The castle of the masters (Polish kings) of the Piasts is considered the main attraction of the city of Legnica (on Dolny Slenzka or in Lower Silesia). Before the war, Legnica was called Liegnitz - Old Town.
Historical research indicates that the first fortification at the confluence of the Cherna Voda and Kachava rivers appeared in the eighth century. Around 985, during the reign of Mieczyslov (Mieszko) the First (Mieszko I), the first known Polish Prince, wooden fortresses were erected in Wroclaw, Opole and Legnica to protect Silesia. The current walls date back to the 12th century - the Castle was built in 1149, so it is one of the oldest palaces in Poland. Its founder, Prince Heinrich the Bearded, chose stone as the material for the construction of his fortress, and this was an innovation (usually everything was built from wood).
The fortress of Henry the Bearded was conditionally divided into two parts: the main one, which included the princely palace, the chapel of St. Benedict and St. Lawrence and the octagonal tower of St. Peter, and the administrative (economic) with the entrance gate to the fortress and the tower of St. rebuilt during the Renaissance). On the tower of St. Peter, built 14 meters from the palace, there is now an observation deck. For several centuries, the fortress in Legnica belonged to the Piast rulers of Silesia and was considered one of their main residences. In 1675, the Piast line was interrupted, and the castle became the property of the Austrian emperors.
The castle was able to resist the Mongols in 1241. In the battle on the Legnica (Good) field (German.
On April 9.1241, in the vicinity of the castle, the army of Henry II, Prince of Krakow, Silesia and Greater Poland, met with the army of Baydar, the grandson of Genghis Khan, who invaded Poland. The structure of the European army, the stern of the Poles, included knights from France and Germany, the Templars and the Teutons. The army of Henry II was almost twice as large as the Tatar-Mongolian, but in a bloody battle it was almost completely destroyed. The reason for the defeat is the use by the Horde of tactics unusual for European warriors (mostly very "non-knightly" in European military terms) and technical means (in particular, researchers suggest the use of poison gases - even so). Among the dead was Prince Greater Poland himself. Then the victors laid siege to the walls of Legnica, for intimidation, demonstrating to its defenders the head of Henry, impaled on a spear.
However, the townspeople refused to surrender and withstood the siege!
Legnica and its castle are considered the westernmost point of the invasion of the Golden Horde, and the siege of Legnica is often interpreted as a turning point in the Western campaign of the Mongols, allegedly saving Europe from invasion. In fact, the Mongols did not go to Germany because of its poverty - the intelligence of the Asians found out that there was nothing to profit from there. Therefore, they turned south, to richer lands, where it turned out to be difficult to fight because of the mountainousness.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the fortress was rebuilt on the initiative of Prince Ludwig II (apparently the money came from gold mining near Legnica). He brought a French architect from Saint-Denis to Lower Silesia, who modernized the shape of the castle. Both towers were built on and new picturesque decorations were erected. Reconstructions were also carried out by Ludwik's successors - Prince Frederick I and his son Frederick II.
The castle constantly celebrated magnificent parties organized by Henry IX. An important turning point in the history of Legnica is the beginning of the 17th century, when Prince Jerzy Rudolf rebuilt the eastern and southern wings of the castle, as well as erecting a magnificent clock tower.
Many times the fortress burned down and not always remained unscathed after the fires. In 1835, a fire almost completely destroyed it. However, the castle was restored, giving neo-Gothic features to its facade. At the end of the Second World War, it was again destroyed during the hostilities, and the restoration process took many years. Only in 1969 the castle was rebuilt again and given to the Ministry of Education (now there is a lyceum or something educational). It is now open to tourists (albeit to a limited extent). We didn't go inside, just walked around and admired.
Here you can watch a video about the castle and the city taken from a drone: https://www. villagreta. pl/ru/legnica-dostoprimechatelnosti-goroda/
Historical research indicates that the first fortification at the confluence of the Cherna Voda and Kachava rivers appeared in the eighth century. Around 985, during the reign of Mieczyslov (Mieszko) the First (Mieszko I), the first known Polish Prince, wooden fortresses were erected in Wroclaw, Opole and Legnica to protect Silesia. The current walls date back to the 12th century - the Castle was built in 1149, so it is one of the oldest palaces in Poland. Its founder, Prince Heinrich the Bearded, chose stone as the material for the construction of his fortress, and this was an innovation (usually everything was built from wood).
The fortress of Henry the Bearded was conditionally divided into two parts: the main one, which included the princely palace, the chapel of St. Benedict and St. Lawrence and the octagonal tower of St. Peter, and the administrative (economic) with the entrance gate to the fortress and the tower of St. rebuilt during the Renaissance). On the tower of St. Peter, built 14 meters from the palace, there is now an observation deck. For several centuries, the fortress in Legnica belonged to the Piast rulers of Silesia and was considered one of their main residences. In 1675, the Piast line was interrupted, and the castle became the property of the Austrian emperors.
The castle was able to resist the Mongols in 1241. In the battle on the Legnica (Good) field (German.
On April 9.1241, in the vicinity of the castle, the army of Henry II, Prince of Krakow, Silesia and Greater Poland, met with the army of Baydar, the grandson of Genghis Khan, who invaded Poland. The structure of the European army, the stern of the Poles, included knights from France and Germany, the Templars and the Teutons. The army of Henry II was almost twice as large as the Tatar-Mongolian, but in a bloody battle it was almost completely destroyed. The reason for the defeat is the use by the Horde of tactics unusual for European warriors (mostly very "non-knightly" in European military terms) and technical means (in particular, researchers suggest the use of poison gases - even so). Among the dead was Prince Greater Poland himself. Then the victors laid siege to the walls of Legnica, for intimidation, demonstrating to its defenders the head of Henry, impaled on a spear.
However, the townspeople refused to surrender and withstood the siege!
Legnica and its castle are considered the westernmost point of the invasion of the Golden Horde, and the siege of Legnica is often interpreted as a turning point in the Western campaign of the Mongols, allegedly saving Europe from invasion. In fact, the Mongols did not go to Germany because of its poverty - the intelligence of the Asians found out that there was nothing to profit from there. Therefore, they turned south, to richer lands, where it turned out to be difficult to fight because of the mountainousness.
At the beginning of the 15th century, the fortress was rebuilt on the initiative of Prince Ludwig II (apparently the money came from gold mining near Legnica). He brought a French architect from Saint-Denis to Lower Silesia, who modernized the shape of the castle. Both towers were built on and new picturesque decorations were erected. Reconstructions were also carried out by Ludwik's successors - Prince Frederick I and his son Frederick II.
The castle constantly celebrated magnificent parties organized by Henry IX. An important turning point in the history of Legnica is the beginning of the 17th century, when Prince Jerzy Rudolf rebuilt the eastern and southern wings of the castle, as well as erecting a magnificent clock tower.
Many times the fortress burned down and not always remained unscathed after the fires. In 1835, a fire almost completely destroyed it. However, the castle was restored, giving neo-Gothic features to its facade. At the end of the Second World War, it was again destroyed during the hostilities, and the restoration process took many years. Only in 1969 the castle was rebuilt again and given to the Ministry of Education (now there is a lyceum or something educational). It is now open to tourists (albeit to a limited extent). We didn't go inside, just walked around and admired.
Here you can watch a video about the castle and the city taken from a drone: https://www. villagreta. pl/ru/legnica-dostoprimechatelnosti-goroda/
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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