Bodzentyn Castle
Encyclopedia
Bodzentyn Castle is a ruined castle in Bodzentyn
, Poland
. It was built in the second half of the fourteenth century.
, built a wooden mansion on a hill above the Psarką
river. This manor house was destroyed fairly quickly and the later Bishop of Kraków Florian Mokrski erected a stone castle on a hill, surrounded by a moat. One of the greatest events in the history of the castle took place in 1410 when King Wladyslaw Jagiello visited it on pilgrimage to the Holy Cross before the Battle of Grunwald
.
The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were a time of unprecedented prosperity of the castle. It was expanded after the great fire of 1413 and at the end of the fifteenth century, Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellończyk added a new east wing with the residential towers. Construction work continued during the sixteenth century by successive bishops Jan Konarski, Piotr Tomicki
, Franciszek Krasiński and Piotr Myszkowski who gradually gave it all the features of the Renaissance style. All the activities were led by the Italian architect, Jan Balcer.
Last significant reconstruction of the castle took place between 1657-1691, under the leadership of the bishops Jakuba Zadzika, Piotr Gembicki
, Piotr Tylicki, Marcin Szyszkowski
, Andrzej Trzebicki and Jan Małachowski. The building took the form of the Baroque, with a horseshoe-shaped plan. The last investor in the residence was in the 2nd half of the eighteenth century by Bishop Cajetan Sołtyk, employing eminent architect, Jakuba Fontanę.
The importance of the castle in Bodzentyn began to decline following the construction of the episcopal palace in Kielce
. In 1789, the Diet decided to proceed to nationalize episcopal property. The castle was converted into a granary and a military hospital. In 1814 the building was finally omitted. The medieval castle became mainly a source of free building materials for the local population, consequently to erode the monument into ruin. Only in 1902 did the building become protected. But it was never rebuilt to its former glory.
Bodzentyn
Bodzentyn is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,271 inhabitants . Bodzentyn Castle was built in 14th century.-External links:*...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It was built in the second half of the fourteenth century.
History
At the beginning of the fourteenth century, the Bishop of Kraków, BodzantaBodzanta
Bodzanta or Bodzęta of Kosowice of Szeliga coat of arms was an archbishop of Gniezno , Polish noble, governor of Kraków–Sandomierz lands .Supporter of Louis I of Hungary and the Angevin dynasty...
, built a wooden mansion on a hill above the Psarką
Psarka
The Psarka is a river in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains of Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, southern-central Poland. It has its source at the northern foot of Bukowa Góra. It has a length of 20.5 kilometres and basin area of 89.5 square kilometres...
river. This manor house was destroyed fairly quickly and the later Bishop of Kraków Florian Mokrski erected a stone castle on a hill, surrounded by a moat. One of the greatest events in the history of the castle took place in 1410 when King Wladyslaw Jagiello visited it on pilgrimage to the Holy Cross before the Battle of Grunwald
Battle of Grunwald
The Battle of Grunwald or 1st Battle of Tannenberg was fought on 15 July 1410, during the Polish–Lithuanian–Teutonic War. The alliance of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led respectively by King Jogaila and Grand Duke Vytautas , decisively defeated the Teutonic Knights, led...
.
The fifteenth and sixteenth centuries were a time of unprecedented prosperity of the castle. It was expanded after the great fire of 1413 and at the end of the fifteenth century, Cardinal Fryderyk Jagiellończyk added a new east wing with the residential towers. Construction work continued during the sixteenth century by successive bishops Jan Konarski, Piotr Tomicki
Piotr Tomicki
Piotr Tomicki - Bishop of Przemyśl, of Poznań and Archbishop of Kraków, Vice-Chancellor of the Crown and Royal Secretary...
, Franciszek Krasiński and Piotr Myszkowski who gradually gave it all the features of the Renaissance style. All the activities were led by the Italian architect, Jan Balcer.
Last significant reconstruction of the castle took place between 1657-1691, under the leadership of the bishops Jakuba Zadzika, Piotr Gembicki
Piotr Gembicki
Piotr Gembicki , Deputy Crown Chancellor and Bishop of Przemyśl from 1635, Great Crown Chancellor from 1638, Bishop of Kraków from 1642 in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.-Biography:...
, Piotr Tylicki, Marcin Szyszkowski
Marcin Szyszkowski
Marcin II Szyszkowski of Ostoja Coat of Arms was a notable Polish priest who attended the Jesuit school of Kalisz and became bishop of Lutsk, Płock and finally of Kraków. In the power of the Bishop of Kraków, he also became Prince of Siewierz.- Life and education :Szyszkowski was born into a noble...
, Andrzej Trzebicki and Jan Małachowski. The building took the form of the Baroque, with a horseshoe-shaped plan. The last investor in the residence was in the 2nd half of the eighteenth century by Bishop Cajetan Sołtyk, employing eminent architect, Jakuba Fontanę.
The importance of the castle in Bodzentyn began to decline following the construction of the episcopal palace in Kielce
Kielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
. In 1789, the Diet decided to proceed to nationalize episcopal property. The castle was converted into a granary and a military hospital. In 1814 the building was finally omitted. The medieval castle became mainly a source of free building materials for the local population, consequently to erode the monument into ruin. Only in 1902 did the building become protected. But it was never rebuilt to its former glory.