Zamek Golesz in Krajowice

Zamek Golesz is situated atop a pointed oval hill measuring approximately 47 by 30 meters and rising more than 100 meters above the Wisłoka valley floor. The site’s elevated position and natural sandstone outcrops provided a strong defensive advantage. Surrounding the hilltop, an earthen rampart up to three meters high remains visible today, outlining the boundaries of the castle’s defensive perimeter.

The castle’s layout forms an irregular triangular polygon. At its northern tip stands a round tower, known as a baszta, which is one of the most significant surviving structures. This free-standing tower, perched on a small rise just north of the main enclosure, likely represents the site’s earliest stone construction, dating to the early 14th century. It measures 10.5 meters in diameter, with exceptionally thick walls about four meters wide, indicating a robust defensive role during the castle’s earliest stone phase. This tower remained in use until the late 15th century.

Within the castle’s main courtyard, a smaller northern round tower is found at the apex of the triangular layout. It has an external diameter of six meters and an internal space about two meters wide. Its upper sections consist of large, regularly shaped stones placed in lime and sand mortar, while the base includes smaller and broken stones. This tower dates broadly from the late 15th to early 16th century, likely constructed during the post-1474 rebuilding overseen by Abbot Andrzej Ozga.

The curtain walls enclosing the castle vary from 1.5 to 2 meters in thickness and are built primarily of broken sandstone blocks and stones, held together with lime or lime-sand mortar. Excavations uncovered seven segments of these walls. A notable feature along the southern wall is a protruding bastion constructed of carefully selected large stones on lime mortar, measuring roughly 1.8 meters wide. This bastion would have strengthened that section of the fortification. Archival records from the 19th century mention a second round tower in the southeast corner, though today it has likely collapsed into a ravine.

The gatehouse stands on the side opposite the northern tower and measures approximately 12 by 10 meters. It features a passage about 2.5 meters wide, constructed of large, square stone blocks that differ in form and finish from the curtain walls. The gatehouse incorporated two side chambers, which served as guard rooms. These chambers are documented in historical archives and were confirmed through archaeological sondages carried out in 2016. The gatehouse dates to around the 16th century, reflecting later adaptations to the castle’s defenses.

Inside the northern courtyard, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a residential building roughly 8.5 by 4.5 meters in size that showed signs of having burned down. Traces of daub—a type of mud plaster—and blackened burn marks on stones suggest fire damage confined to this structure, with no evidence of spread to surrounding areas. The building lacked enclosing walls, and the presence of a thin wooden partition was inferred from impressions along one side.

Alongside the ruins of the burned building, a corner section of a probable wooden construction abutting the curtain wall was identified. This feature consisted of three layers of stones with small pebbles and appeared to be a later addition to the castle complex, perhaps representing a subordinate structure or outbuilding.

No paved or artificially hardened surfaces were discovered within the courtyard, implying that open areas remained largely natural or covered with dirt.

Near the entrance to the castle, a natural rock outcrop features carved steps that served defensive and access purposes in earlier phases. These steps exemplify how the builders integrated natural formations into the fortifications.

Overall, the castle’s ruins lie within the protected Golesz Nature Reserve, part of the broader Natura 2000 network aimed at preserving the region’s sandstone formations and rare plant life. Excavations at the site have unearthed medieval and early modern ceramics, fragments of weaponry, and Gothic-Renaissance stove tiles, which together trace the site’s history of prolonged occupation, military significance, and periods of rebuilding. Since 2015, conservation efforts have focused on stabilizing and partially reconstructing the gatehouse and northern tower, enabling visitors and scholars to better appreciate the castle’s architectural and historical legacy.