Zamek na wzgórzu Grojec

Zamek na wzgórzu Grojec is located on Grojec Hill in Żywiec, Poland. The site originally hosted an early medieval stronghold whose origins cannot be precisely dated today due to destruction in the post-World War II era.

In the early 15th century, the hilltop became the site of a documented castle established by Bożywoj and Włodek Skrzyński, knights bearing the Łabędź coat of arms. These nobles, known as knightly robbers and vassals of the Duchy of Oświęcim, constructed the fortress for defensive and territorial control. Later on, the Komorowski family, who bore the Korczak coat of arms, assumed ownership. This family notably supported Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, aligning themselves with the Teutonic Order in opposition to the Kingdom of Poland.

During the late 1470s, tensions culminated in royal intervention under King Casimir IV Jagiellon. In 1477, forces commanded by Jakub of Dębno, the Kraków starost (a royal official), launched a military campaign against the Komorowski-held castle. According to chronicler Jan Długosz, the royal troops employed heavy artillery in a series of sieges, culminating in the capture and burning of the stronghold. Archaeological findings suggest that the castle on Grojec Hill and another nearby fortification were destroyed amid this campaign. The event marked the end of the castle’s active use and led to its eventual ruin.

Archaeological interest in the location dates to 1937, when excavations uncovered evidence of long-term human presence, including artifacts from the prehistoric Lusatian culture and medieval times, yet much of the material was lost during World War II.