The best traffic-free bike rides around Spytkowice

Ownership and Function: In October 2023, the castle was transferred to the National Museum in Krakow, which plans to revitalize it and open some of its space to visitors in the future. Currently, some of the rooms are still occupied by the National Archives in Krakow. Accessibility: The castle is currently not open to the public, except for special occasions (e.g., Heritage Days) or for researchers using the archives. However, visitors can stroll through the castle park.

History and Architecture Beginnings: The castle's origins likely date back to the late 15th century, when it was founded by Piotr Myszkowski of the Jastrzębiec coat of arms. Originally, it had an irregular, quadrangular shape with two towers at the corners. Remodeling: Rebuilt between 1520 and 1530, its current appearance owes primarily to the Renaissance-style reconstruction carried out in the early 17th century by the Bishop of Kraków, Marcin Szyszkowski. Owners: Over the centuries, the castle was owned by distinguished Polish families, including the Myszkowskis, Opalińskis, Lubomirskis, and Potockis. Damage: In 1945, the castle suffered significant damage from a fire.

Spytkowice Castle is a residence built on the foundations of a medieval castle. Excavations have revealed traces of the original defensive structure dating back to the second half of the 15th century. The castle was destroyed in a raid in the 15th and 16th centuries, as evidenced by the discovery of crossbow remains and bolts. Spytkowice Castle is a historic Renaissance-Baroque defensive residence located in Lesser Poland. Currently, it is not open to the public because it houses a branch of the National Archives in Krakow.

Contemporary Use Energy: The canal supplies water to the Skawina Power Plant. Tourism and Recreation: It is a venue for recreational activities, including kayaking, fishing, and the development of tourism and water sports. Infrastructure: A bicycle path over 11 km long has been built along its crest, as well as numerous bridges, which are tourist attractions.

Construction History Initial Plans and Construction (1911–1914): A short section of the Galician Canal was built between 1911 and 1914, as part of the initial ambitious plan to connect the Danube, Oder, and Vistula rivers. The cornerstone was laid in Brzeźnica. Work was interrupted due to World War I. Postwar Attempts (1920s/1930s): In the 1920s and 1930s, the project was revived under the name Silesia-Kraków Canal, but plans were again thwarted by the war. Construction of the Łączany-Skawina Canal (1955–1961): In the 1950s, the current section of the canal, called the Łączany-Skawina Canal, was built. The entire project was completed and opened in 1961. Construction Purpose: The main purpose of the post-war project was to supply water to the Skawina power plant, but its original transport purpose was also preserved.

The Volunteer Fire Department in Łączany was founded in 1947. It has been operating continuously since then and, in addition to rescue and firefighting operations, it also conducts cultural activities, including the Youth Fire Department and the "TON" Wind Orchestra.

The main hall is located on the axis of the entrance, leading through a portal bearing the Szyszkowski (Ostoja) coat of arms. The single-bay rooms are connected by a gallery that runs around the courtyard. The interiors feature magnificent preserved stone portals: from the late Gothic one in the southeast corner of the castle, through Renaissance ones, to Baroque ones bearing the Ostoja coat of arms. The branch in Spytkowice opened in 1995 and is the main repository of Krakow's archives. It houses, among other things, records of the Krakow City Hall from the mid-19th century to 1945, a set of Krakow parish records from 1798 to the end of the 19th century, and documents of the district offices from the interwar period. Currently, a total of nine kilometers of records, organized into approximately 500 sets, are stored here. https://2018.dnidziedzictwa.pl/zamek-w-spytkowicach/

From the 18th century onward, the owners changed frequently, but they did not inhabit the castle. From the mid-19th century, Spytkowice belonged to the Potocki family; the then-tenant, Michał Naimski, brought the Spytkowice ponds to life. The Potocki family ceded the estate, destroyed during World War II, to the State Treasury, which then transferred it to the Central Directorate of Archives. Thanks to a major renovation and expansion in the 1990s, the castle was adapted to its current function: it houses the Kraków Branch of the State Archives. The south-facing castle is a brick and plastered building with three wings framing a rectangular courtyard. The front elevation is flanked by square corner towers. Set on deep, partially vaulted cellars, the castle was built primarily of brick. Fragments of a stone wall, left unplastered, are visible in the oldest sections of the front wing. The two-story wings are covered with high, gable roofs that house a usable attic.