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

Miscellaneous historic sites in Poland

User Reviews

Marta Lelińska (5 months ago)
Beautiful historic place, with its genuity in atmosphere and breathtaking views especially during fall, as the leaves change their color ? definitely recommended

Marek Łabęcki (10 months ago)
Mixed feeling really. It is a great location and landscapes that you can see from the top of the tower. However, the castle ruins itself are not using its potential, and so the visit was somehow boring.

Karolina McIlroy (10 months ago)
An interesting place with a nice picnic lawn and activities for kids. A bit chaotic climbing the towers. Good information boards if you can read in Polish. Not sure I would visit again. Perhaps with a guide who can tell you more about the history.

Letícia Menezes (11 months ago)
A good experience for someone who are really into Poland history. It's a quick tour! I really like it and you can explore the entire castle in around 40 minutes. There is cards in English, so if you don't speak Polish, don't worry.

Maksym Lobenko (12 months ago)
Lovely place to visit. Nice tower and duke’s chair to sit. Exceptionally good German shepherd dog on the entrance.

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Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians. The county became a privileged refuge for persecuted Cathars.

The castle, often besieged (notably by Simon de Montfort in 1211 and 1212), resisted assault and was only taken once, in 1486, thanks to treachery during the war between two branches of the Foix family.

From the 14th century, the Counts of Foix spent less and less time in the uncomfortable castle, preferring the Governors' Palace. From 1479, the Counts of Foix became Kings of Navarre and the last of them, made Henri IV of France, annexed his Pyrrenean lands to France.

As seat of the Governor of the Foix region from the 15th century, the castle continued to ensure the defence of the area, notably during the Wars of Religion. Alone of all the castles in the region, it was exempted from the destruction orders of Richelieu (1632-1638).

Until the Revolution, the fortress remained a garrison. Its life was brightened with grand receptions for its governors, including the Count of Tréville, captain of musketeers under Louis XIII and Marshal Philippe Henri de Ségur, one of Louis XVI's ministers. The Round Tower, built in the 15th century, is the most recent, the two square towers having been built before the 11th century. They served as a political and civil prison for four centuries until 1862.

Since 1930, the castle has housed the collections of the Ariège départemental museum. Sections on prehistory, Gallo-Roman and mediaeval archaeology tell the history of Ariège from ancient times. Currently, the museum is rearranging exhibits to concentrate on the history of the castle site so as to recreate the life of Foix at the time of the Counts.

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