Bedzin Castle, Poland

The Bedzin Castle is a medieval castle located in the village of Bedzin in southern Poland. The castle was built in the 14th century by Casimir the Great on the site of an earlier wooden fortress which was constructed in the 11th century. The Bedzin Castle was used as a military outpost but in 16th century it fell into a disrepair.
In 1616 the castle was damaged by a fire and was additionally destroyed during the Swedish invasion in 1657. The Bedzin Castle was over the next centuries several times rebuilt but by 1825 it was in ruins. After it was bought by the count Edward Raczynski in 1830 was the castle partially rebuilt but after his death in 1845 it fell into disrepair until the 1950's when it was finally rebuilt by the People's Republic of Poland.

Since 1956 the castle houses a museum and is open to the public.