THE RUINS OF THE CASTLE IN SMOLEŃ

The coniferous, wooded hillside, where the characteristic tower of the castle is located, was probably inhabited even before the time of BC. This is confirmed by archaeological excavations in the form of spears. The castle in Smolen was probably already in the thirteenth century, since the chronicles indicate that the defensive structure in this place (probably wooden) was destroyed during the battles of Władysław Łokietek with Wenceslaus, king of the Czech Republic in 1300. In the middle of the 14th century, a new brick fortress was probably built by Otton of Pilcza's coat of arms. The initial shape of the castle was a small stone structure with a high tower.

Later, the object systematically expanded by adding two lower locks. At the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the lady on Smolen was Elżbieta Pilecka-Granowska, the third wife of Władysław Jagiełło. At the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries the Biernat from Lublin, who was a chaplain and a private doctor and the secretary of the castle, Jan Pilecki stayed in Pilecki's castle. From the letters Biernata we know about the existence of a rich collection in the castle of Smolen. Other owners, after the Pilecki, became in the 16th century Padniewscy. The rich and powerful family needed a much more magnificent residence, so soon the owners of Smolenia moved to Pilica, where they set up a new castle.

The abandoned fortress in Smolen suffered much during the Swedish invasion. It was planned to be destined for the monastery, but that did not happen. In the middle of the 19th century, the castle was bought and partially rebuilt by Roman Hubicki, who founded the well-known "Batawia" shotgun factory. In the 20th century, security works and archaeological excavations were conducted. In the winter of 2010, as a result of breaking a few trees, while at the same time a poor condition of the walls, there was damage to the castle. The Jurassic limestone hill is covered by a nature reserve. The hillside is covered with forest with beech, hornbeam and larch. There are several protected species in the reserve.