Friedberg Castle, Friedberg, Germany

The Friedberg castle was subsequently built to serve as a border security and customs post for the Duchy of Bavaria and Swabia, but put the town in opposition to the free city of Augsburg. It was built between 1257-1264 by Duke Ludwig II.

The castle was the cause of the first burning of Friedberg by Augsburg in 1396. The town was subject to the many frequent wars between Swabia, Bavaria and Augsburg.

A revival in the town's fortunes came when, in 1568, the Duchess Christine chose Friedberg castle as her seat following her husband's death. The town became the centre of Bavarian court life, but was short lived when the town was ravaged by the plague in 1599. More suffering came as the town was sacked twice by the Swedes during the Thirty Years War. After the war only the town hall, castle and city walls were left standing.

The castle is situated on a spur of and has an unusually deep moat. Since the renovation in 1982, Friedberg castle has been a museum.

User Reviews

Henrik Ritz (4 years ago)
The museum is new and excellent. There are three main parts on the first floor : the town's local watchmakers, a prehistoric and roman age section and a section of the last few hundreds years. On the ground floor you can find the history and collections of local artists. Unfortunately taking photos is not allowed at all in the museum. The museum cafe has tasty cookies and cakes and coffee and other drinks also. Books in german and postcards available in the museum shops.

Valentine Gogichashvili (4 years ago)
Newly renovated castle with a perfectly organized museum dedicated to the city history, watches, and pottery.

Giorgio Syro (4 years ago)
Not much to see, just a rebuilded unimpressive "palace". The only worth watching is the museum with old hand made watches, if anyone has an interest to that kind of things.

Dave Laycock (4 years ago)
Nice, informative. The cafe has a small selection of cakes and drinks. There is an elevator.

Carmel Agius (Nenu) (4 years ago)
Amazing, state of the art museum, about the unique and intricate craftsmanship of watches in Friedberg from the 1800's. Most attractive is also the archeological display of the old history of this Bavarian town.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright jadwiga.ws

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Tyniec Abbey

Tyniec Benedictine abbey was founded by King Casimir the Restorer probably around 1044. Casimir decided to rebuild the newly established Kingdom of Poland, after a Pagan rebellion and a disastrous Czech raid of Duke Bretislaus I (1039). The Benedictines, invited to Tyniec by the King, were tasked with restoring order as well as cementing the position of the State and the Church. First Tyniec Abbot was Aaron, who became the Bishop of Kraków. Since there is no conclusive evidence to support the foundation date as 1040, some historians claim that the abbey was founded by Casimir the Restorer’ son, King Boleslaw II the Generous.

In the second half of the 11th century, a complex of Romanesque buildings was completed, consisting of a basilica and the abbey. In the 14th century, it was destroyed in Tatar and Czech raids, and in the 15th century it was rebuilt in Gothic style. Further remodelings took place in the 17th and 18th centuries, first in Baroque, then in Rococo style. The abbey was partly destroyed in the Swedish invasion of Poland, and soon afterwards was rebuilt, with a new library. Further destruction took place during the Bar Confederation, when Polish rebels turned the abbey into their fortress.

In 1816, Austrian authorities liquidated the abbey, and in 1821-1826, it was the seat of the Bishop of Tyniec, Grzegorz Tomasz Ziegler. The monks, however, did not return to the abbey until 1939, and in 1947, remodelling of the neglected complex was initiated. In 1968, the Church of St. Peter and Paul was once again named the seat of the abbot. The church itself consists of a Gothic presbytery and a Baroque main nave. Several altars were created by an 18th-century Italian sculptor Francesco Placidi. The church also has a late Baroque pulpit by Franciszek Jozef Mangoldt.

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