Borysławice Zamkowe Castle

Borysławice Zamkowe Castle is a Gothic episcopal structure from the 15th century, situated on a small island surrounded by the waters of the Rgielewka River in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Its construction was initiated around 1425 by Primate Wojciech Jastrzębiec, and subsequent owners, the Russocki and Szczawiński families, did not introduce significant alterations to its appearance. The castle was destroyed in 1656 during the Swedish invasion and fell into ruin in the 18th century. Today, only fragments of the gate tower, the walls of the foregate, and remnants of residential buildings have survived. The structure originally consisted of two three-story residential buildings surrounded by defensive walls. In the second half of the 15th century, an outer ring of low walls was added, and in the 16th century, a three-story tower decorated with blind windows (blends) and a new foregate were erected. In the 17th century, the residential buildings were connected, reducing the courtyard's area. Currently, the castle ruins are privately owned and not open to visitors, making them a lesser-known site on the tourist map of the region. The cultural significance of the castle lies both in its architecture, typical of knightly residences from the first half of the 15th century, and in its historical context, which reflects the turbulent history of the site and its role in the region's past.