Ruiny zamku Esterki w Bochotnicy

Poland, Poland

---

The ruins of the castle in Bochotnica, commonly known as Esterka's Castle, are the remains of a medieval knight's fortress located on a steep hill overlooking the Bystra Valley in Poland.

Likely constructed around 1340 by the Firlej family following a Tatar invasion, the site served as an administrative center and defensive seat for over 150 years. The castle began its decline after the death of its last owner, Jan Bochotnicki, in 1532, and it was already described as significantly damaged by 1585 due to changes in ownership and the difficulty of modernizing the narrow hilltop site.

Local legend links the structure to King Casimir the Great, who is said to have built the castle for his Jewish mistress, Esterka, giving rise to its popular name. Today, the site remains a picturesque, largely overgrown ruin consisting of fragments of the southern and northern wings, with the structural integrity further compromised by landslides in the 19th century.

Because the ruins are situated on private property and lack formal security, they are considered difficult to access and are visited at one's own risk.