Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes - a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

castle in the town of

Szczecinek Szczecinek ( ; German until 1945: ''Neustettin'') is a historic city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland, with a population of more than 40,000 (2011). Formerly in the Koszalin Voivodeship (1950–1998), it has been the capital of Szczecinek ...

, for the

Pomeranian Dukes This is a list of the duchies and dukes of Pomerania. Dukes of the Slavic Pomeranian tribes (All Pomerania) The lands of Pomerania were firstly ruled by local tribes, who settled in Pomerania around the 10th and 11th centuries. Non-dynastic ...

. The southern wing of the castle was built in the early fourteenth century, in the location of a former Slavic gord. Due to reconstructions in the sixteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries the castle has not kept its original characteristics. Formerly, the castle was located on an island in the Trzesiecko Lake, however after the lowering of the water (two land ameliorations had been made in the town in 1780 to 1784 and 1866 to 1868) the castle was located on a

peninsula A peninsula (; ) is a landform that extends from a mainland and is surrounded by water on most, but not all of its borders. A peninsula is also sometimes defined as a piece of land bordered by water on three of its sides. Peninsulas exist on all ...

. In the footsteps of the castle is located the City Park which was founded between 1875 and 1903. After the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

the castle was used by the

army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

, later used as a recreational ground. In 1996, the castle was sold, and is currently used as an office, access to the

courtyard A courtyard or court is a circumscribed area, often surrounded by a building or complex, that is open to the sky. Courtyards are common elements in both Western and Eastern building patterns and have been used by both ancient and contemporary ...

is unavailable. In 2011, the castle had undergone a renovation, and its ceremony opening was September 14, 2013. The castle is the headquarters for the Castle Conference Centre (''Centrum Konferencyjne ZAMEK''), where there is space for 150 people, the castle also houses a gallery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecinek 15th-century fortifications Castles in West Pomeranian Voivodeship Szczecinek County