Polish Castles and Palaces

Mandy · #1 02-12-2005, 02:16 AM

In this thread, please post pictures and descriptions of Polish Royal Castles, Palaces and Buildings.

Mandy · #2 02-12-2005, 02:30 AM

The Order of Teutonic Knights came to Poland at the invitation of Polish royalty, to help convert the heathen Prussians to christianity. Instead, the order took control over large part of northern Poland and began building their strongholds. The most impressive fortress went up in the town of Malbork on the right bank of Nogat, the right branch of the delta of Vistula river. In 1309, the Grand Master moved his seat from Venice to Malbork, officialy making it the Order's capital.

The castle was captured by Polish forces in 1475 and subsequently became the residence of Polish kings visiting Prussia. By the turn of the 19th century, the area had been annexed by Prussia. That was when local authorities began the dismantling of the castle to reuse the bricks. Under the influence of German Romanticism, restoration work began, with the castle being seen as a symbol of Prussian imperial tradition. As it stands today, the castle represents a good illustration of 19th-century conservation methods. Following substantial World War II damage the castle was reconstructed by Polish specialists, who returned the historic halls, chapels, corridors and courtyards to their original 14th century splendor.

The Malbork castle is a classical example of a medieval fortress, one of the best of its kind in entire Europe. Together with a system of multiple defense walls with gates and towers, covering over 80 acres, it is one of the largest such strongholds in the world. The castle itself is divided into three major parts; the oldest section is the rectangular High Castle with arcaded courtyard containing among others refectory, chapterhouse, St. Mary's chapel and treasury. In 14th century the old forecastle was converted into the Mid Castle with the Grand Refectory, The Knights' Hall and the Palace of the Grand Master. The Lower Castle encompassed the armory and the St. Lawrence Church.

The castle interiors house several exhibitions, including a permanent exhibition detailing the castle's history, together with collections of medieval sculpture, stained-glass windows, coins and medals, weaponry, iron and foundrywork, pottery, tapestries, as well as a priceless collection of amber art. In the summer, sons et lumiere spectacles are held in the castle courtyards.

info@visitpoland.org

Mandy · #3 02-12-2005, 03:19 AM

Built by royal order of the king, then rebuilt by the efforts of the nation, the Royal Castle in Warsaw was the seat of kings from the 17th century on. Totally destroyed during World War II, it has been restored to its former beauty during the 1970s, thanks to the generous donations of Poles and numerous Polish communities abroad. Now, as a splendid museum, it is open to the public.
Polish National Tourist Office

Mandy · #4 02-12-2005, 03:23 AM

Wilanow is a Baroque palace/park complex situated in the outskirts of Warsaw. Formerly it was a residence of King John III Sobieski. The Baroque palace and garden complex is one of the finest in Poland. Unfortunately, the Nazis plundered the palace during World War II, carrying off most of its treasures. Nevertheless, thanks to a successful campaign to reclaim the looted property, the palace that can be seen at Wilanow today is no less rich and beautiful than it was in the days of John III. The palace has been converted into a museum of interior decorations, while its former carriage house shelters the Poster Museum.
Polish National Tourist Office

Mandy · #5 02-12-2005, 03:27 AM

In the second half of the XVIIth century, the King's Prime Minister commissioned a celebrated master builder to construct two buildings -baths and an hermitage- in the old river bed of the Vistula. The property was purchased in 1764 by King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski. Over the next thirty years, the King developed the site into his summer residence. An admirer of beauty and a lover of the Arts, the King transformed the property into one of Europe's most beautiful palace and garden complexes, covering a total of 73 hectares. To the inhabitants of Warsaw, the Lazienki Park is nowadays a favorite place for walks. Most of the palace buildings are open to the public as museum facilities, and also provide a splendid background for theatrical performances which are staged in the park amphitheatre during the summer months. Sunday concerts of music are given at the foot of the monument to Frederic Chopin, the famous Polish composer and pianist.
Polish National Tourist Office

Mandy · #6 02-12-2005, 03:30 AM

Wawel Hill in Krakow is the old seat of Polish kings, dating back to medieval times. It is topped with a Gothic and Renaissance castle with an arcaded courtyard. A XIIIth century Polish chronicler wrote: -In the days before Alexander the Great, Wawel Hill was ruled over by Prince Krak. A cave in the hillside, today known as the Dragon's lair, was home to an extraordinary savage monster, which had to be supplied with food, for otherwise it would go forth and attack the local people. The castle's period interiors contain collections of old weaponry, paintings, and the famous Arras tapestries, manufactured in Dutch workshops in the late 16th century. A mention is due to the Audience Room, with its original wood carved coffered ceiling, and the Bird Room.
Polish National Tourist Office

Mandy · #7 02-12-2005, 03:33 AM

Many Polish castles and palaces are associated with legends of ghosts and apparitions. It is said that guests at Lancut Castle, should they happen to look through the window on a stormy autumn night, are likely to catch sight of a rider galloping past on a black horse, his long cloak billowing in the wind. This is the ghost of Stanislaw Stadnicki, a ne'er-do-well who lived disreputably and came to a bad end. The three-storey Castle, laid out as a rectangle and surrounded by fortifications in the shape of a five-point star, is today a museum of period interiors: Baroque, Neo-Classicist and Romantic. A museum located in the old Coach House features a collection of old carriages. The old Castle Stables, on the other hand, house an interesting exhibition of icons. Every May, when the Magnolia is in bloom, Lancut Castle becomes a mecca for discerning music lovers, who arrive here to listen to performances of chamber music by artists of international renown.
Polish National Tourist Office

Mandy · #8 02-13-2005, 05:25 PM

1. The Royal Castle, which formerly housed the Mazovian Dukes during the 15th century, has undergone numerous transformations and extensions ever since. Once home to the King, it also housed parliamentary debates and was the seat of Polish presidents. In 1939 it was blown up by the Nazis but faithfully reconstructed in 1971 and the castle is now a classified building.
2. Sigismund III Wasa Monument, Plac Zamkowy Square and the Royal Castle.
3. Tree-lined terraces ascend towards the Royal Castle which dates from 1619, in the Polish capital of Warsaw.
4. The column of Sigismund III Wasa Monument and the Royal Castle in Warsaw.
APL Pictures

magnik · #9 02-13-2005, 05:58 PM

Yes there're the most known of the polish castles and palaces. But in Poland there are many other not so good known castles, palaces and manors - especially manors of the polish nobility.
Here are few links,
http://www.poland.net/castles/
http://zamki.res.pl/zamki.htm
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/photo...category&id=33

magnik

Mandy · #10 02-13-2005, 06:03 PM

The 16th century castle, which houses a museum, once served as a burial place for Polish kings.

1. Facade of Wawel Castle in Krakow.
2. Tower of Wawel Castle.
3. Wawel Royal Castle, situated on the banks of the Vistula, was home to the Polish rulers from the mid-11th to the early 17th century.
4. King Ladislav IV Statue at Wawel Castle.
6. Castle and gardens.
9. The Pope saying mass in Saint Stanislas Chapel in Wawel Castle.
APL Pictures

Mandy · #11 02-13-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnik

Yes there're the most known of the polish castles and palaces. But in Poland there are many other not so good known castles, palaces and manors - especially manors of the polish nobility.
Here are few links,
http://www.poland.net/castles/
http://zamki.res.pl/zamki.htm
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/photo...category&id=33

magnik

Thank you for the photo links.

magnik · #12 02-14-2005, 01:04 PM

MOSZNA PALACE
Moszna near Opole. An English style palace surrounded by a park; built at the
turn of the XIXth century. It was property of the VON TIELE - WINCKLER family. According to a legend - the Templars castle existed here in the past.

SŁUPSK
The prince's castle located in the south - eastern part of the city.
Was founded in 1507 by Prince Bogusław X. The castle constituted a part of the town walls with one segment of the complex located in a moat. Between 1580 and 1587 the Prince Jan Fryderyk (John Frederik) reconstructed the castle. In the first half of the XIXth century it was devastated by the Prussians. (From 1795 to 1918 Poland as a land not exist. The polish lands were belong to Prussians, Russians and Austria.)

Julia · #13 02-15-2005, 03:33 PM

A smaller, but very beautiful, zamek (castle)... Zamek Kliczków in the dense forests of Lower Silesia, 12 km from Bolesławiec.

www.kliczkow.com.pl

The history of the castle is equally interesting as the history of the whole Silesia. Historical sources acknowledge the year 1297 as the year of erection of Kliczków castle. The castle, constructed by Bolko the Severe (Bolko I Surowy), the Prince of Świdnica and Jawor, was used as an earth and wooden border stronghold located on the high Kwisa bank.

In the 13th and 14th centuries Silesian principalities were losing their independence and the rights to strongholds were vested to knights families, who transferred them into castle and farm complexes.

The same happened to Kliczków stronghold, which became the property of a Saxon family of the Rechenbergs in 1391. Kliczków Wehrau estate remained their property for almost 300 years.

The most distinguished member of the family in terms of his merits for the castle was Kacper the Middle (ca. 1545 1588), who initiated the reconstruction of the castle into a Renaissance building, terminated by Kacper Junior, his son.

Kacper the Middle also funded an altar (1580) and a great wooden epitaph (1588) in the parish church of Saint Trinity in Kliczków. We know from a description coming from the 50s of the 17th century, preserved in the National Archive in Wrocław, that the palace was build of stone, it had two ballrooms (one of them on the first floor), 20 chambers, kitchen and chapel.

Kacper Junior built also the farm buildings (malt-house, brewery, stable, coachhouse). His strategic position (he had the titles of chamberlain and advisor on the Emperor's Court) may be well exemplified by a personal visit of Czech King Matthew to Kliczków in (1611).

The Thirty Years War brought about the change of the owner. In 1631, after a period of inheritance disputes, the property was taken over and the estate reconstructed by the von Schellendorf family and two generations later the lateral branch of the family, the von Frankenbergs. It was then, when the nature of southern façade was changed, interiors were modernised, Lions Gate was erected, baroque fountains were built on the courtyards and the character of the park was changed.

In 1747, the estate was purchased by the von Promnitz family, owners of landed estates in Pszczyna, Żary, Borowa and Nowogrodziec, and 20 years later Kliczków was taken over by count Hans Christian zu Solms-Baruth, who married the widowed countess von Promnitz.

Only the counts descendants started the bigger redevelopment of the castle. In 1810, the Ballroom received the Empire style decorations, and New Gothic Jenny Tower as well as mange were constructed. It was then, when the manorial farm buildings were moved outside the entrance gate.

In 1877, the estate was taken over upon a will by count Fryderyk Hermann Jan Jerzy zu Solms-Baruth. In 1881, upon his order, Berlin architects Henryk Kayser and Karol von Grossheim started a reconstruction of the estate that took four years to be finished. Tastes of that time made it possible for architects to get inspired by different styles: English gothic, Italian renaissance as well as German and French mannerism.

Visiting the estate, you will find these features on façades and in interiors, especially in the most beautiful Theatre Room. Eduard Petzold, creator of landscape parks widely known in Europe, designed an over eighty-hectare park in the English style.

In 1906, the Old Prince inherited the title of prince, he had the title of the highest Pallotine of the last emperor of Prussia, he was the chamberlain of imperial court and higher master of hunting. He was known as a devoted hunter, but also a protector of animals and specialist in horses. His son, count Fryderyk Hermann Christian Hans zu Solms-Baruth inherited his fathers property in 1920. Emperor Wilhelm II, his successor and the highest representatives of the court visited Kliczków several times taking part in hunting.

During the Second World War, after the unsuccessful attempt on Hitlers life, members of the family were arrested and the property was confiscated and taken away.

Julia · #14 02-15-2005, 03:48 PM

Pałac Krasków

40 km south-west of Wroclaw, 30 km north-east of Walbrzych in the Bystrzyca River valley, at the foot of the mythical mountain of Sleza, from the top of which there is a breathtaking view of the Sowie Mountains, lies Kraskow, one of the most superb Baroque palaces of Central Europe. David Sigismund Zedlitz und Leipe, a Prussian count, ordered a palace be built on the site of the water castle. The palace has survived in its original architectural form until now. Most probably it was built after a design by Fischer von Erlach. The former ramparts were replaced by rose gardens. In 1847 David Sigismund`s grandson, count Wilhelm Sigismund Zedlitz, commissioned Lenne, a world famous garden designer, to design the palace garden. The palace remained in the van Salisch family until 1945.

magnik · #15 02-16-2005, 04:14 PM

Książ known as Furstenstein, Furstenberg, Vorstinburg, Vorstenberech, Wistenberech

Książ is located on an exposed hill ner the city of Wałbrzych. At first a prince's castle then a magnate's residence, was buil at the turn of the XIII century (1288 - 1292) by the Świdnicko - Jaworski Prince Bolko I Surowy (from the Polish princely and royal dynasty of Piast), on the spot of destroyed one by Bohemian King - Przemysł II Ottokar Przemyslide. The owners of the castles were f.ex.: Bohemian Kings - Venceslas IV von Luxembourg and Ladislas II Jagiellonczyk. This small fortress was reconstructed in the XVIth century after it became the property of the Conrad Hoberg in 1509 - on 1714 the family change her surname on HOCHBERG. During the mid- XVIIth century the walls and the embarkments were taken down and in their place terraces and gardens were installed. As a result, the castle acquired the character of a place. In the XVIIIth century the front facade was decorated in a baroque style. Later, at the beginnig of the XXth century the facade at the garden side was also decorated in an eclectic style. During World War II works were conducted on order to adapt the residence for the Hitler's headquarters. Książ is the biggest (160000 m3/cubic metre and near 400 rooms) of the Silesia region.:)

In the XVIIth cent. the family Hochberg 's received titles of barons and after that - hereditary counts. Circa 1825 they received title of Furst von Pless with H.S.H.They werw one of the richest of German families (#3) and of the Europe (#7). The mmember of the family by marriege was Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis West (of Ruthin Castle 1873 - 1943) known as Daisy. Her brother - George was a stepfatherof Winston Churchill and the sister Constance Edwina was a wife of the Duke of Westminster.
http://pages.prodigy.net./ptheroff/gotha/hochberg.html

Here are a few photos of the Castle
http://zamki.turystyka.eurocity.pl/g...v=zamek&nr=142

Mandy · #16 02-16-2005, 05:07 PM

Thank you magnik for sharing this information and lovely photos of the castle with us.

magnik · #17 02-17-2005, 02:31 PM

No problem. I try to prepare more.

Greetings.:)

Madzika · #18 07-05-2005, 10:41 AM

a question you mean only palaces or old castels ( ruins of them ) also, if yes there are many in Jura between czestochowa and katowice If you are interested i search for some pictures

Mandy · #19 07-05-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madzika

a question you mean only palaces or old castels ( ruins of them ) also, if yes there are many in Jura between czestochowa and katowice If you are interested i search for some pictures

I am interested in old castles and their history and I would love to see pictures and descriptions of them. Thanks for volunteering to provide this information.:)

Madzika · #20 07-13-2005, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandy

I am interested in old castles and their history and I would love to see pictures and descriptions of them. Thanks for volunteering to provide this information.:)

here i can you find some pictures of old polish castels and palaces http://www.zamkipolskie.com/minigal/minigal.html
i have no idea if this link works but i hope it will
and here you have a sit in english about them http://en.zamki.pl/

And can I have a private question: why are you so interested in them I know Poland has a long and very difficult history but not many people from outside Poland are interested to know something about it. The most stupid question I was asked about Poland was from an american who asked me if there are polar bears in poland