Ducal Castle, Szczecin

The Ducal Castle in Szczecin, Poland, was the seat of the dukes of Pomerania-Stettin of the House of Pomerania (Griffins), who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania from 1121 to 1637.

Ducal Castle
Eastern facade.
General information
Architectural styleGothic, Pomeranian mannerism
Town or citySzczecin
CountryPoland
Construction started1346
Completed1428
Demolished1944
Design and construction
ArchitectWilhelm Zachariasz Italus
(mannerist reconstruction)

History

Barnim the Great of Pomerania-Stettin erected the castle within Szczecin's walls against the will of the burghers in 1346. An older Pomeranian burgh had been leveled in 1249.[1] In 1490 the castle was partially reconstructed for Bogusław X's wedding with Anna Jagiellonka (daughter of king Casimir IV Jagiellon).[2]

Between 1573−1582 the castle was rebuilt again, this time in the mannerist style for duke John Frederick by Italian stonemasons according to design by Wilhelm Zachariasz Italus.[3][4] Two new wings were added to close the courtyard before the medieval southern and eastern wings.[3] The main gate was adorned with ducal crest, the eastern wing was enhanced and the northern wing was intended for chapel.

In 1648, due to the tenets of the Peace of Westphalia, the castle become a seat of Swedish governor.[5] Before 1705 another reconstruction occurred to prepare the castle for Queen of Poland - Catherine Opalińska, who lived here with her daughters Anna and Marie Leszczyńska (future Queen of France) and a small court between 1705-1711.[5] In 1711 king Stanisław I Leszczyński, who sought refuge before chasing him Saxon and Russian forces, joined his wife and daughters at the castle.[5]

After the Great Northern War, in 1720, the city of Szczecin become a Prussian property and the castle was allocated to the garrison commander Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst, whose daughter Sophie Friederike Auguste (future Catherine II of Russia) was born here in 1729 and was raised in the castle.[5] Under Prussian rule in the 19th century many renaissance elements in the castle were devastated (arcades, attics, vaulting).[2] Eventually about 60% of the castle was destroyed during World War II (August 1944).[5] Shortly after the war between 1958–1980, it was rebuilt with some modifications. The castle was restored to its original 16th-century appearance according to 1653 engraving by Matthäus Merian (among others).[2]

  • View from one of the towers
  • Side view with one of the towers
  • Inner courtyard
  • Former castle chapel
  • One of the chambers
  • Gate
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See also

Footnotes
  1. Werner Buchholz, Pommern, Siedler, 1999, p.121, ISBN 3-88680-272-8
  2. "History". zamek.szczecin.pl. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  3. "Historia". zamek.szczecin.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  4. Kazimiera Kalita Skwirzyńska, Ewa Prync-Pommerencke. "Zamki i dwory renesansowe". www.pomorskiezamki.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2007-08-29. Retrieved 2009-12-28.
  5. "Szczecin". www.zamkipolskie.com (in Polish). Retrieved 2009-12-28.

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