In the period between the 14th and 16th century, it watched the strategic commercial route from Poland to Hungary.

History

The history of Rytro goes back to a document dated 1312. The document restores the right of the nearby convent of Poor Clares in Stary Sącz to collect duty at the Rytro castle. The founder of the castle overseeing the duty house on the Poprad River is not known. The chronicler Jan Długosz maintained that the castle was originally owned by the royal administrator Piotr Wydżga, yet this is not confirmed in other sources. During the reign of Władysław the Elbow-High, it belonged to the royal domain. In the early 15th century, the castle was in the hands of royal tenants: Jakusz of Boturzyn of the Czewoja coat of arms and next one of the branches of the Toporczyk family who adopted the name of Ryterski. In the 16th century, Piotr Kmita administered the castle. After that, the structure fell into disrepair. This was confirmed in a text by Marcin Bielski ( 1575) and the text of an inspection report from ca. 1616-1617 saying that the castle in Rytro “has been devastated through negligence of the former tenants” and only “some wall has remained on the high mountain.” First researchers who studied the remains of the castle were Andrzej Żaki in the 1960s and Adam Szybowicz with his team in 1996. The results of the latter studies have not yet been published.

Description

The ruins of the castle sit on a hill (463 m a.s.l.) overlooking the right bank of the Poprad River. Excavation research has not managed to determine the beginnings of the building and its architectural transformations. The castle was probably built at the end of the 13th century. At that time, it was a free-standing, cylindrical keep of sandstone with a diameter of 9.5 m at the base and 2.4-2.6 m inside. It has survived to a height of about 10 m. Probably in the second phase of expansion, a perimeter wall was erected lining the edges of the hill. On both sides of the keep, there are some remnants of stone buildings. The west section was occupied by a two-part residential building. Perhaps later, it was adapted to the use of firearms, which is evidenced by the preserved characteristic embrasure. On the east side of the keep, the walls have survived of a building, most probably linked to some castle entrance functions. The entire complex is secured by a transverse moat flanked by an earthen embankment.

Opening hours: the site is freely accessible.

Author of the note Stanisław Kołodziejski, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Kraków 1/10/2014

Bibliography

• Guerquin B., Zamki w Polsce, Warszawa 1984, pp. 279-280;
• Kajzer L. Kołodziejski S., Salm L, Leksykon zamków w Polsce, Warszawa 2001.
• Kołodziejski S., Średniowieczne budowle warowne w dolinie Dunajca w świetle nowszych badań, Rocznik Sądecki, vol. XX, pp. 9-34.
• Langerówna H., System obronny doliny Dunajca w XIV w., Kraków 1929, pp. 29-30.
• Szydłowski T., Pomniki architektury piastowskiej w województwie krakowskiem i kieleckiem, Kraków1928, pp. 112-113