Świny Castle

Świny, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, Poland

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Świny Castle in Świny, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, is one of the region's oldest fortresses, with origins as a 5th-11th century Slavic gord securing the Lubawecka Pass trade route between Poland and Bohemia, first documented in 1108 by Cosmas of Prague as "Suini in Poloniae" during a secret meeting of Czech nobles.

By the 13th century under Piast dukes like Bolesław II Rogatka, it transitioned from a castellany seat—with documented castellan Piotr of Świny in 1248—to a private Gothic stronghold built around 1330-1350 by the noble Świnka (Schweinichen) family, featuring a massive residential tower, curtain walls, and later 15th-century expansions including a knight's hall and chapel.

Owned continuously by the Świnkas until 1769, it evolved through Renaissance and Baroque renovations with bastion fortifications before Prussian-era decline, wartime damage, and eventual ruin, now privately owned and partially restored as a romantic Gothic ruin attracting visitors amid forested hills near Bolków.