Archaeologists working on the site of a forgotten Medieval castle in Sierpc, central Poland, were able to uncover remains of the castle’s walls and fortification and date its creation. The castle is said to have been built between 15th-16th century in place of prior settlements dated to 12th and 13th centuries. The castle was created as a palatial residence but was partially destroyed during Swedish invasion, called the Deluge, and underwent re-construction in 17th and 18th century into a well known manor residence in 19th century.

The oldest traces of settlement in the area of the castle are dated to middle 12th and early 13th centuries. Relics of a 15th century tower house were also discovered. It was built with use of gothic bricks on a rectangular plan measuring 6 by 9 metres. The later castle was built on a rectangular plan with fortification walls enclosing an area of over 1 square kilometre. After a partial deconstruction a palatial structure was built between 16th-17th centuries, possibly surrounded by a garden typical for other late renaissance and early baroque structures. They were destroyed by the Swedish invasion but rebuilt in the end of 17th or early 18th century. The manor which was erected then remained in that form until 19th century.

The excavations revealed also around 10 thousand artefacts, including fragments of pottery dated from early Medieval to modern times, remains of furs which were probably connected with shoemaking activities in the early Medieval settlement. A publication of excavations and finds and their exposition in the local museum is planned for the future.

(after Nauka w Polsce, M. Cichocki, Artur Różański)