Szczerba Castle

Szczerba Castle, located in the southeastern part of the Bystrzyckie Mountains, is a medieval fortress whose origins date back to the late 13th century. Its architecture is characterized by a defensive wall standing 9 meters high and stretching over 100 meters in length, which surrounded a small courtyard. The castle was built on an irregular oval plan and utilized a deep moat for defense. Within its walls were two-story residential buildings and stables, among other structures. In the 14th century, the castle passed into the hands of Czech knights, and the earliest written mention of it dates back to 1358. The castle played an important role in the region, guarding the trade route to Bohemia and serving as a center of feudal power. However, Szczerba's history is tragic; after being captured by the Hussites in 1428, the fortress was never rebuilt, and its ruins became a source of building materials. Today, the castle ruins, though obscured by lush vegetation, are well-preserved, and their fragments allow visitors to visualize the original structure. It is worth noting that the castle has been managed by the Międzyleski Związek Drużyn Szczerba since 2007. The surrounding area offers numerous tourist attractions, such as Fort Wilhelm and the Solna Jama Cave, which are sure to appeal to history and nature enthusiasts alike.