Dunajec river castles The Dunajec river castles is a chain of thirteen medieval castles ( some of which do not exist any longer ) , built in southern Lesser Poland , along the Dunajec river . The castles protected the border between the Kingdom of Poland and the Kingdom of Hungary , as well as a very important international merchant route , which went along the Dunajec and the Poprad . Most of the castles are in ruin now , some of them do not exist any longer . Their history of most castles dates back to the period known as fragmentation of Poland ( early 12th century ) , when , following the Testament of Bolesław III Krzywousty the country was divided into several provinces . The Dunajec river castles were located on the territory of two castellanies , Wojnicz and Nowy Sącz , in extreme south of the Seniorate Province . The castles . Wielka Wies - Trzewlin Castle ( ruin ) . Construction of this castle began in the early 14th century , and was initiated by the Białon family ( Rawa coat of arms ) , which later changed its last name to Trzewliński . In the 15th century , the castle belonged to the Wielowieyski family ( Półkozic coat of arms ) . According to a 19th - century historian and etnographer Zegota Pauli , in 1543 the Trzewlin Castle was visited by King Sigismund I the Old , and his wife Bona Sforza , to escape an epidemic . It is not known when the castle was abandoned . Most likely , it was destroyed during the Swedish invasion of Poland ( 1655 – 1660 ) , and in the late 17th century , its walls were pulled down by the residents of Wojnicz . Currently , all that remains are a dry moat , and small pieces of walls . The Trzewlin Castle was located on a hill called Panieńska Gora , on the left bank of the Dunajec , 120 meters above the bottom of the river valley . The complex consisted of three parts - the upper castle ( square - shaped , with measurements 40 by 40 meters ) , the lower castle ( triangular shaped ) , and a round fortified settlement ( borough ) , separated from both castles by a moat . The ruins are some 12 kilometers southwest of Tarnów , and 3 kilometers south of Wojnicz . Melsztyn – Melsztyn Castle ( ruin ) . Construction of the Melsztyn Castle was initiated in 1340 , by the castellan of Kraków , Spicymir ( Leliwa coat of arms ) . In 1362 , Bishop Bodzanta blessed the Holy Spirit chapel at the castle . The complex for 200 years remained in the hands of the powerful noble family of Leliwita Melsztyński ( see Spytek of Melsztyn ) , which in the late 14th century built a Gothic keep , located in the western wing of the castle . In the 15th century , Melsztyn was one of centers of Polish Hussite movement , and in 1511 , Jan Melsztyński sold it to the castellan of Wiślica , Mikołaj Jordan of Myślenice . In ca . 1546 , Spytek Jordan ordered remodeling of the Gothic complex , turning it into a Renaissance residence . After the marriages of his two daughters , Melsztyn became the property of the Tarło family , and in 1744 , it came into the hands of the Lanckoroński family . Melsztyn Castle was destroyed by the Russians in 1771 , during the Bar Confederation , and has been a ruin since then . In 1789 – 1796 , parts of the complex were pulled down , in order to gain building materials for a church at Domosławice . In the following years , the complex was neglected , which resulted in collapse of the keep ( 1846 ) . In 1879 - 85 , due to the efforts of Karol Lanckoroński , the castle gained the status of a permanent , protected ruin . Since 2008 , it belongs to the gmina of Zakliczyn . The castle has been presented in paintings of Jan Matejko , Napoleon Orda , and Maciej Bogusz Steczyński . Melsztyn Castle is located near regional road nr . 980 , which goes from Nowy Sącz to Tarnow . Czchów – Czchów Castle ( ruin ) . The history of the Czchów Castle dates back to the 13th century , when a Romanesque watchtower was built here . In the 14th century , a defensive castle was added to the tower . It became the residence of the Czchów starosta s , and was destroyed in the Swedish wars of the mid - 17th century ( see Deluge . Finally , the castle lost its military importance , and was turned into a prison , which was closed in 1772 , after the first partition of Poland . Currently , the only remaining parts of the complex are a 14th - century tower and foundations of the defensive wall . The tower is open to visitors from May 1 until October 31 , entrance fee is 3 zloty s . Wytrzyszczka – Tropsztyn Castle ( reconstructed ) . The Tropsztyn Castle was probably built in the early 13th century by the Ośmioróg family . It was first mentioned in 1231 , and remained in the hands of the family for 300 years . In 1535 , following a royal order , Tropsztyn was handed to the castellan of Sandomierz , Piotr Kmita . Some time in the second half of the 16th century , it probably became the seat of highwaymen , as it was partially destroyed in 1574 by the owners of Rożnów , due to the “ assaults , organized from the castle ” . By 1608 , Tropsztyn , which belonged to the Zborowski family , already was described as a ruin . First archaeological works were carried out here in 1863 by a Nowy Sącz historian Szczęsny Morawski . In 1970 , it was purchased by Andrzej Benesz , and Tropsztyn was reconstructed in 1993 . Now the castle is open to visitors in July and August . According to a legend , an Inca treasure is hidden somewhere in Tropsztyn , as its late 18th century owner , Sebastian Berzewiczy , went to Spanish Peru , where he married an Incan princess , and his ancestors returned to Poland with the treasure . Rożnów - Rożnów Castle ( reconstructed ) . The Rożnów Castle , located 20 kilometers north of Nowy Sącz , is a complex of defensive objects , consisting of a medieval “ upper castle ” and Renaissance fortifications ( “ lower castle ” ) . Its history dates back to the 13th century , when the Gryfita family built here a watchtower . The castle itself was probably built in 1350 – 1370 by Piotr Rozen ( Gryf coat of arms ) . It is in the shape of a rectangle , 44 meters by 20 meters . In 1426 , the castle was purchased by one of the most famous Polish knights , Zawisza Czarny , and after his death , it remained in the hands of Zawisza ’ s sons . In the late 15th century , Rożnów belonged to the Wydźga family , and later , to the Tarnowski family . In the first half of the 16th century , during the Polish Golden Age , Hetman Jan Tarnowski began the construction of a fortress at Rożnów . It was planned to become one of the strongest and most modern fortresses in the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth , guarding southern border of the nation against the Ottoman Empire , which , after the Battle of Mohacs emerged as the dominant state in Southeastern Europe . Tarnowski ’ s death in 1561 put an end to these plans , and the construction was never completed . Gródek nad Dunajcem - Gródek nad Dunajcem Castle ( does not exist ) . The Gródek nad Dunajcem Castle was probably built in the early 14th century by a man named Klemens de Gródek , on the Grodzisko Hill in the village of Gródek nad Dunajcem . The complex was destroyed either in late 14th or early 15th century , its ruins were visible as late as early 20th century . Currently , no traces remain of the castle , and the Grodzisko Hill is an island ( called Monkey Island ) on the Rożnowskie Lake . Kurów – Kurowska Góra Hill Castle ( does not exist ) . In 1308 , the Kurowska Góra Castle was noted as " Curow castrum " , and later was described by Jan Długosz . For some time , the complex probably was property of Bishop Jan Muskata . Little is known about the complex , which was located in the village of Kurów ; in some sources it is called the Lemiesz Castle . Nowy Sącz - Royal Castle . For more information , see Nowy Sącz Castle Zabrzeż - Zabrzeż Castle ( does not exist ) . This medieval castle was located in the village of Zabrzeż , near Nowy Sącz , on the left bank of the Kamienica river , near its confluence with the Dunajec , 84 meters above the bed of the valley . In ancient times , a Lusatian culture gord existed here , and in the 13th century , a small defensive castle was built . The complex was made from stone , in a circular shape with the circumference of some 30 meters . What remains now is traces of its moat . Historians have been unable to establish the owners of the castle , as there are very few documents . The village of Zabrzez itself was first mentioned in 1312 . Furthermore , it is not known when the castle was destroyed , and by whom . Remains of the walls were still visible in the early 20th century . Krościenko nad Dunajcem - Pieniny Castle . The ancient castle was built on northern slope of a steep hill , several meters below its top , in immediate vicinity of the massif of Trzy Korony , located in Pieniny Mountains . The complex was small , due to lack of space , but placed in a spot which provided natural defence . The length of the defensive walls was 88 meters , and the walls were 1 meter thick , made from the local limestone rock . The gate was located in western part of the castle , below which cellars were built . According to Jan Długosz , during the disastrous Mongol invasion of Poland ( 1259 ) , Prince Boleslaw V the Chaste fled to the Pieniny Castle ( spelled as " Castro Pyeniny " ) , together with his mother and wife Kinga of Poland . Historians however doubt Długosz , claiming that construction of the castle was not initiated until the 1280s . The complex guarded southern border of Lesser Poland , and probably was abandoned by the first half of the 14th century , to be destroyed in the 15th century ( most likely in 1433 , during a Hussite raid . Niedzica - Dunajec Castle . For more information see Niedzica Castle . Czorsztyn - Czorsztyn Castle . For more information see Czorsztyn Castle . Szaflary - Szaflary Castle ( does not exist ) . The castle was located on a limestone rock , on the left bank of the White Dunajec . In the 13th and 14th centuries , together with the village of Szaflary , it belonged to the Cistercian abbey from Ludźmierz and Szczyrzyc . In 1380 , it became royal property . In 1470 – 1480 , during the reign of Kazimierz Jagiellończyk , the castle was rented to a local nobleman Piotr Komorowski . Three years later , Szaflary was taken away from him , as a punishment for his support of Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus . Afterwards , the " fortalitium Schaflari " turned into a ruin . The Szaflary Castle stood on a flat hilltop , with measurements of 20 by 30 meters . It was surrounded by a wall , which was in ca . 1474 strengthened by a rampart . Currently , a house stands in the spot where the complex once stood . All that remains of the castle are parts of the 14th century defensive wall , together with the rampart . Gords along the Dunajec . The Dunajec is a river which flows along a hilly area , and on several hills , and along the valley there are remains of early Medieval gord s . At Wojnicz , a 10th - century Slavic settlement once existed on a dry island a few meters above the swampy hollow . The settlement became the seat of a castellan , and turned into the town of Wojnicz . Other gords and settlements were located at :