Szydłowiec Castle stands on an artificial island in the floodplain of the Korzeniówka River. This unique location brings together a waterside landscape and castle architecture, offering an impressive introduction to the city’s history.
Castle and Musical Instruments
Between 1470 and 1480, Stanisław Szydłowiecki built a brick castle in Szydłowiec. Today, the Muzeum Ludowych Instrumentów Muzycznych presents its exhibitions in the castle’s chambers, including three permanent exhibitions. Founded in 1968, the museum is considered the world’s first independent museum devoted to folk musical instruments.
One of the castle’s oldest chambers houses the Eksperymentarium Dźwięku, a unique venue in Poland. Visitors can play rare musical instruments and create digital compositions there. In this way, the museum offers visitors the chance to try their hand at making music as well as explore the exhibitions. Museum lessons for children and adults are offered as workshops or lectures; if you plan to attend one of these, check the museum’s reservation information.
Sandstone, Architecture and Places of Remembrance
St. Sigismund’s Church, built from local sandstone, stands on the south side of the Great Market Square. The stone reflects a long tradition of craftsmanship: sandstone has been quarried and worked in Szydłowiec for more than 600 years. The church also contains a tombstone for Mikołaj Szydłowiecki made of red marble—a different material that creates its own distinctive contrast with the sandstone construction.
The town hall was built between 1602 and 1629. Its tower contains a reconstructed workshop belonging to Władysław Malecki and an observation terrace. The gallery in the tower also offers expansive views of the surrounding area. The building’s history, craftsmanship and views come together in different parts of the same historic structure.
Another place of remembrance is the Jewish cemetery of Szydłowiec, one of the largest preserved Jewish cemeteries in Poland. The symbolism of its gravestones points to the gender, profession and piety of the deceased. It offers a way to explore the cultural significance of the tombstones that differs from the stories of the castle and the city’s buildings.
Cycling and Walking Routes
The cycling routes can also be compared by length. A description published in 2016 lists Cycle Route No. 1 as 23 kilometres long, with a 33-kilometre variant. The route runs from Szydłowiec via Szydłowiec PKP, Sadek and Barak, then back to the city. Check the route conditions before setting off.
Cycle Route No. 6 is 25 kilometres long and starts and ends in Szydłowiec. Cycle Route No. 8 also returns to its starting point and is 24 kilometres long. The standard lengths of these three numbered routes are therefore similar; Cycle Route No. 1 also offers the option of a longer variant.
For walking, a combined pedestrian and cycling promenade runs by the reservoir between the lake and the Great Market Square. A 4.5-kilometre walking route also leads south out of the city. These routes offer different kinds of orientation: a link between two named points and a longer route that leads out of the city.
Location and Directions
Szydłowiec lies in the southern part of the Masovian Voivodeship, on the border with the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. The city is on National Road S7, which runs from Gdańsk via Warsaw, Radom and Kraków to Chyżne. The section running through the city and municipality is named “Indiańska Droga Sat-Okha.”
Discover more destinations: Sulistrowice, Szydłowiec, Chlewiska, Chustki, Ostałówek, Jastrząb, Legionowski and Sierpc.
Return to the main travel overview: Masovia.
