Świny Castle

Świny Castle, also known as Schweinhausburg, is an exceptionally valuable monument of defensive and residential architecture, located in Świny near Bolków in Lower Silesia. Its history dates back to the 11th century, when it was first mentioned in the chronicle of Cosmas in 1108. Built of brown-red conglomerate rock, the castle originally served as a stronghold and later became a castellany. In the 13th century, it came into the possession of the knightly Świnka family, who transformed the wooden fortifications into a solid stone defensive tower, preserved to this day with its Gothic entrance portal. In the 14th century, new elements were added, and the castle gained a four-story residential-defensive tower with walls up to 2.5 meters thick. In the mid-15th century, the castle was expanded with a double-gabled residential building and new fortifications. The largest reconstruction took place between 1614 and 1660, when Johann Sigismund von Schweinichen transformed it into a Renaissance residence, establishing a theosophical circle and a mystical library. Throughout its history, the castle became a meeting place for mystics and alchemists, highlighting the unique cultural character of Świny. After many upheavals, including devastation during wars, the castle passed through the hands of various owners, including a Prussian minister of state, until it became state property in 1941. It is also worth noting that Świny Castle, one of the oldest sites on the Trail of the Piast Castles, is surrounded by a legend of an underground passage to Bolków Castle. Currently, the castle is privately owned, and its history is commemorated by a monument unveiled on the occasion of its 900th anniversary.