Czersk Castle Ruins, Czersk, Poland

The Castle of the Masovian Dukes in Czersk was built on the turning point of the fourteenth and fifteenth century by Prince Janusz I. When the Masovian land became part of the Kingdom of Poland - which was under the rule of Queen Bona Sforza. Primarily, the castle had three towers, one of them - being four-sided, was used as the main gate house.

During the war with the Swedes, in 1656, the castle became partly ruined. The retreating land army, close to Warta, under Stefan Czarniecki"s commandhad captured the stronghold and had devastated it. The castle went through a reconstruction between 1762-1766, when Marsza³ek Franciszek Bieliñski had commanded the reconstruction of the stronghold. However, due to the Prussian Partition, the Prussian leader had ordered for the demolition of the castle"s defense walls, reducing the stronghold"s military importance. From that time, nobody had every again took on the reconstruction of the castle. From the once mighty stronghold, all of the towers; a brick bridge from the eighteenth century; and the north and east wing of the castle had all survived.

References:

Wikipedia

Ruins in Poland

User Reviews

Ted Cvetic (3 years ago)
Partially renovated ruins...beautifully maintained with lots of interesting displays and information. ... another reason to love Poland.... i recommend

Siarhiej Pieliasa (3 years ago)
Most romantic place in Masovia. Medieval capital of the Dutchy.

Marek Chrusciel (3 years ago)
Just remainings of the castle, walls and 3 towers, 2 of which can be climbed by narrow stairs. Nice view from the top. Typical location of medieval castle - on s hill dominating local area.

Sasha Sheremetov (3 years ago)
Great place for a quick rest, you can shoot the bow there and look how people lived on medieval times.

Paolito JJ (3 years ago)
Worth seeing the medieval castle.It is also located in the proximity of Warsaw.

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Lednice Castle

The first historical record of Lednice locality dates from 1222. At that time there stood a Gothic fort with courtyard, which was lent by Czech King Václav I to Austrian nobleman Sigfried Sirotek in 1249.

At the end of the 13th century the Liechtensteins, originally from Styria, became holders of all of Lednice and of nearby Mikulov. They gradually acquired land on both sides of the Moravian-Austrian border. Members of the family most often found fame in military service, during the Renaissance they expanded their estates through economic activity. From the middle of the 15th century members of the family occupied the highest offices in the land. However, the family’s position in Moravia really changed under the brothers Karel, Maximilian, and Gundakar of Liechtenstein. Through marriage Karel and Maximilian acquired the great wealth of the old Moravian dynasty of the Černohorskýs of Boskovice. At that time the brothers, like their father and grandfather, were Lutheran, but they soon converted to Catholicism, thus preparing the ground for their rise in politics. Particularly Karel, who served at the court of Emperor Rudolf II, became hetman of Moravia in 1608, and was later raised to princely status by King Matyas II and awarded the Duchy of Opava.

During the revolt of the Czech nobility he stood on the side of the Habsburgs, and took part in the Battle of White Mountain. After the uprising was defeated in 1620 he systematically acquired property confiscated from some of the rebels, and the Liechtensteins became the wealthiest family in Moravia, rising in status above the Žerotíns. Their enormous land holdings brought them great profits, and eventually allowed them to carry out their grandious building projects here in Lednice.

In the 16th century it was probably Hartmann II of Liechtenstein who had the old medieval water castle torn down and replaced with a Renaissance chateau. At the end of the 17th century the chateau was torn down and a Baroque palace was built, with an extensive formal garden, and a massive riding hall designed by Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach that still stands in almost unaltered form.

In the mid-18th century the chateau was again renovated, and in 1815 its front tracts that had been part of the Baroque chateau were removed.

The chateau as it looks today dates from 1846-1858, when Prince Alois II decided that Vienna was not suitable for entertaining in the summer, and had Lednice rebuilt into a summer palace in the spirit of English Gothic. The hall on the ground floor would serve to entertain the European aristocracy at sumptuous banquets, and was furnished with carved wood ceilings, wooden panelling, and select furniture, surpassing anything of its kind in Europe.

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