Castle in Kończyce Małe

The current layout of the Castle in Kończyce Małe includes two wings arranged at right angles, partially built with basements, connected by a passage hall. This hall features a distinctive double-flight staircase providing access to the upper floor. Vaulting in the building displays a variety of forms: the main hall has a barrel vault (a continuous arched shape like a tunnel), while other rooms on the ground floor combine cross-barrel vaults and lunette barrel vaults—barrels with semi-circular openings—supported by a central pillar. Additional ground-floor chambers exhibit sail vaults, which curve like the sail of a boat, adding structural and aesthetic variety. The upper floor’s spatial arrangement echoes that of the ground level.

A notable feature on the ground floor is a series of arcades facing the courtyard; these arches are unevenly spaced and closed by basket-shaped arches, which have a flattened curve reminiscent of a basket handle. Above these arcades lies a gallery with a parapet adorned by decorative panels, providing both ornamentation and a viewing platform overlooking the courtyard.

On the upper level, the southwestern façade presents six window openings separated by a cornice, a horizontal molding that visually divides the wall. The southern-eastern side includes a balcony that is a more recent addition. The windows vary in size and style: four retain Renaissance stone frames from the mid-16th century, characterized by profiled moldings and subtle traces of cross-shaped decorations; other windows feature frames added during the 19th century. Some ground floor windows on the southwestern side are still fitted with Renaissance iron grilles, serving both as protection and decorative elements.

Another surviving Renaissance feature is a portal on the upper floor of the southwest wing. This entrance is topped by a basket arch and framed with rustication, a technique that gives the stone a rough, textured surface for visual emphasis. The surrounding arch, known as the archivolt, is profiled with moldings, and the lintel above showcases a row of primitive rosettes—simple carved floral designs.

The castle’s roof follows the Polish tradition of a broken roof, which includes an angled shape designed to shed water efficiently. Originally covered with wooden shingles, the roofing has since been replaced with asbestos-cement sheets while still supported structurally by wooden posts beneath the eaves.

Historically, the castle was encircled by a defensive moat, complemented by marshlands and a nearby pond that further protected the grounds. These water defenses were eventually removed and replaced by the English-style garden laid out in the 19th century, marking the estate’s evolution from military stronghold to stately residence with ornamental landscaping.