Gryf Castle

Gryf Castle is the ruin of a medieval castle on a hill above the village of Proszówka, on the road linking Gryfów Śląski with Mirsk, in Lower Silesia.

Foundation and first owners

The castle was built in the 13th century by Duke Konrad, known as Konrad II the Hunchback, on the site of an earlier stronghold called Bobrzan. Until the end of the 14th century the site was held by the dukes of Świdnica, and later passed into the hands of the Czech king Wenceslaus IV.

The time of the Schaffgotsch family

From 1419 the castle belonged to the Schaffgotsch family, who ruled it until 1798. In 1526 Ulrich von Schaffgotsch carried out a thorough rebuilding, and in 1546 Hans von Schaffgotsch erected defensive walls. In 1617 Hans Ulrich von Schaffgotsch organised a knights' tournament at the castle.

Sieges and destruction

In 1639 the castle withstood a siege by Swedish forces, but in 1645 it was captured by them, and its defender Christoph Leopold von Schaffgotsch surrendered. In 1745 the site was occupied by Prussian troops. Finally, in 1799, the castle was partly demolished, and the material obtained was used to build a nearby farmstead.

Architecture of the ruins

The complex consisted of three parts: the upper castle, built on an irregular pentagon plan, the middle castle, situated to the north of it, and the lower castle, occupying the eastern part of the hill. The castle chapel once held a large image of a griffin, from which the castle took its name.

Practical information

• The castle stands on a hill in the village of Proszówka, 6 kilometres south of Gryfów Śląski and 2 kilometres north-east of Mirsk, on voivodeship road number 361.
• The site is entered in the heritage register and remains in private hands; fragments of defensive walls, gates, tower niches and the remains of the chapel and residential buildings have survived.
• This is a permanent ruin, not a rebuilt castle; it is worth checking the current access rules on site before a visit.
• Within 8 kilometres are also Rajsko Castle and the GEOPARK - St John's Mine in Krobica.