The Castle Cellars

The castle cellars comprise rooms arranged on different numbers of levels, covered by ribbed cross vaults and cross vaults supported by transverse arches. The visible arches and ribs divide the ceilings into repeated sections. Rather than one underground hall, the residence had service spaces extending beneath several parts of the building.

Some cellars served as a prison, while others held supplies. The stores formed part of the working infrastructure of the bishop's household. Unlike the grand halls, they were not ceremonial spaces: they supported storage and the everyday needs of the castle's residents.

The exhibition 'The Castle Cellars: Archaeological Trails' explores discoveries and investigations in the underground part of the building. A separate exhibition covers the construction history of the bishops' castle. Together, these subjects draw attention to structures, alterations and traces of earlier use, rather than just the furnishings of former chambers.

The castle also housed the St Joseph Foundation orphanage, which began admitting children in 1859. They learnt reading, writing and handicrafts, and helped in the garden and on the farm. In 1932 the institution moved to a new building on what is now Leśna Street; its history is the subject of a separate exhibition.