Bedzin Castle - Poland
I'mgoing to start this page with a little history lesson for those unfamiliar with this wonderful medieval fortification.
Bedzin Castle dates to the 14th century (1358) and is predated by a wooden fortification built in the 11th century.It was an important fortification for the Kingdom of Poland. The wooden fort was destroyed during the Tatar invasion in 1241 and subsequently rebuilt. During the reign of Casimir the Great the fortification was upgraded from wood to stone and was operational as early as 1348.
The castle was meant to be a military out-post on the southwestern border of Poland (later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). It was meant to hold off any invasion coming from the Bohemian ar Silesian lands.
The castle fell into disrepair in the late 16th century. A fire in 1616 and damage during the "Deluge" (Swedish Invasion) in 1657 resulted in further destruction. The fortress was periodically repaired, but due to shifts in the borders, and its relationships with their neighbors, it lost much of it's importance.
After the partitions of Poland, Bedzin fell into Prussian hands and the castle became the property of the Hohenzollern family. By 1825 the castle was virtually falling apart, and when a falling piece of stone crushed a passerby, it was ordered demolished. But before the work could begin it was declared a national monument and saved. In the 1830's it was bought by Count Edward Raczyrinski and partially rebuilt. A protestant church was housed inside its walls, but after the count's death it again fell into disrepair.
The castle was not rebuilt again until 1952-56 when a museum was opened there.
The castle has 2 towers, one square and one cylindrical. Small buildings were attached to the towers. There were 3 layers of walls, and were connected to the city wall, parts of which still survive today. The circular tower has walls that are 4m thick and rises to a height of 30m. There are stories told of the tower being twice that high, but there is no evidence to support that assumption.
The model was begun shortly after the first week of June, 2009 . Below, and on subsequent pages you will find photos of the progress from beginning to end.
Bedzin Castle dates to the 14th century (1358) and is predated by a wooden fortification built in the 11th century.It was an important fortification for the Kingdom of Poland. The wooden fort was destroyed during the Tatar invasion in 1241 and subsequently rebuilt. During the reign of Casimir the Great the fortification was upgraded from wood to stone and was operational as early as 1348.
The castle was meant to be a military out-post on the southwestern border of Poland (later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). It was meant to hold off any invasion coming from the Bohemian ar Silesian lands.
The castle fell into disrepair in the late 16th century. A fire in 1616 and damage during the "Deluge" (Swedish Invasion) in 1657 resulted in further destruction. The fortress was periodically repaired, but due to shifts in the borders, and its relationships with their neighbors, it lost much of it's importance.
After the partitions of Poland, Bedzin fell into Prussian hands and the castle became the property of the Hohenzollern family. By 1825 the castle was virtually falling apart, and when a falling piece of stone crushed a passerby, it was ordered demolished. But before the work could begin it was declared a national monument and saved. In the 1830's it was bought by Count Edward Raczyrinski and partially rebuilt. A protestant church was housed inside its walls, but after the count's death it again fell into disrepair.
The castle was not rebuilt again until 1952-56 when a museum was opened there.
The castle has 2 towers, one square and one cylindrical. Small buildings were attached to the towers. There were 3 layers of walls, and were connected to the city wall, parts of which still survive today. The circular tower has walls that are 4m thick and rises to a height of 30m. There are stories told of the tower being twice that high, but there is no evidence to support that assumption.
The model was begun shortly after the first week of June, 2009 . Below, and on subsequent pages you will find photos of the progress from beginning to end.