Tumskie Hill, more than 40 meters above the extensive valley of the Vistula River (Wisła), is an advanced, vast point scarp, creating a place convenient for settlement. The oldest found traces of the settlement date back to the period of the Lusatian Culture. The hill was not inhabited after that.

Plock's development involves creation of foundations of the state of the first Piasts. The stronghold surrounded by earth embankment in the north emerged during the reign of Mieszko I. In the first half of the 11th century, the defensive fortifications covered the whole hill.

Already at that time, at the place of the future cathedral, there was a church and a small stone rotunda nearby. Plock was one of the "stations" of Boleslaus Chrobry, who traveled around his state. Probably it's from where St. Bruno of Kwerfurt set out to Prussia with his last Christianization mission.

Capital of the Mazovian Episcopate

From the second half of the 11th century, Plock gained importance. In 1075 it became the capital of the Mazovian episcopate and the seat of the rulers of Poland. Residences emerged for the bishop, for the duke, his family and many courtiers. Stone buildings emerged as well. After a devastating invasion of the Pomeranians in 1126, when an outstanding organizer and patron of the arts, Alexander of Malonne became the bishop, construction of a new cathedral began.

Romanesque temple

An impressive Romanesque temple from granite masonry emerged, the largest building in than Poland. Consecrated in 1144, in the next decade it obtained decorated doors of bronze from Magdeburg. Currently, their faithful copy is in the porch. In 13th century, they were probably robbed during one of the Lithuanian-Russian invasions and brought to Veliky Novgorod.

A stone mansion also emerged. A several-floor residential tower, which relics were the basis for the future castle donjon. The great temple and seat of the bishop much improved Plock's importance when, after division into provinces, it was nothing more than the capital of the Dukes of Mazovia.

End of the Golden Century

The first period of "the golden century" ended in the early 13th century with intensified attacks of Prussians, Yotvingians and Lithuanians. Within this century the town was conquered and burnt five times. In the late 13th century, Duke Boleslaus II started erecting of defensive walls at the place of embankments. It saved the castle three times against the armies of Władysław the Short, Czechs and Teutonic knights.

A new Gothic mansion emerged at the wall from the side of the Vistula River as well. When Duke Boleslaus III deceased without descendants, Plock passed for 20 years under the reign of King Kazimierz the Great. At that time, defensive walls surrounded the town, and the castle hill gained a second ring of gigantic walls with turrets and a high gate tower (Noblemen's Tower), the symbol of the royal authority. In the next century, a more convenient access to the castle appeared through a new double gate in walls next to the tower. The latter, over time, began to serve as prison.

Finally, John I Albert incorporated the kingdom into the Crown in 1495. The castle lost much of the former splendor of the duke's residence. Royal governors managed it until the partitions. Its area housed many wooden farm buildings and small houses for officials and lower level cathedral clergy. At least from the 15th century, the episcopal curia and houses of canons were near today's Narutowicza Square.

Destruction and Reconstruction

In 1530, a thunderstorm caused a great fire and damage to the cathedral. Reconstruction began but soon another disaster occurred. In spite of repair works in the castle, conducted from 1517, because of washout and sliding of the scarp, "the most beautiful part of the castle along with the hill tumbled down to the Vistula River". In such words bishop Krzycki wrote to Queen Bona, who, at that time, received from Sigismund the Old the Plock land in annuity.

The remnants were the former, grand Gothic mansion of the Dukes of Mazovia between the walls, connected through galleries with an Italian style tenement house with a viewing terrace over the Vistula River. Apart from Bona, Queen Ann Jagiellon was a frequent guest for years. Kings also stayed there for a short period: Sigismund August, Sigismund Vase, Władysław IV and Jan Kazimierz.

Wars with Sweden brought about breathtaking effects. During "the Swedish Deluge" the castle and town were seized, robbed and devastated twice. in 1705, combats of Russians with Swedes in the castle resulted in ruined buildings and walls. Walls being gradually dismantled from 1840's remained in sizable fragments from the side of the town till the early 19th century.