When any castle appears on the horizon, we cannot pass it indifferently. We even begin to suspect that royal blood must flow in our veins! So it was this time. When we were speeding along the S7 route from Krakow to Warsaw through the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, we saw a noble fortress on a hill. It was the Royal Castle in Chęciny.
Are you looking for an idea to spend your free time? Check out our section: Nest things to do in Kielce.
Royal Castle in Chęciny – attractions
The castle in Chęciny was built in the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, it has changed its residents many times (one of them was Queen Bona) and has been destroyed several times, but it still does fine. Its most characteristic elements are two huge towers. They look like big metallurgical chimneys, but in fact they are dignified vantage points for visitors.
Towers, gates, watchtowers, treasury, chapels, dungeons, lapidarium, utility rooms or torture chambers – these are rooms you can find in most castles, including Chęciny. But here are some attractions and activities for tourists deserve special attention.
First, a quick question: is there anyone you’d like to put in stocks? Don’t be afraid to answer in the affirmative… There are exactly two potential convicts in the Travel-Mates team of two. Fortunately, they both managed to free themselves in time.
Stocks are not the only torture device that got in the way of Wiolczi and Patrix. They also encountered the disgusting and terrifying witch’s chair.
Some say that throwing money into a well/treasury brings good luck, others assure that it guarantees a return to a given place. As we have emphasized many times – we are not too superstitious, but we tossed a coin. If any of the predictions were to come true, both options suit us.
As art lovers, we also saw the “gallery” of knights’ coats of arms. We took a closer look at them and agreed that their designers really did not lack imagination (see: second row from the top, penultimate pictture)…
As we both like to compete, we faced off in a certain (truly knightly) tournament. Who scored more points with the magic wheel of fortune? I don’t think we need to answer, just look at the winner’s face.
Heading to the exit, we took a photo with an accidentally encountered skeleton. (We agreed he was a really stiff guy.)
Finally, we were socially promoted for a while to Prince Patrick and Princess Wiolczi (and then, for a change, as you can see in the attached picture, to Princess Patricia and Prince Wiolson). It was truly a royal getaway!
Chęciny Castle – tickets and opening hours
- You can buy tickets to the castle in Chęciny at really attractive prices. A normal ticket costs PLN 22, a reduced ticket – PLN 18, a group ticket (min. 20 people) – PLN 17 per person, a family ticket (2+2) – PLN 70, a local ticket – PLN 1.
- It is possible to buy a combined ticket, if you would like to see both the castle and the historic tenement house ‘Niemczówka’ (you can read about this attraction below). A normal ticket costs PLN 39, a reduced ticket – PLN 32, a group ticket (min. 20 people) – PLN 30/person, a family ticket (2+2) – PLN 124, a local ticket – PLN 3.
The Chęciny Castle is open every day throughout the year (except for the following days: January 1, Easter Sunday, November 1, December 24, 25 and 31).
- January 9:00 – 15:00
- February 9:00 – 16:00
- March 9:00 – 17:00
- April 9:00 – 19:00
- May 9:00 – 19:00
- June 9:00 – 19:00
- July 9:00 – 19:00
- August 9:00 – 19:00
- September 9:00 – 18:00
- October 9:00 – 17:00
- November 9:00 – 16:00
- December 9:00 – 15:00
Royal Castle in Chęciny – how to get
- Car. It is the most comfortable means of transport. Chęciny is located 15 km south-west of Kielce. In the shadow of Góra Zamkowa you will find a convenient parking lot.
- Public transport. From Kielce you can get to Chęciny by ZTM buses or private carrier.
Chęciny Castle – tips
- On a clear day, you can see the Tatra Mountains from the castle (highly likely), and on a dark night, apparently, the ghost of Queen Bona aka the white lady walks on the castle walls (not very likely).
- Chęciny is located in very picturesque surroundings. What interesting attractions outside the castle await in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship? First of all, you can reach the highest peak of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, i.e. Łysica – it’s only 612 m above sea level, so it’s a perfect option for a quiet walk up a slight hill. Another small challenge is Łysa Góra (594 m above sea level) with the Abbey of the Holy Cross (in Polish: Opactwo na Świętym Krzyżu). For lovers of “underground attractions” we recommend the picturesque ‘Raj’ Cave (in Polish: Jaskinia “Raj”), necessarily in the package with the Neanderthal Center.
- Niemczówka, which we mentioned in the ‘tickets’ section, is a beautifully Renaissance tenement house from the 16th century. It is worth coming here and seeing the collection of knight’s armor.
- The castle in Chęciny served as a film set during the filming of one of the most famous Polish films of the 20th century, ‘Pan Wołodyjowski’ directed by Jerzy Hoffman.
Royal Castle Chęciny – worth it?
- Patrix – 7/10. Not the most epic castle I’ve been to, but still very cool! In addition, the castle has a lot of activities listed above, so you can spend more time in it and have a lot of fun.
- Wiolczix – 8/10. In addition to the fact that I simply love all castles, I really like the large number of engaging attractions that await guests in Chęciny. Sightseeing is cool, but it’s always nice to do something else in this courtyard. For example, keep your boyfriend (aka traveling companion) in the stocks. A big plus for the lighting of the castle – the building located on a hill looks really spectacular and a bit mysterious after dark.
Chęciny Castle – frequently asked questions
How much does a ticket to the Chęciny Castle cost?
A regular ticket to the Chęciny Castle costs PLN 22, and a reduced ticket – PLN 18.
What king was at the castle in Chęciny?
The castle in Chęciny was visited by: Władysław the Elbow-high, Casimir the Great, and Władysław Jagiełło.
How long does it take to visit the castle in Chęciny?
Spend 1-2 hours visiting the castle in Chęciny.
Can I see the Tatra Mountains from the Chęciny Castle?
Yes, when visiting the Chęciny castle, located in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, you can see the panorama of the Tatra Mountains in the distance. Of course, you have to find good weather and a cloudless sky.
