There are hoards of castles in Poland to explore, in fact, the country has hundreds to see. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting for a little city break or a longer road trip, you’ll easily find a fair few of the best castles in Poland dotted all across the country.
Now while places like England, Denmark, Ireland and the French countryside are well known for their absolutely beautiful castles, it’s well worth remembering that other countries in Europe have some incredible castles to visit…
… with Poland being no exception!
On our first visit to Poland, we were taken by the sheer stunning beauty of Gdansk (here’s proof here and here) and since then, our minds keep wandering to this country of endless intrigue and a plethora of fascinating historical tales.
With that in mind, I wanted to share some of the best castles in Poland you need to visit this year. Poland really is such a diverse country.
1.) The Royal Castle
Once, the Royal Castle in Warsaw was used by Polish royalty up until the 18th century and is known for its collection of royal portraits.
Unfortunately, the castle was badly bombed during the Second World War and much of what you will see now has been carefully reconstructed.
2.) Moszna Castle
Now, Moszna Castle is slightly more Disney-esque in design and is known for being one of the most dramatic castles in Poland. One of its main design features are the 99 spires that top its roof.
It’s an incredible and easily one of the best castles in Poland to explore.
3.) Wawel Royal Castle
Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wawel Castle was the home of Polish kings up until the 18th century. Nowadays it houses a museum where you can see the national crown jewels on display.
4.) Lancut Castle
The interior of the castle, which dates from the 17th century, is said to be one of the most stunning in all of Poland. You can also see period horse-drawn carriages here as well as antiques and historical paintings.
5.) Ksiaz Castle
Known as ‘The Pearl’, this is one of the biggest castles in Poland. Nowadays there are tours of the castle and grounds and you can even stay here as there are 3 hotels also on-site.
6.) Malbork Castle
Known officially as the Castle of the Teutonic Order, Malbork Castle is easily one of the best castles in Poland to explore. As the name suggests, the castle was built by the Knights of the Teutonic Order. Its claim to fame is that it remains one of the largest medieval castles in all of Europe.
Better still, the castle is actually the largest (by land mass) in the whole world!
7.) Nowy Wisnicz Castle
This castle used to be the home of several generations of Polish nobility and as such is a heavily fortified building including moats and gateways. Once you do get inside, you will be treated to a gallery of depictions of the castle throughout the ages.
8.) Krzyztopor Castle
Krzyztopor castle actually now stands in its ruined state and has yet to be restored, but in many ways, this only adds to its charm. The castle is known for its myths and legends that hold that it as an old scene of ‘black magic’.
Honestly, it’s one of the best castles in Poland to visit for a little step back in time.
9.) Goluchow Castle
One of the most visited castles in Poland, Goluchów Castle is built in a French style which makes it unusual.
The interior is much as it would have been in the 19th century when its last owners moved out and you can expect period antiques and furnishings.
10.) Kornik Castle
Built in the medieval period, this castle is now known as a Historic Monument of Poland. Aside from the castle itself, there are impressive and lush grounds which include cute little features like a preserved coach house. It’s a stunner of a castle to visit.