Chojnik Castle is located at the top of Chojnik mountain in Karkonosze at the height of 627 meters above sea level; at the southeastern side of the mountain there is a 150 meters high precipice descending towards so-called Hellish Valley.
The castle was built by Bolko II the Small, the last autonomous Piast duke in Silesia (Władysław I the Elbow-high's grandson on the distaff side) in the fifties of the 14th century. In 1364 duke gave the castle as collateral to Thimo von Colitz. In the same year, Thimo von Colitz sold his rights to the Bohemian king Charles IV from the House of Luxembourg for 2 500 sexagenas of Prague groschens. Bolko, after short period of time, bought the estate back from the monarch. After duke's death his wife, Agnes of Austria, gave the Chojnik Castle to knight Gotsch Schaffow, later founder of one of the most powerful noble families in Silesia – the Schaffgotsch family.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the castle effectively resisted against Hussites invading Silesia, but during following period of Hussite Wars its owners covered themselves with shame of being robber barons, plundering local community and merchants heading for Bohemia. During the storm on August 31st, 1675, the castle was powerfully hit by the thunder which set the huge fire in the fortress. The fire consumed the building completely, leaving nothing but ruins. Nobody tried to reconstruct the castle and the ruins became deserted.
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Stay at least one night in one of the polish castles !!! Your choice:
| Czocha | Kliczkow | Krag | Ladek Zdroj | Ryn |
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