The Old Castle in Żywiec is one of the most captivating historic landmarks in the Polish Beskids — a Gothic and Renaissance fortress that once hosted kings, powerful magnates and even the Habsburg dynasty. Today it houses the City Museum and invites visitors to explore centuries of layered history in the very heart of the Żywiec region.

Sitting in the historic centre of Żywiec, the castle stands alongside the New Castle and the Habsburg Park, forming a remarkable ensemble. The arcaded Renaissance courtyard is a highlight in any season — charming and green in summer, richly coloured in autumn, and quietly atmospheric in winter. Inside, permanent ethnographic exhibitions connect the castle to the Wooden Architecture Trail of Silesian Voivodeship, adding a broader regional context to your visit.

• Żywiec town centre — the castle is on Zamkowa Street, about 5 minutes' walk from the Market Square, easy flat walk
• Paid parking available near the town centre, approximately 5-10 minutes' walk to the castle

• City Museum has been hosted in the Old Castle since 2005
• Permanent exhibitions include ethnographic displays linked to the Wooden Architecture Trail of Silesian Voivodeship
• Listed heritage monument

Archaeological digs carried out in 2008-2009 uncovered foundations of one of the castle's demolished towers — a reminder that the ground here still holds secrets. And in 2014, descendants of the Habsburg family formally renounced all reprivatisation claims to the castle, sealing its future as a public treasure for the people of Żywiec.