The village was founded in the early 14th century by Cistercian monks from Kraków.

A castle was also built in the 14th century, possibly as part of king Casimir III's border defense system.

In 1975–1999, it belonged to Bielsko-Biala Voivodeship Ryczów is geographically subdivided into two parts.

The highest point of the village is about 345 m above sea level and the lowest is about 100 m below.

At the northern end on the bank of the Vistula river lies the hamlet called Chałupki.