; viewing of the interior is possible by arrangement with the owner.

compiled by Joanna Szot, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Opole, 11-08-2014.

Bibliography

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• Biller L., Neisse, Ottmachau und Patschkau, die Städte am Mittelauf der Glatzer Neisse (Veröffentlichungen der Schlesien Gesellschaft für Erkunde E.V. und des Geographischen Instituts der Universität Breslau, H. 15), Breslau 1932.
• Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce, vol. VII: Województwo opolskie, issue 3: Powiat grodkowski, prepared by T. Chrzanowski, M. Kornecki, Warsaw 1964.
• Lutsch H., Bilderwerk schlesischer Kunstdenkmaler, Breslau 1903.
• Lutsch H., Verzeichnis der Kunstdenkmäler der Provinz Schlesien, Bd. 4: Die Kunstdenkmäler des Reg.-Bezirks Oppeln, Tl. 1, Breslau 1890.
• Steinborn B., Otmuchów, Paczków (Śląsk w zabytkach sztuki), Wrocław 1982.
• Weber R., Schlesische Schlösser, Dresden-Breslau 1909.
• Zabytki sztuki w Polsce. Śląsk, Warsaw 2006, pp. 661-662.