One beautiful summer day when we were taken on our 1st solo car trip, my mom had a thing for exploring all the castles in the vicinity of Krakow and so, purely by chance, we ended up at Tenczyn Castle, also known as Techin, which is a historical gem located in the picturesque Rudno region, about 30 km west of Krakow.
It was a clear, bright day when I sat down on the long green grass in the clearing in front of the castle and started preparing my brave and faithful friend Zeł for takeoff. There was no need to go inside because there are eyes that will see everything from above. Considering that the entrance is paid in some places, this is a very profitable option and it seems that the security guard was a little sleepy that day😸.
A warm breeze lightly caressed my face and I actively watched how the old castle slowly took shape in front of me, like a sleeping giant. My drone flew from one side to the other, hovering gently, taking impressive aerial shots, occasionally making a freeze glitch, forcing me to reboot the system. The castle sits like a crown on a hill, dominating the surrounding forest.
We can see the surrounding walls, the round tower, the square tower, the bricks, the ruins, the corner towers, the central courtyard, each ruin becoming a piece of the puzzle, a piece of history that can be put together with a little imagination. And I also had a lot of fun catching the Polish flag between its active and passive states in the photo.
In general, the building looks quite good, despite everything, like a wise, slightly battered warrior. All around, nature was reclaiming its rights, the hills of Lesser Poland surrounded this place like a jewel box. And as the camera rolled, I allowed myself to be captivated by the silent history of this place. Our hero of today's novel was built in the 14th century by the powerful Tęczyński family.
Located in the village of Rudno, it occupied a strategic position on the heights of the Kraków Mountains. At that time, it was much more than just a fortress: it was a symbol of power, culture and regional independence. The Tęczyński family, influential among the Polish nobility, turned the castle into a center of intellectual and political life.
It is even said that at times the castle was equal in importance and prestige to Wawel, the royal castle in Kraków. It was not only a place of war or defense, but also a space for meetings, celebrations and debates. The castle experienced its heyday during the Renaissance, after significant transformations that turned it into a palace-like residence. Writers, artists, nobles stayed here.
Its architecture mixed Gothic and Renaissance styles with elegant loggias, courtyards and high towers.
But, as with many buildings of that era, the peace did not last. In the 17th century, during the terrible “Flood” – the Swedish invasion of Poland – the castle was besieged, looted and burned.
This was the beginning of its long decline. Despite some restoration attempts in the following centuries, it never regained its former splendor.
The current ruins, which my drone captured as it circled above, told the story of this decline.
Perhaps with imagination you can distinguish the different rooms, but as you can see in the photo, everything is, as they say, pure without sin, open to the sky, eaten away by time. And yet this fragility gave this place an almost poetic power. It is no longer a castle, but a memory. A large stone figure that has withstood the wind and rain. The castle speaks for itself.
And what it says is not only the story of battles or powerful nobles, but also about the passage of time, about the beauty in ruins, about the importance of memory.Today, Tenchin Castle is protected, and some effort is being made to preserve what remains.
It is easy to get to from Krakow, and it has become a popular place for history, photography and nature lovers. But that day I felt that I was alone in the world with it. Nothing existed except the wind, the stones and the vast sky. And in this simplicity, in this peace there was a deep feeling.
A place where you can just sit, breathe, watch and listen to what the wind tells you through the stones, A place surprisingly harmonious calm serene, like in the fairy tale about Cinderella, the birds sing so safe and sweet although there were once invasions here but it is not felt.
That day we saw not just a ruined castle, we met a witness to the past, an old stone king who still stands, despite the centuries.
